Oregon DEQ: Water Quality - Water Quality Assessment

DEQ conducted an assessment of water quality in Oregon as required by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 305(b) and Section 303(d) to provide an Integrated Report on Oregon’s surface waters. Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report was prepared in phases. The initial phase of work was completed and submitted to EPA in Jan. 2011. DEQ submitted a final supplement to Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report to EPA in May 2011.

EPA took action approving the submitted 303(d) listings and de-listings on Mar. 15, 2012.

With EPA’s action, the approved listings/de-listings immediately become part of Oregon’s 303(d) list and can be used for Clean Water Act purposes. (See links to Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report Assessment Database and 303(d) list below.)

EPA also disapproved DEQ’s submittal for not including other waters. EPA proposed adding other waters to Oregon’s 303(d) list. On March 15, 2012 EPA published a Notice of Availability and Request for Public Comments in the Federal Register. EPA will provide a decision rationale. The public can provide comments to EPA according to the process and schedule described in the Federal Register. DEQ’s comments on EPA’s proposed 303(d) additions are available below. Once EPA concludes their public process and finalizes their decisions, DEQ will update Oregon’s 2010 303(d) list with EPA’s additions.

Assessment Process

Oregon's 2010 Integrated Report updates previous statewide assessment information. Where new data are evaluated, a new assessment may be created or a new status may be assigned. Where no new data or information are evaluated, the results of the previous assessment cycle are carried forward into the 2010 Integrated Report.

DEQ conducted a public call for data from May 11 through June 11, 2009. DEQ prioritized work to evaluate available data and information and prepared a draft 2010 Integrated Report. A public review and comment period on the draft list of water quality limited waters was open from Nov. 15, 2010 through 5 p.m. PST Dec. 15, 2010, and a public hearing was held on Nov. 30, 2010. DEQ finalized the first phase of Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report and submitted Oregon’s Section 303(d) List to EPA on Jan. 31, 2011 to EPA. DEQ continued evaluating data and prepared a supplement to the 2010 Integrated Report. The supplement was open for public review and comment from Apr. 13, 2011 through 5 p.m. PDT May 3, 2011 and a public hearing was held on Apr. 18, 2011. After reviewing public comments, DEQ finalized Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report and submitted Oregon’s 2010 Section 303(d) List of Category 5 Water Quality Limited Waters Needing a TMDL to EPA on May 23, 2011.

In addition to assessments carried forward from previous cycles, Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report provides assessment results for:

Sampling data results for Enterococci bacteria for Coastal Recreation Waters and reports of beach advisories.
Health advisories where toxic algae blooms have occurred in Oregon waters.
Other advisories warning against consuming fish from certain waters.
Instances of Public Drinking Water System closures due to turbidity in surface waters.
Waters where Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for pollutants were completed and approved by EPA.
Waters quality conditions based on assessing biological communities of freshwater macroinvertebrates (Biocriteria).

See below for links to database reports and documents for the 2010 Integrated Report. For additional information, contact Karla Urbanowicz at DEQ at 503-229-6099 or by e-mail.

2010 Integrated Report

Assessment information available for the 2010 Integrated Report includes:

Oregon's 2010 Integrated Report – Assessment Database and 303(d) List

A searchable database report with data for each water body, pollutant, and location that have been assessed, and the conclusion about water quality in each water body.
Search options to display data including:
- All waters in the state for all pollutants and conditions
- Waters that are Water Quality Limited (Category 4 and Category 5)
- Waters where pollutant Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) need to be developed (Category 5 303(d) list)
- Waters that have been de-listed and removed from Category 5 (303(d) list) in the 2010 assessment

Methodology for Oregon’s 2010 Water Quality Report and List of Water Quality Limited Waters PDF May 2011

The Methodology contains the protocols and "decision rules" DEQ used to evaluate data and assign an assessment status category to each water body where data were reviewed.

Oregon’s TMDL Priorities and Schedule (May 2011) PDF

Response to Comments on Oregon’s Draft 2010 Integrated Report (January 2011) PDF

Response to Comments on Final Supplement to Oregon’s 2010 Integrated Report (May 2011) PDF

Call for Data - Closed June 2009