Tribal Water Quality Standards in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
Regional Water Quality Standards Information
WQS Home
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Recent Actions and Request for Comments
Tribal Participation in the Water Quality Standards Program
Proposed Water Quality Standards for Indian Country
Tribal Water Quality Standards in Idaho, Oregon and Washington
Tribal Water Quality Standard Program Contacts
Video "Our Water Our Future: Saving Our Tribal Life Force Together"
Tribal Water Program Activities
Tribal Information on Environmental Programs in Pacific Northwest and Alaska
Guidance for Pacific Northwest State and Tribal Temperature Water Quality Standards
Recent Actions and Request for Comments on Northwest and Alaska Tribal Water Quality Standards
EPA Region 10 approved (PDF, 7pp. 260 KB) specific revisions of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon's (Warm Springs Tribe) Water Quality Standards (WQS) on July 20, 2006. These revisions included the addition of a definition for 7Q 10, addition of a low flow provision applicable to the numeric temperature criteria, bacteria criteria for the protection of human health and Table 3 "Water Quality Criteria Summary" on human health (water and fish ingestion and fish consumption only criteria) and aquatic life criteria that were revised, refined, or withdrawn. EPA approved the Warm Springs Tribe to administer the WQS for waters within the Reservation on May 21, 1999.
EPA approved water quality standards for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in accordance with the Clean Water Act on September 27, 2005. Contact Dave Fuller at dfuller@pgst.nsn.us (360) 297-6323 for a copy of the water quality standards.
EPA has approved the Coeur d'Alene Tribe as eligible for "treatment in the same manner as a state." on August 5, 2005. This decision approves the Tribe to establish water quality standards under Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act and to issue water quality certifications under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act for Reservation waters of Coeur d'Alene Lake and the St. Joe River, Idaho.
EPA issued new marine bacteria criteria for for several coastal and Great Lakes States, including Alaska and Oregon under the Beaches Act on November 8. One exception provided in the criteria addresses an issue of concern raised by Alaska - non-human caused bacteria. The criteria do not apply if a sanitary survey shows that sources of the indicator bacteria are non-human and an epidemiological study shows that the indicator densities are not indicative of a human health risk. The new criteria apply concurrently with any ambient recreational water criteria adopted by the State (and approved by EPA). Background info, fact sheets, frequently asked questions etc. are on EPA's Beaches web site.
EPA approved Water Quality Standards for Kalispel Indian Community (PDF) (24 pp. 300K) in accordance with the Clean Water Act on June 24, 2004.
What are Water Quality Standards (WQS)?
Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based control program mandated by the Clean Water Act. Water Quality Standards define the goals for a waterbody by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions to protect water quality from pollutants.
A water quality standard consists of four basic elements:
- designated uses of the water body (e.g., recreation, water supply, aquatic life, agriculture),
- water quality criteria to protect designated uses (numeric pollutant concentrations and narrative requirements),
- an antidegradation policy to maintain and protect existing uses and high quality waters, and
- general policies addressing implementation issues (e.g., low flows, variances, mixing zones).