ECOLOGY NEWS: Ecology seeking new data from fresh and marine waters in Washington for the next Water Quality Assessment

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To those interested in Washington’s Water Quality Assessment:

As part of the next assessment process, Ecology is seeking new data and information collected from fresh and marine waters in Washington to be used in the next Water Quality Assessment.  This call-for data applies to data and information collected within a ten year period up through December 31, 2017.  An initial call-for-data was conducted in February 2016 to seek data up through December 2015.  If any data were previously submitted to Ecology for use in the Water Quality Assessment it does not need to be submitted again.  Information on submitting data for use in the Water Quality Assessment can also be found on our website.

The deadline for submitting additional data and information to Ecology for consideration in the Water Quality Assessment is 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2018.

Purpose of the Water Quality Assessment

Ecology periodically gathers and uses readily-available water quality data to list waterbodies that fall into different categories of water quality (from good to polluted). This process – and the lists it generates – is called Washington’s Water Quality Assessment, and is used to meet federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements under Sections 303(d) and 305(b).

Submitting data

Numeric water quality data should be submitted into Ecology’s Environmental Information Management (EIM) database  to be used for the Water Quality Assessment. Information on submitting data to EIM is available on the EIM website.  Questions on submitting to EIM can also be directed to Jake Kleinknecht (jkle461@ECY.WA.GOV), phone 360-407-6562.

Narrative information that provides conclusive evidence that a beneficial water use is being impaired can be submitted to the email address at 303d@ecy.wa.gov or by mail to: Patrick Lizon, Water Quality Program, Department of Ecology,  PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

Questions
If you have questions on submitting data, please contact: Patrick Lizon (pliz461@ECY.WA.GOV), Water Quality Program, phone 360-407-6782.

Thank you for your interest in Washington’s water quality.

Susan Braley
Watershed Management Section
Phone: (360) 407-6414
email: susan.braley@ecy.wa.gov