About this indicator
This indicator displays information about states’ progress towards developing and adopting state-wide numeric water quality criteria for total nitrogen and total phosphorus for the three main waterbody types (river/streams, lakes/reservoirs, and estuaries). To protect waters from impairment, states develop, propose, and adopt water quality standards, or pollutant limits. EPA considers state adoption of numeric water quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus, the causal parameters directly responsible for eutrophication in immediate and/or downstream waters, a priority for water quality protection. Adoption of numeric criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus will facilitate and expedite the protection of waters by assisting states in identifying and listing impaired waters, developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and writing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for facilities discharging nitrogen and phosphorus. Numeric criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus can also further improve water quality by assisting in best management practice implementation for non-point sources to limit nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and infiltration.

The information provided in this indicator shows whether or not each state has completed or provided dates for completing the following five milestones towards adoption of state-wide numeric total nitrogen and/or total phosphorus criteria for each of the three main waterbody types (river/streams; lakes/reservoirs, excluding the Great Lakes; and estuaries, where applicable): Planning for Criteria Development, Collection of Information and Data, Analysis of Information and Data, Proposal of Criteria, and Adoption of Criteria (EPA-approved). For more information on states’ progress towards adopting numeric nutrient criteria, refer to EPA’s website on State Development of Numeric Criteria for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution. Additionally, visit states’ websites to learn more about their progress towards developing and adopting numeric total nitrogen and total phosphorus criteria.

What to consider when using these data
Some states may have numeric criteria for specific nutrient-related response parameters such as chlorophyll a (algae), and some states have site-specific total phosphorus and total nitrogen criteria. However, neither would be reflected in this indicator, which reports progress on adoption of total nitrogen and total phosphorus criteria for all waters within the state. For more information on states’ progress towards adopting numeric nutrient criteria, and to see states’ most recently entered WQ-01c milestones, refer to EPA’s website on State Development of Numeric Criteria for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution. Additionally, visit states’ websites to learn more about their progress towards developing and adopting numeric total nitrogen and total phosphorus criteria.

• Adoption of Numeric Standards for Rivers and Streams
• Adoption of Numeric Standards for Lakes and Reservoirs
• Adoption of Numeric Standards for Bays/Estuaries

State progress in completing, or providing estimated dates for completing, performance milestones towards adoption of state-wide total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) numeric criteria for rivers and streams.

Note - criteria in development, proposed or adopted must lead to all state waters within a specific waterbody type being protected by standards in order to be given credit in this measure.

"No date provided" indicates that a state has not provided a date for anticipated completion of a milestone.  

"Complete" indicates that a state has completed a milestone to which it previously committed.

Source: Information is provided by the states to EPA, in accordance with the Program Activity Measure WQ-1c from EPA’s 106 Grant Program, and is current as of May 30, 2012.

Download the Adoption of Numeric Standards data table for rivers and streams (excel) (2 pp, 33 K)

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State progress in completing, or providing estimated dates for completing, performance milestones towards adoption of state-wide total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) numeric criteria for lakes and reservoirs.

Note - criteria in development, proposed or adopted must lead to all state waters within a specific waterbody type being protected by standards in order to be given credit in this measure.

"No date provided" indicates that a state has not provided a date for anticipated completion of a milestone.  

"N.A." = Not Applicable, because the state has no lakes.

"Complete" indicates that a state has completed a milestone to which it previously committed.

Source: Information is provided by the states to EPA, in accordance with the Program Activity Measure WQ-1c from EPA’s 106 Grant Program, and is current as of May 30, 2012.

Download the Adoption of Numeric Standards data table for lakes and reservoirs (excel) (2 pp, 33 K)

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State progress in completing, or providing estimated dates for completing, performance milestones towards adoption of state-wide total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) numeric criteria for estuaries.

Note - criteria in development, proposed or adopted must lead to all state waters within a specific waterbody type being protected by standards in order to be given credit in this measure.

"No date provided" indicates that a state has not provided a date for anticipated completion of a milestone.

"N.A." = Not Applicable, because the state has no estuaries.

"Complete" indicates that a state has completed a milestone to which it previously committed.

Source: Information is provided by the states to EPA, in accordance with the Program Activity Measure WQ-1c from EPA’s 106 Grant Program, and is current as of May 30, 2012.

Download the Adoption of Numeric Standards data table for estuaries (excel) (2 pp, 33 K)

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Source of data

This information is submitted by states in support of the National Water Program, and maintained by EPA internally. For more information on EPA’s Program Activity Measures, refer to the EPA Office of Water’s Fiscal Year 2012 National Water Program Guidance.

Data source information
The information presented in this indicator is part of what states submit to EPA every year in support of the National Water Program. To help EPA track state progress on the steps taken towards adopting—on a state-wide basis—numeric total nitrogen and total phosphorus water quality standards for the three main waterbody types, states provide EPA with information concerning total nitrogen and total phosphorus numeric criteria development, proposal, and adoption through the following Program Activity Measures (PAMs), which were new for FY 2011 and required under the provisions of the Clean Water Act Section 106 grants:

• WQ-01a - Number of numeric water quality standards for total nitrogen and for total phosphorus adopted by states and territories (hereinafter ‘states’) and approved by EPA, or promulgated by EPA, for all waters within the state in each of the following waterbody types: lakes/reservoirs, rivers/streams, and estuaries.
• WQ-01b - Number of numeric water quality standards for total nitrogen and total phosphorus at least proposed in draft by states, or by EPA proposed rulemaking, for all waters within the state in each of the following waterbody types: lakes/reservoirs, rivers/streams, and estuaries.
• WQ-01c - Number of states supplying a full set of performance milestone information to EPA concerning development, proposal, and adoption of numeric water quality standards for total nitrogen and total phosphorus for each waterbody type within the state (annual).

The information presented in this indicator directly reflects the WQ-01c PAM, and is current as of May 30, 2012. For more information on these PAMs, visit EPA’s FY 2012 National Water Program Guidance (NWPG) Water Measure Definitions webpage.

References and links to other data sources

1. U.S. EPA. Nutrient Pollution Policy and Data website.

2. U.S. EPA. Status: State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards website.

3. U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA): Nutrient enrichment and criteria.

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