Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality [303(d) List] Assessment Methodologies
Main_Content
Announcements
Informational Public Meeting Announcement for the Draft 2024 Integrated Report (IR) of Surface Water Quality
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is pleased to announce the availability of the Draft 2024 IR for public review and comment. The 2024 IR includes the 303(d) 2025-2032 Vision, which provides a long-term vision for assessment, restoration, and protection under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d).
The public review and comment period for both the IR and the 2025-2032 Vision will run from May 31, 2024-July 1, 2024. The 2024 Draft IR is posted on MDE's website here.
The Department is hosting a virtual information public meeting for both the IR and the 2025-2032 Vision at 6 pm on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Virtual 2024 IR Public Meeting
Thursday, June 13 · 6:00 – 8:00pm
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jns-wpfo-rwt
Or dial: (US) +1 209-850-2368 PIN: 383 350 004#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/jns-wpfo-rwt?pin=1392384331453
Please contact Becky Monahan at Becky.Monahan@maryland.gov or (410)537-3947 with any questions.
|
Assessment Methodologies
Provided below are links to Maryland’s Assessment Methodologies (AMs) used in water body impairment determinations for the
Integrated Report (IR) of Surface Water Quality. The AMs provide a consistent logical framework for reviewing water quality data. The public is invited to comment on any of the assessment methodologies during the public comment period for assessment methodologies that occurs during each IR cycle.
All files below are in portable document format (PDF).
2024 Assessment Methodology Comment Response Document
Summary of 2024 Assessment Methodology Updates
- The Listing Methodology for Identifying Waters Impaired by Bacteria in Maryland’s Integrated Report
- Both sections of this methodology, The Interpretation of Fecal Coliform Data for Assessing Use II Shellfish Harvesting Areas, and The Interpretation of Bacteria Data for Water Contact Recreation Use, were updated to be more consistent with the criteria and determine which Maryland waters require restoration. Changes include larger sample sizes and assessment decisions over a longer term to identify chronic bacteria issues. There are also updates regarding the use of best professional judgement in reviewing data that doesn’t meet the minimum data requirements and in identifying chronic impairments from individual exceedances.
- The Fish Tissue Assessment Methodology section which is part of the Methodology for Determining Impaired Waters by Chemical Contaminants for Maryland’s Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality
- The Fish Tissue section of this methodology was updated with concentration thresholds for Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).
- The Temperature Assessment Methodology for Use III(-P) Streams in Maryland
- The Temperature Assessment Methodology was updated to include information on the minimum sample size for impairment determinations, decisions for multiple monitoring locations on a single segment, and additional details on delisting a stream segment.
There were no other substantive changes in any other assessment methodology for the 2024 IR cycle.
Please direct any questions or comments to Becky Monahan at
becky.monahan@maryland.gov.