Display Name: Rivers Streams and Coastline Assessment Unit Status
Description: The federal Clean Water Act requires Oregon to report on the quality of its surface waters every two years. Oregon surface waters are assessed to determine if they contain pollutants at levels that exceed protective water quality standards. The result of these analyses and conclusions is called the “Integrated Report” because it combines the requirements of Clean Water Act section 305(b) to develop a status report and the section 303(d) requirement to develop a list of impaired waters. <br><br>The Integrated Report categorizes all assessed waterbodies. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality used water quality data to evaluate the most common beneficial uses, such as aquatic life, drinking water or recreation. Waterbodies that exceed protective water quality standards are identified as impaired, (which is also referred to as the “303(d) List”). Identifying a waterbody as impaired initiates the prioritization and development of a Total Maximum Daily Load.<br>(DEQ, 2020)