For immediate release April 3, 2006

TWO STATEWIDE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT REPORTS RELEASED

Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has released two water quality assessment reports. The 2006 305(b) Report: The Status of Water Quality in Tennessee is an assessment of the quality of the state's lakes, streams and wetlands. The 2006 303(d) List is a compilation of the impaired waters in Tennessee.

The department will solicit public comment on the draft 303(d) list at a series of public meetings in May and accept written comments through June 2, 2006. Both reports are prepared by the department's Division of Water Pollution Control every two years to inform the public and fulfill requirements of both state and federal laws.

"The primary mandate of the Division of Water Pollution Control is to preserve and protect the right of the people of Tennessee to safe and clean water," said Paul Davis, division director. "An important part of that mandate is our program for monitoring and assessing surface waters to determine if they are suitable for their intended uses."

Tennessee has an abundance of water resources with more than 60,000 miles of rivers and streams and nearly 538,000 lake and reservoir acres. Waters are classified for specific uses, with all streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs in Tennessee being classified at a minimum to meet the national goal of fishable and swimmable waters. Tennessee's classified uses include those designated to protect fish and other aquatic life; maintain streams for recreational uses such as swimming, wading and boating; minimize human health risks from pollutants and provide for public water supplies.

Water quality criteria establish how clean the water needs to be to maintain the public's uses. When different criteria are assigned for different uses of the same stream or lake, the department's rules require that the most stringent criterion be met.

"We use a combination of chemical, physical and biological monitoring methods on a rotating watershed basis to obtain information for our assessment," said Davis. "Reliable data from partner agencies and other sources are also utilized. The assessment then helps the department, other agencies, and watershed and community groups plan restoration activities to improve the quality of waters impacted by pollution."

The 305(b) Report summarizes the overall condition of Tennessee's waters and describes the types and sources of pollution affecting water quality. Silt, habitat modification, bacteria and nutrients are some of the pollutants most frequently cited as impacting water quality. As in previous assessment cycles, commonly documented sources of these pollutants include agricultural activities, general construction activities, urban runoff, municipal discharges and stream channelization.

The draft 303(d) List compiles into a single document all the waters known by the state to violate one or more water quality standards. Once identified, these streams and lakes are prioritized for specialized studies called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). TMDLs identify the sources of a pollutant causing problems and propose a strategy to restore the waterbody by controlling pollutant sources. Following the public comment period, Tennessee's 303(d) List must also be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Everyone is affected by water pollution and has a vested interest in improving water quality, and everyone contributes pollution in large or small ways," said Paul Sloan, deputy commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation. "By understanding the impacts of pollution and what each of us can do to reduce it, we collectively can make a difference in Tennessee and the world."

10 Ways You Can Make a Difference:

1. Get involved. Find out which watershed you live in and attend the Department's watershed meetings. Times and dates are posted at: www.tdec.net/wpc/watershed/public.shtml.
2. Reduce, reuse and recycle.
3. Conserve water and electricity at home and work.
4. Use and dispose of chemicals properly.
5. Never pour oil, paint or other chemicals on the ground, in sinkholes or down a drain.
6. Check septic systems periodically to make sure they are functioning properly.
7. Prevent erosion and runoff. The Department of Agriculture can recommend Best Management Practices to reduce soil loss and prevent pollution of waterbodies.
8. Obtain proper permits. Physical alteration of waterbodies can only be done as authorized by the state, and failure to obtain a permit before modifying a stream or river can lead to unnecessary impairment and is subject to enforcement.
9. Be alert for problems. More than just a few dead fish in a stream, someone pumping a liquid from a truck into a stream, unusual colors or odors, construction activities without proper erosion control measures and overflowing manholes.
10. Report observed problems and pollution. Call toll free 1-888-891-TDEC (8332) to be connected to the closest environmental field office.

The 2006 305(b) Report: The Status of Water Quality in Tennessee can be viewed or downloaded at www.tdec.net/wpc/publications/2006305b.pdf.

The draft 2006 303(d) List can be viewed or downloaded at www.tdec.net/wpc/publications/2006_303d.pdf. Written comments on the draft may be submitted to the Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control, 7^th Floor - L & C Annex, 401 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37243.

2006 303(d) List
Public Meeting Schedule

* Note: the Knoxville and Jackson Environmental Field Offices are relocating in the spring. The above locations are based on the projected move dates.

###

For more information contact:

Tisha Calabrese-Benton
(865) 594-5442 Office