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i United States Environmental Protection Awcy Office of Water 4384 EPA 822-R-98-002 June 1998 

### -- 

# National Strategy for 

# the Development of 

# Regional Nutrient Criteria
June 1998

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### CONTENTS

i IL

### PREFACE BY ROBERT PERCIASEPE, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF WATER
................................................................. 111 ... 

### NOTE TO 

### THE READER a . 

# - . . ............................................ 

### vi 

### I. INTRODUCTION
..................................................... 1 

### A-Background
........................................................ 

### 1 

### B. Nutrient 

### PollutionProblems
........................................... .2 

### C.

### Past Nutrient 

### Reduction Efforts

........................................ .2 

### D. Other 

### Current Nutrient-Related Efforts

................................... 3 

### 11. 

### THE NATIONAL NUTRIENT STRATEGY
............................... .5 

### A.The Five Key 

### Elements of the Strategy ................................... 6 

### B. How 

### the 

### Elements are 

### Integrated
....................................... 

### 14 111. 

### WATERBODY-TYPE TECHNICALGUIDANCE
........................... 

### 15 

### A.1ndicatox-s

........................................................ 

### 17 B.Data 

### Storage 

### and Processing
......................................... 

### .22 

### C.Management and 

### Evaluation
......................................... .25 

### D. Research Needs
.................................................... 

### 30 

### APPENDIX 

### A: Summary ofWater 

### Quality Criteria and Standards for

### Nutrient Overenrichment
............................................. 

### 35 

### APPENDIX B: Nutrient 

### CriteriaActivities and 

### Timeline
........................... 

### 41 

### APPENDIX C: Draft Outline 

### for the Development of

### Nutrient Criteria for 

### Rivers, 

### Lakes,Reservoirs,Estuarine and 

### Coastal Systems .................... 

### 45 

### APPENDIX 

### D: Drafting Committee for 

### the National 

### Nutrient 

### Strategy ................. 

### 49 

### APPENDIX 

### E: Excerpt fi-om 

### the 

### CleanWater

### Action Plan
......................... 

### 50 

### REFERENCES ........................................~...................52

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## PREFACE

In February of this year, President Clinton and Vice President Gore released a comprehensive Clean Water Action Plan. TheAction Planprovides a blueprint for Federal agencies to work with States and others stakeholders in restoring and protecting the Nation’s water resources and addresses three major goals:

0 enhanced protection fi-om public health threats posed by water pollution;

0 more effective control ofpolluted runoff;and

0 promotion ofwater quality restoration and protection 

### on a watershed basis. 

### A key part 

### of the Action 

### Planprovides for expanded efforts to reduce nutrient overenrichment 

### ofwaters. Nutrients, in appropriate amounts,are essential to the health of aquatic systems. Excessive nutrients,however,can result in excessive growth ofmacrophytes or phytoplankton and potentiallyharmhl algal blooms leading to oxygen declines, imbalance of aquatic species, public health threats, and a general decline 

### in the aquatic resource. Recent reports on water quality conditions provided by States indicate that nutrients are 

### the leading cause of impairment 

### in lakes and coastal waters and 

### the second leading cause of impairment to rivers and streams. Nutrient overenrichmenthas also been strongly linked to the large hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico and to recent outbreaks of the toxic microorganism P’esteria along the Gulf and Mid-Atlantic coasts. The Action Plan calls 

### on 

### EPA to accelerate the development of scientific information concerning the levels 

### of nutrients that causewater qualityproblems and to organize 

### this information by different types ofwaterbodies (e.g. streams, 

### lakes, coastal waters, wetlands) and ’ 

### by geographic regions of the country. 

### EPA is also to work with States and Tribes to adopt criteria (i.e. numeric concentration levels) for nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, as part of enforceable State water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. 

### This National Strategy for Development ofNutrient Criteria describes the approach that 

### EPA will follow 

### in developingnutrient information and working 

### with States and Tribes to adopt nutrient criteria as part 

### of State water quality standards. Some 

### key aspects of

### the Strategy are described below. 

### i 1 i

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... 111! Region and Waterbody Approach



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i Section 304(a) of the Clean Water 

### Act directs 

### EPA to develop scientific information 

### on pollutants and to publish “criteria guidance,” oftenexpressed as pollutant concentration levels, that 

### will result in attainment of a designated use 

### of the waterbody (e.g. fishing, swimming) that 

### is determined by the State. These concentration levels generally are the same for all types of waterbodies and to all areas ofthe country. States consider these 

### EPA “criteria guidance”when they adopt water quality standards for waterbodies. 

### A water quality standard commonly includes a designed use for the waterbody and criteria (i.e. concentration levels) for a range ofpollutants that 

### will assure that the waterbody 

### will support the designated use. In the case ofnutrients, however,there is a great deal 

### ofvariability in inherent nutrient levels and nutrient responses throughout 

### the country. This natural variability is due to differences in geology, climate and waterbody type. Because of this variation, 

### EPA’s custom ofdeveloping scientific information about apollutant and recommending a single pollutant concentration number to support a designated use for nationwide application 

### is not appropriate for nutrients. 

### EPA believes that distinct geographic regions and types ofwaterbodies need to be evaluated differently and that recommendednutrient concentration levels need to reflect geographic variation and waterbody types. Waterbody-Type Guidance Documents 

### An essential element of this Strategy is development of waterbody-typeguidance documents describing the techniques for assessing the trophic state of a waterbody and methodologies for developingnutrient criteria appropriate to different geographic regions. Separateguidance documents 

### will be developed for rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and wetlands. Each waterbody guidance document 

### will provide scientific information requiredby section 304(a) 

### of the Clean Water Act, including recommendednutrient concentration levels that are appropriate for the waterbody type, the geographic region, and various designated uses. 

### EPA will use State databases to develop these criteria guidance documents,supplementedwith new regional case studies and demonstrationprojects to provide additional information. 

### EPA expects that these levels 

### will be expressed as numerical target ranges for variables such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and other nutrient indicators. Guidance documents for rivers, lakes,and coastal waters 

### will be completed by the end 

### of the 

### year 2000 and the guidance document for wetlands 

### will be developed by 

### the end of 

### 2001. Adding Nutrients to Water Quality Standards 

### EPA expects States and Tribes to use 

### the waterbody type guidance documents and nutrient target ranges as a guide 

### in developing and adoptingnumeric levels for nutrients that support the designated uses of the waterbody as part 

### of State water quality standards. 

### EPA will 

### work with States to support and assist 

### in this process. States should have adopted nutrient criteria that support State designated uses by the end 

### of 2003. 

### EPA will review and approve the 

### new 

### or revised nutrient elements 

### ofwater quality ivstandards under Section 303(c)(3) of the Clean Water Act. 

### If 

### EPA disapproves the 

### new standard submittedby a State or Tribe (because 

### EPA determines that it is not scientifically defensible), or if 

### EPA determines that a new or revised nutrient standard is necessary for a State or Tribe (because 

### EPA determines that the State or Tribe has not demonstrated reasonableprogress toward developing numerical nutrient standards), 

### EPA will initiate rulemaking to promulgate nutrient criteria values that 

### will support the designated use 4fthe waterbody and are appropriate to the region and waterbody types. 

### Any resulting water quality standard would apply until the State or Tribe adopts,and 

### EPA approves,a revised standard. i Once adopted as part 

### of State or Tribal water quality standards,the nutrient criteria 

### in State standards

### will become the basis for identieing waters where nutrients result in impairment 

### ofwater quality and making many management decisions to reduce excessive nutrient levels in these waters. NationaI and RegionalNutrient Teams The Office ofWater 

### will provide additional technical and financial assistance to the Regions and States to accelerate 

### the development ofnutrient criteria. This effort 

### will include the establishment of aNational Nutrient Team,including coordinators from each 

### EPA Region. The Regional Coordinator

### will foster the development and implementationofState projects, databases,nutrient criteria and standards,and the award of financial assistance to States and Tribes to support these endeavors. Each Regional coordinator 

### will be responsible for nutrient management activities for that Region and 

### its member States and Tribes consistent with decisions ofthe national nutrient program. Each Regional Coordinator

### will form a Regional Nutrient Team that includes State and Tribal representativesand other federal and local representatives, as needed,to develop nutrient databases and nutrient target ranges. 

### I am confident that this effort to include nutrient concentration levels in State water quality standards 

### will be a major step forward for efforts to restore and protect 

### the Nation’s waters. 

### I look forward to working with water program managers and other interestedparties in 

### this important initiative.

- Robert Perciasepe Assistant Administrator Office ofWater Date

V! 

### NOTE TO THE 

### READER 

### Thisdocument sets forth 

### EPA’sstrategy to develop scientific information&e., criteria documents under section 304(a) 

### of the Clean Water Act) which 

### EPA will recommend that States use to adopt nutrient criteria to support State water quality standards. These nutrient criteria provide a critical foundationto address overenrichmentproblems 

### in the Nation’s surface waters. 

### It also provides guidance to States,Tribes and the public regarding how 

### EPA intends to exercise 

### its discretion in implementingthe provisions 

### of the Clean Water Act concerning 

### the adoption 

### of water quality standards. This document is designed to implement national policy on the issues it addresses. 

### It does not, however, substitute for the Clean Water Act or 

### EPA’s regulations;nor is it a regulation 

### itself. Thus,it cannot impose legallybinding requirements on 

### EPA, States,Tribes or the regulated community and may not apply to someparticular situations. 

### EPA, State and Tribal decisionmakersretain the discretion to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ from this guidance where appropriate. 

### EPA also retains discretion to change the guidance contained in this strategy 

### in the future.

!



### !

### I. INTRODUCTION A. Background Nutrients, in the appropriate amounts,are essential to the health and continued functioning of natural ecosystems. Depending upon specific characteristics ofthe receiving waterbodies,they can be present in excessive, limiting,or optimal amounts. Insufficient nutrients 

### will result in less than optimal growth ofprimary producers &e., plants, including phytoplankton and submerged aquatic vegetation). Adequate primary productivity is essential to support all the other trophic levels and a healthy, diverse, and productive ecosystem. Excessive nutrient loadings 

### will,however,result in excessive growth 

### ofmacrophytes or pihytoplankton and potentially harmful algal blooms 

### (HAB), leading to oxygen declines, imbalance ofprey and predator species,public health concerns,and a general decline of the aquatic resource. 

### It is the excesses 

### of these nutrients resulting from human activities, rather than natural spatial and temporal variations, that are the concern of this document and it is this cultural eutrophication that is most appropriately the subject ofmanagement efforts. When nutrient inputs exceed the assimilative capacity of a waterbody 

### system,

### the system progresses toward hypereutrophic conditions. Symptoms include 

### an overabundance ofprimary producers,decreased biological diversity, algal blooms (some toxic), low dissolved oxygen, episodic anoxia,loss ofvascular plant life, and fish 

### kills. Investigations have shown that the key causative factors are excessive concentrations of 

### the primary nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen. The term nutrient is loosely used to describe a compound that is necessary for metabolism. Nitrogen 

### (N) and phosphorus 

### (P) are required in relatively large amounts by cells and are called macronutrients, as opposed to micronutrients such as iron or molybdenum. Nutrient criteria is intended to be interpreted 

### in its broadest sense, covering both legal and scientific interpretations. Legally,a nutrient criterion is 

### the numeric value which supports a particular beneficial designated use 

### in defining a water quality standard. Scientifically,a nutrient criterion is meant to encompass both causal and responsevariables (e.g.,nitrogen or phosphorus levels), as 

### well as aquatic community response parameters such as but not limited to algal biomass, chlorophyll a, and secchi depth. Similarly, in this text the problem ofeutrophication is used to describe an increase 

### ofnutrients in a waterbody which results in an overabundance ofplant biomass 

### (Flemer, 1972). The terms water quality measurement and water resource measurement are both intended to mean a comprehensivemayofmeasurements including chemical, physical, and biological parameters . In all aquatic ecosystems some general processes determinewhether 

### N or 

### P is the limiting macronutrient and canbe expressed as 

### the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio 

### (N:P). -The Redfield ratio of

### NIP forprimary producers inmarine systems is approximately 16: 

### 1 on amolar scale 1(Redfield,1958). 

### In freshwater systems 

### the phosphorus limitation tends to be greater at an

### N:P ratio ofup to about 26:

### 1. Ecosystems that deviate substantially fkom these ratios are 

### likely to experiencenutrient limitation of either

### N or 

### P @e., if the ratio 

### inmarine or estuarinewaters is less than 

### 16,

### N could be limiting; if the ratio is greater than 16,

### P is probably the limiting nutrient). 

### B. Nutrient Pollution Problems According to the 

### U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

### (EPA’s) National Water Quality Inventory: 1996 Report to Congress (required under section 305(b) ofthe Clean Water Act), 50 States,Tribes, and other jurisdictions surveyed water quality conditions in 19 percent of the Nation’s total 3.6million miles of rivers and streams. Some 36% 

### of these surveyed waters were impaired by various pollutants. The leading cause of impairment was siltation,contributing to impairments 

### in 51% of these waters. Nutrients were 

### the secondmost significant cause of impairment,contributing to impairment of 40% 

### ofwaters. Excessive nutrients were the leading cause of impairment of affected lakes and impaired coastal waters at 51% and 

### 57% respectively. Excessive nutrients have also been linked to hypoxia conditions in the Gulf ofMexico and have been associated with outbreaks ofPfiesteria in several Gulf and Mid-Atlantic States. Sources historically associated with nutrient overenrichment are fertilizers, sewage treatment plants, detergents, septic systems,combined sewer overflows,sedimentmobilization, animal manure, atmosphericdeposition and internal nutrient recycling from sediments. Other factors that can influence overenrichment are light attenuation, land-use practices, and imbalance ofprimary, secondary,and tertiaryproducers and consumers (plankton,macrophytes, epiphytes,grazers, predators, and decomposers). 

### C. Past Nutrient Reduction Efforts Over the years,the 

### EPA’sOffice ofWater has issued a number oftechnical guidance documents and has supported the development ofwater quality simulationmodels and loading estimating models that can be used to assess the impacts ofurban,rural, and mixed land use activities on receiving waters. 

### In addition,some States currentlyhave water quality standards that incorporate criteria,primarily narrative, aimed at controllingproblems associated with nutrient overenrichment (see Appendix 

### A for a list 

### ofwater quality criteria and standards currently 

### in use by States). However,for State, Tribal and local agencies to better understand and manage nutrient impacts to surface waters, additional work is necessary. 

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### I According to a State Nutrient Water Quality Standards 1994 

### EPA Survey: 

### + 17 States have no 

### WQS fornitrates/nitrites 

### + 21 States have no 

### WQS forphosphorus 0 

### Many States have narrative standards only 

## + 10 States have adopted 

### EPA criteria unrelated to eutrophication (e.g., 

### 10 mg/L for nitrate, or 

### 0.10 ug/L elementalphosphorus) 

## + Only 9 criteria 

### (N and 

### P) are waterbody-based In 1993,the 

### EPA Nutrient Task Force gathered existing data on nutrient problems and currently available tools. 

### It recommended that 

### EPA provide additional assistance to States in developing and implementing appropriate nutrient indicators,assessment methodologies,and models. The first step in carrying out the recommendations of the task force was the nutrient overenrichment assessment workshop held 

### in Washington,

### DC, on December 

### 4-6, 1995. The workshop was organized around plenary and breakout group discussions 

### on fourmajor waterbody types: a 8 lakes, impoundments/reservoirs, and ponds;

8 rivers and streams;and estuarine and coastal marine water;

a wetlands. Issue papers describing the state of the science, gaps,and user needs in terms ofnutrient assessment tools and methodologies for each waterbody type were developed and used as foundations for these group discussions. The results of this workshop, compiled 

### inNational NutrientAssessment Workshop Proceedings 

### (EPA 822-R-96-004, 1996), form the basis of this Strategy. 

### D. Qther Current Nutrient-Related Efforts In addition to this Strategy, there are a number of other evolving efforts that focus on elements related to the nutrient overenrichmentproblem. These include 

### the following:

a Criteria and Standards Plan. The Plan describes six 

### new criteria and standards program initiatives that 

### EPA and the StatesITribes 

### will pursue over 

### the next decade including the nutrient criteria effort. The 

### Planpresents a “vision” and strategy formeeting these important

### new initiatives and improvements. The Plan 

### will guide 

### EPA and the StatedTribes

### in the development and implementationof criteria and standards and 

### will provide a basis for enhancements to the Total Maximum 

### Daily Load 

### (TMDL) program,National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

### (NPDES)permitting, nonpoint source control,wetlands protection and other water resources management efforts.

8 Nonpoint Sources: Picking 

### Up the Pace; 

### A National Strategy for Strengthening Nonpoint Source Pollution Management (draft, September 

## a1997). This strategy envisions that all StatedTribes, 

### with the active assistance and participationof all stakeholders,

### will implement dynamic and effective nonpoint source pollution programs to achieve and maintain beneficial uses ofwater by the end of calendar year 2013. Strategy for Addressing Environmental Public Health Impacts from Animal Feeding Operations 

### (AFOs) (draft, March 1998). This strategy strives to minimize environmental and public health impacts &om 

### AFOs through an effective mix 

### ofvoluntary and regulatory measures. 

### EPA is working with the 

### US Department ofAgriculture to develop ajoint 

### USDNEPA national strategy on Animal Feeding Operations. 

### This joint strategy

# -- which 

### will supersede 

### the draft 

### EPA AFO Strategy 

## -- will be published 

### in draft form in July and 

### in final form in November. The National Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Monitoring Strategy. This strategy was developed as an effort to coordinate Federal research and monitoring activities 

### onP'estevia and other 

### HABs. Federal 

### HAB programs are spread across several Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

### (NOM); 

### EPA; the Department ofHealth and 

### Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Instituteof Environmental Health Sciences 

### (DHHS- CDCP, 

### FDA, and 

### NIEHS); the National Biologic Service 

### (NBS);the National Science Foundation 

### (NSF); and 

### the 

### U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

### (USFWS), and an interagencyworkgroup was formed to address a diverse list of current and planned 

### HAB activities. After reporting relevant research and programmatic activities,questions were formulated that addressed the objectives 

### of a comprehensive research strategy. The research questions and objectives 

### were differentiated into near-termand longterm activities,and the workgroup classified each agency activity into groups that reflect 

### the eight objectives cited 

### inMarine Biotoxins andHarmful Algae: 

### A National Plan (Anderson et al. , 1993). Agency activities have been categorized into these objectives allowing 

### the workgroup to identify obvious coordination points, and datdresearch gaps, Water Quality Standards Regulation: Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making 

### (ANPRM).

### EPA is about to publish an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

### (ANPRM) on the Water Quality Standards Regulation 

### in the Federal Register. The

### ANPRM solicits public comment onpotential revisions to the basic water quality standardsprogram regulation governing State adoption and 

### EPA approval ofwater quality standards under Section 303(c) of the 

### Clean Water Act. The

### ANPRM also requests comment on changes inpolicy and guidance that support the regulation. The

### ANPRM expresses current 

### EPA thinking 

### in a number of areas addressed by 

### the current regulation, policy and guidance and requests comment on that thinking. i L L

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### ANPRM is updating and modernizing water quality standards so that standards may be better implemented on a watershed basis using refineduse designations and tailored criteria. 

### New science and assessment methodologies,as 

### well as better data, and new types ofdata and analysis would need to be used by States and Tribes to refine water quality standards 

### in 

### this manner. The

### ANPRM highlights the potential resource challenge for States and Tribes and requests commentregarding concerns over resource constraints and ideas for how to address them.

0 

### The USDA Nutrient Management 

### Policy. 

### The USDA’sNatural Resources Conservation Service 

### (NRCS) proposed a revised nutrient managementpolicy to its National Agronomy Manual. This revised policy 

### will impact the 

### NRCS national conservation practice standards for Nutrient Management (Code 590) and Waste Utilization (Code 

### 633). 

### The nutrient policy discusses certification ofplans, describes what 

### is 

### in nutrient management plans, and discusses soil and plant tissue testing, nutrient application rates,record keeping and other special considerations. The revised policy 

### will be adopted after the June 

### 22, 

### 1998 commentperiod closes. The groups developing the strategies are all investigating related problems
... land use-nutrient loading relationships,ecological responses,and appropriate mitigation activities. 

### As all ofthese strategiesprogress, it 

### will be essential to coordinate the information and activities that result so that consistent policy is developed. 11. 

### EPA NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR 

### DEVELOPING REGIONAL NUTRIENT CRITERIA

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### This Strategy proposes to build on the work accomplished to date and to establish an objective, scientificallysound basis for assessing nutrient overenrichment problems. Improving the basis for assessing nutrient overenrichmentproblems 

### will provide critical support for expanded efforts to control nutrient levels in waters and meet the Nation’s clean water goals. Specifically,this Strategy proposes a two-phase process for 

### the development ofwater quality standards for nutrients: 1) 

### EPA will develop “nutrient criteria guidance” for nitrogen,phosphorus, and other nutrientparameters such 

### as chlorophyll a, secchi depth,and algal biomass. These criteria 

### will be developed under section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act and 

### will represent 

### EPA’s guidance regarding 

### the amounts of those contaminants that may be present 

### in waters without impairing their designated uses. Unlike other criteria guidance that 

### EPA has developed, 

### EPA intends to express nutrient criteria guidance as numerical ranges, reflecting a menu ofdifferent values based on the type ofwaterbody (isog streams and rivers, coastal waters and estuaries, lakes and reservoirs, and wetlands) and 

### the region ofthe country 

### inwhich 

### the water is located.
i 5 2) 

### EPA expects States and Tribes to adopt 

### nutrient water quality criteriai (including

### N and 

### P concentration levels) to support designated uses of waters, These “nutrient criteria”

### will be based 

### on EPA’snutrient criteria guidance or other scientifically defensible methods and 

### will be incorporated into the States’water quality standards. The goal is for the StatedTribes to establish these criteria as part of

### their water quality standards as soon as the appropriate criteria guidance is developed. The target date for adoption of nutrient criteria as part ofwater quality standards 

### is within three years of completion of the guidance, 

### (ie., by the end of 

### the calendar year 2003). 

### EPA will step in and promulgate nutrient water quality criteria for a State or Tribe 

### if 

### EPA determines that federal action is necessary. Adding nutrient criteria to State water quality standards is essential for Federal, State and local agencies, and the public, to better understand,identify, and manage 

### nutrient overenrichmentproblems 

### in surface waters. The following sections 

### will present 

### the key elements 

### of the Strategy and describe the tasks and activities that 

### EPA will undertake to promote nutrient assessment and criteria development over the next several years. 

### A. The Five Key Elements of the Strategy 1) Geographic Region Approach. 

### EPA intends to develop nutrient criteria guidance 

### on a regional,rather than a national,basis. The Agency expects States and Tribes to develop water quality criteria and standards for nutrients in their geographic regions based on the guidance provided by 

### EPA. The criteria establishedwould therefore be the product of a joint EPA-State/Tribal effort tailored to that part of the country. This approachpermits the objective of overenrichment abatement to be met by recognizing the ambient “natural” background levels ofnutrients 

### in each region and then concentrating on the “cultural” eutrophicationwhich exceeds this. 

### As noted below,regional criteria information

### will be presented for four categories 

### of waterbodies. Although 

### this Strategy is organized around 

### the fourmajor waterbody types specifiedbelow,it 

### is recognized that approaches for assessing regional and waterbody-specific nutrient concernsmust consider that waterbody types are not independent from each other,but are part ofan interconnected and larger system. 

### With that 

### in mind, the need for integration of concepts associated 

### with the assessment and control ofnutrient overenrichmentbetween waterbody types is clear. This understanding of an integrated approach is an important concept to keep 

### inmind during the implementationof 

### this Strategy. Onewell-defined spatial framework which can be used to define a region for nutrient assessment is the “ecoregion7’ system developed by James Omernik of the 

### EPA Corvalis, 

### OR laboratory. 

### While it is acknowledged that several other classificationschemes have been developed,for the purposes of this strategy,

### EPA plans to use Ecoregions as defined by Omernik et al., to initiate development ofregional nutrient indicatorranges and,ultimately, to include them in the State and Tribal nutrient water quality criteria. 

### A draft map has been created as a startingpoint for 

### this 1

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6process (See figure 1). 

### Still to be determined is what scale of ecoregion is appropriate for the development of regional nutrient criteria guidance 

### within a shortperiod oftime (by the end of calendar year 2000). 

### The degree ofvariability

### within each of these 

### 14nutrient ecoregions 

### will determinewhether the map needs 

### furtherrefinement. These issues 

### will be resolved once data has been reviewed, analyzed,and discussed at meetings of the National Nutrient Team and its Regional components (see 

### item 4 below). 

### In addition, 

### this does not preclude the use of other classificationschemes by Regions and States and Tribes if they are judged to be more appropriate for that part of the country. For more details on 

### the ecoregion concept and how it can be applied in a nutrient assessment see Omernik (1995) and Omernik et a1 (1988). Upon determination ofthe best ecoregion scale, the next task which is integral to the development of nutrient ecoregional ranges is the identification ofreference conditions 

### within each of the nutrient ecoregions. Reference conditions refer to information from relativelyundisturbed areas within each ecoregion. 

### The concept ofreference conditions and how they are selected

### will be described 

### inmore detail 

### in the technical guidance documents. 2) Waterbody-TypeTechnical Guidance. 

### A major element 

### of this Strategy

### will be the technical nutrient criteria guidance manuals,which 

### will provide methodologies for developing region-specificnutrient criteria by waterbody type:
0 streams and rivers,
0 lakes and reservoirs,

0 wetlands. a estuaries and coastal marine waters,and
Thesemanuals 

### will also include discussions on overenrichment indicators, sampling and analytical techniques, and managementmethods. Themanuals 

### will be designed to be adapted 

### in the various regions of the country. The manuals 

### will also provide technical assistance to implement nutrient abatementpractices and 

### will include dataprocessing and manipulation techniques,best management practices, and case study demonstrations. 

### An outline 

### of the proposed content of the guidance document is 

### in Appendix 

### Cy and elements of the technicaI material are presented 

### inpart 

### III of this document. 

### EPA plans to publish guidance documents for streams and rivers, and lakes and reservoirs in 

### 1999;a guidance document on estuaries and coastal marine waters 

### in 2000;and a guidance document onwetlands in 2001. 

### In each document,where data is available,

### EPA will also provide target regional nutrient ranges for phosphorus and nitrogen (and potentially other parameters), which States and Tribes may elect to use as the basis of their nutrient criteria and standards in lieu of applying the methodology. Where appropriate, they may also use these values as the basis for TMDLsand 

### "DES permit limits. 

### EPA and the Regional teams 

### will collect and organize nutrient data on a geographic basis and develop target nutrient ranges based on historical nutrient data, reference conditions, and expert

## ii

! panel opinion. Where adequate data is available, 

### EPA intends to append these ranges to its waterbody-type guidance manuals. 

### This information can be used by individual Statesmribes which lack sufficientdata of their own. Each appendix

### will be a “stand alone,” peer reviewed document for a specific nutrient ecoregion. 

### As apreliminary measure for development of these nutrient criteria 

### ( Le., the particular indicators used to assess the overenrichmentor potential for overenrichment of awaterbody), 

### EPA is seeking the cooperationof States and Tribes to pool available informationin 

### the determination of such ranges oftarget values for each region of the country. 

### EPA will initially develop ranges for phosphorus,nitrogen, chlorophyll and secchi depth. Collecting the data necessary to establish ranges for these parameters 

### will be the first priority of the National Nutrient 

### Team and Regional Coordinators. These ranges are intended to reflect the variability of conditions typically associated with particular waterbody types within an ecoregion. 

### In addition, the ranges of target values serve as a startingpoint for making the proper measurements ofwaterbody enrichment and overenrichment,sothe appropriate management can be initiated. The guidance manuals are designed to provide the best methods for suchmeasuring and evaluation. 

### An essential element of this process 

### is 

### the determination of the natural,background trophic state representative (Reference condition) of that area and waterbody so that abatementmanagement can be directed at the cultural eutrophication of concern. 

### It is not the intention of 

### this strategy or the subsequentprogram to require States or Tribes to correct a natural enrichmentprocess typical of their region;rather it is the purpose 

### of the strategy to help States and Tribes develop mechanisms to remedy the enrichment effects ofhuman development and commercewhich impede the biota and beneficial uses 

### of that waterbody. 3) Nutrient Criteria and Standards Development.,

I



### ! Upon completion of all the waterbody-typeguidance documents,

### EPA expects all States and Tribes to adopt and implement numerical nutrient criteria into their water quality standards within three years 

### ofpublication ofwaterbody type guidance documents and to complete adoption of nutrient criteria for all waterbodies in the State by no later than December 31,2003. 

### EPA expects States and Tribes to accomplish this by developing their own regional values 

### inwatersheds where applicable data are available,or by using the 

### EPA target nutrient ranges. 

### EPA expects States and Tribes to select a single value within the range as their water quality criterionwhere data is sufficient. With regard to criteria and standards development,State and Tribes can choose to use 

### the following approaches:



### - The 

### EPA target ranges,or values 

### within those ranges,canbe directly adopted by the States or Tribes as their criteria and standards and used to interpret narrative standards

~


### - The States or Tribes can use the 

### EPA target ranges together with 

### their own 9

Idatabases to develop 

### their own criteria or to evaluate the protectiveness ofany numericalnutrient criteria they may alreadyhave.



### - States or Tribes may elect to use the 

### EPA methodology described in waterbody-type guidance to develop criteria or employ their 

### own approach,independent of the ranges, as long as it is scientifically defensible. Once submitted to 

### EPA, the Agency 

### will review the 

### new or revised standards under Section 303(c)(3) of the Clean Water Act. 

### If 

### EPA disapproves the new standard submittedby a State or Tribe (e.g., because 

### EPA determines that it is not scientifically defensible), or if 

### EPA determines that a 

### new or revised nutrients standard is necessary for a State or Tribe (e.g., because 

### EPA determines that the State or Tribe has not demonstrated reasonableprogress toward developing numerical nutrient standards), 

### EPA will initiate rulemaking to promulgate nutrient criteria values appropriate to the region and waterbody types. 

### Any resulting water quality standard would apply until the State or Tribe adopts and 

### EPA approves a revised standard. In the event 

### EPA promulgates nutrient water quality standards for a State or Tribe, 

### EPA would likely use the point in the range of greatest confidence (ie., central tendency). When reviewing the adequacy of State/Tnbederived criteria and or ascertaining whether a State or Tribe is making reasonableprogress toward developing an adequate nutrient criterion and standard,

### EPA is likely to use the target ranges. When the initial target ranges have been established and the States or Tribes have begun the criteria and standard development process, 

### EPA through the Regional Nutrient Coordinators 

### will also provide technical and financial assistance for nutrientmanagementplanning and application. This 

### will be through guidance manuals and the services ofregional and national specialists associated with the Team,as well as financial assistance also administrated by these Regional Nutrient Coordinators. 4) Nutrient 

### Teams. I 1.-



### EPA Headquarters and Regional staff

### will work closelywith State officials and other interestedparties in the development of the nutrient criteria. The overall national nutrient criteria project 

### will be managed by aNational Nutrient 

### Team. The 

### EPA National Nutrient Team 

### will include Office of Water staff, a Coordinator from each 

### EPA Region, State/Tribal representatives,and representativesofother Federal agencies 

### (See Figures 

### 2 and 3). 

### EPA will provide guidance and support to States/Tribes in 

### the form of technical and financial assistance to help establish their regional programs. 

### In addition, each Regional Office 

### will select a Regional Nutrient Coordinatorand 

### will establish a RegionalNutrient Team. 

### The Regional Coordinator

### will promote the development and implementationof State and Tribal projects, databases,and nutrient criteria and standards, as well as manage the award 

### of financial assistance to support 

### this endeavor. Specifically, Regional Coordinators

### will have a large role facilitating 

### the collectionofnutrient data fiom States and Tribes within their Regions. Ultimately, the Regional Coordinators and National Team 

### will work together to develop nutrient ranges for each ecoregionwherever appropriate data is available. !

10

### FIG.2 

# National 

# Nutrient Team EPA HQ Offices 

# (OW, ORD) 10 Regional Coordinators 3-5

## States Other Federal Agencies 

# (USGS, 

# NOM, USDA, et. al.) Function: 

## Establish ecoregion maps for 

## nutrients Establish best process for 

## collecting data from 

## all sources Establish best process for 

## analyzing data and developing nutrient criteria 

# (minimum data and statistics)

FIG.3 

# Regional 

# Nutrient Team 1 Regional Nutrient Coordinator 

# 1 

# HQ Representative 

# 1 State 

## Representative from each State in 

# the Region Other Federal/State/Local Representatives as needed Function: 

## Collect and analyze regional nutrient data Establish nutrient ranges (criteria) Award 

## assistance grants to 

## State/Academiawhere gaps exist in 

## our knowledge

### Ten Regional Nutrient Coordinators, one fkom each Region, have been selected and they have begun the process of forming their Regional 

### Nutrient Teams. Regional Teams 

### will likely include representatives fkom each State 

### in the Region and other federal, State, local representatives, as needed (including water qualitymanagers, 

### "DES permit writers, field biologists,monitoring and modeling experts). For example,a regional team could include other Regional 

### EPA specialistssuch as those 

### inRegional and 

### ORD laboratories,as 

### well as specialists from such agencies as the 

### U.S. Geological Survey 

### (USGS); NOM- National Marine Fisheries Service 

### (NOAA-NMFS); the 

### U.S. Department ofAgriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Cooperative State Research,Education,and Extension Service 

### (USDA- 

### NRCS and 

### CSREES); the 

### U.S. Forest Service 

### (USFS); and 

### the 

### USFWS. State/Tribalcounterparts of 

### these agencies and States and Tribes regulatory specialists should also be included. University specialists should be considered, as well as the local communities and environmental and special interest groups. While this list 

### ofparticipants might be 

### the ideal, in reality local circumstances

### will probably dictate a smaller group whose compositionis likely to change with time and needs. However, the agency and community resources described above should,at the very least,be consulted for information and historical perspectives on the waters 

### in question. 

### As technical guidance and assistance is established 

### in the various States and Tribes,periodic meetings of the Regional Nutrient Team Coordinators should be held to compare experiences, including successes and failures of approaches taken and techniques tried. Key participants, in addition to the Coordinators,should be the specialists and natural resource managers (as described above) who conducted the work so detailed question-and-answer sessions can be held. 

### A proceedings document for each of these meetings shouldbe prepared and circulated among the States and Tribes and agencies promptly so nutrient measurement and management information can be rapidly disseminated. Following organizational meetings at which the objectives ofthe program are established, the business of obtaining State and Tribal cooperation in providing nutrient and other enrichment indicatordata must be addressed. This is best accomplished by indicating the positive consequences of the information exchange. 

### A trial watershed project, 

### inwhich the information is actually applied to help solve an overenrichmentproblem significant to the State/Tribe,is an appropriate way to start. 

### This demonstrationproject can be initiated 

### in tandem with the overall data-gatheringeffort and 

### will serve as an incentive to other StatedTribes to become involved. 5) Management and Evaluation. 

### i

i While the primary focus of this Strategy is to develop regional nutrient criteria guidance,it 

### is essential to understand the role criteria and standards play 

### in overall nutrient management. The management ofnutrient overenrichment is not just the development 

### of nutrient criteria and 

### the application of standards; it is amanagementprocess which must integrate a number of programs and methods including but not limited to: Nonpoint and Watershed programs; 

### "DES Permitting program; Biosolids Managementprogram.


### 12i

1 These various programs offermany options for the resource manager to consider and there are many newprograms still being developed. However,there are some fimdamental management concepts that should apply inmost 

### of these situations. Presentedbelow are ten sequential elements to consider. This comprehensive approach incorporates all of the key elements essential to good managementplanning,but the user might find that some steps can be consolidated or that circumstancesnecessitate a different sequence in the chronology. 

### 1

~ Problem identification Make sure a problem exists and is clearly defined in terms that make it possible to 

### seek a solution. 2, Background investigation Use literature searches,questionnaires, interviews, and other background investigations to better describe the problem and determine the information available about it. 3. Data gathering Conduct an assessment 

### ofwater quality includingphysical, chemical,and biological parameters and related loading sources in the watersheds. This step shouldusually be ofone or more years’ duration to accommodate seasonal and annual variation. 

### i 4. Identification

### ofkey problem areas Conduct a thorough assessment of all of 

### the above information.

i

,

t



### ! 5. Alternative management options Evaluate each possibility and its impact onpresent uses with respect to scientific validity, cost-effectiveness, and sociopolitical feasibility. Involve local and States and Tribal governments, property owners,citizen groups,and public and business interests in discussions about the optimal approach. 

### 6. Detailed manarrement plan Prepare aplan that discusses how to address each key element of the nutrient problem in the most effective sequence. Include a stepwise sequence of coordinated activities 

### in detail. Usually such amanagement plan is of amaximum 5-year duration. Such a duration accommodates sufficientmeasurement and seasonal variation but is short enough inplanning scope to be included 

### in most budget systems. Longer projects might require sequential management plans. 7’. Implementationand communication Initiate the managementprogram, including adoption ofnutrient water quality criteria and standards and,where appropriate,establishment 

### ofnutrients limitations in

### NPDES permits and development 

### of 

### TMDLs as elements of 

### the program. Maintain community,interest group,and other agency involvement through regular updates on the process. 

### This communicationmay begin earlier, e.g., at step 

### 4or sooner,but it 13should be emphasized here. 8. Monitorine and periodic review Incorporate water quality monitoring before, during,and after the project to demonstraterelativeresponse of the system to management efforts. Build 

### in specific intervals for management review to allow response to changing circumstances; modifications ofmethods and schedules; and changes 

### in emphasis as needed. '
9. Completion and evaluation Has the water resource been protected or improved? Give credit to the community and other participants. Report 

### on successes and failures for fiture applications and on lessons learned. 10. Continuemonitorine and maintenance Water resource monitoring stations and parameters should continue on a reduced scale. Ensure regular maintenance ofmanagement efforts to preserve 

### the effects achieved. Monitoring provides warning of

### any fiture degradation, so,ifnecessary, resource managers can intervene in a timely, cost-effective manner. Close the cycle by returning to step 

### 1 for next generation response. With a good database predicated on reliable indicators and the development ofregional nutrient criteria guidance, States, Tribes, and other jurisdictions

### will be capable not only of assessing the trophic status of their waters,but also shouldbe able to establish their criteria and plan,prioritize, and evaluate their managementresponses. In doing so,all five strategy objectives are interrelated at the regional level where problem recognition and remediationare most effective
. 

### B. How the Elements are Integrated This national Strategy consists of a regional, waterbody-type approach which permits the variability in natural nutrient loadings to waterbodies around the country to be recognized, and criteria to be establishedwhich account for 

### this variability. The criteria so developed 

### will also be waterbody-typespecific because different waterbodies respond differently to nutrient loadings. 

### Also, 

### in recognition of 

### this discrete,but interrelated enrichment process, 

### the finally developed criteria must 

### limitnot only the unacceptable enrichment of a given waterbody or watercourse,but also must factor 

### in 

### the effects of that enrichment on downstream receiving waters. The waterbody-type technical guidance manuals being developed

### will provide specific guidance to 

### the States and Tribes formaking the necessary measurements and for developing the criteria 

### from those measurements,including 

### the establishment of regional target values as guidelines. These manuals (including wetlands) are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2001. Each technical guidancemanual 

### will include ecoregional target ranges. If there is sufficient data 

### within each ofthe 

### 14 ecoregions available to develop a nutrient range 

### within each of the ecoregions for 

### the fourwaterbody types, 56 nutrient range appendices

### will be developed by 

### the end of 2000. If sufficientnutrient data 

### is not available or is insufficient to i

!

f



### 14develop an acceptable peer reviewed nutrient range,

### EPA will continue to promote data development in these ecoregions after publication 

### of guidance. Once the nutrient guidance and ecoregional ranges are completed it is expected that StatesEribes

### will develop nutrient criteria (see Figure 

### 4). The implementation of the criteria 

### will be supportedby the regional nutrient teams by providing technical and logistical expertise as well as hding assistance. The criteria can then be used in management planning and evaluation 

### on awatershed basis 

### with community involvement so the ultimate objective 

### of enhancing and protecting our nations water resources is achieved. !

I 111. 

### WATERBODY-TYPE 

### TECHNICAL GUIDANCE. Waterbody-typeguidancemanuals 

### will provide the standardizedmethods available to 

### the StatedTribes and other jurisdictions to promote the development 

### of consistent regional databases that reflect conditions 

### in each part 

### of the country. 

### This is importantbecause overenrichment and natural levels 

### of enrichment differ from one geographic area to another, 

### in part because 

### of differing cultural,geologic, and climatologic influences. These factors change the ambient background 

### from one region to another and necessitate a regional approach to these measurements and to 

### the nutrient criteria to be developed. 

### A key element of each waterbody-type guidance manual is the recommended list of reliable indicators 

### of overenrichment,how they might best be measured,and how and when to collect the necessary samples for this measurement. (These manuals may also include sections addressing the remaining objectives of this strategy,

### Le.,data storage and assessment,research needs, and best managementpractices for nutrient impact mitigation.) 

### EPA intends that the publication 

### of these technical guidance documents 

### will help standardize assessments and promote regional interstate cooperationfor nutrient control. The following is 

### apartial listing of overenrichment indicators, data requirements, management options; and research needs recommended by the component nutrient workgroups at the December 1995 meeting in Washington 

### DC, and by subsequentreviewers. Someofthese recommendations are qualitative 

### innature; such indicators are also valuable and definitive 

### in their ownright. 

### All of the indicators are meant to serve as a startingpoint for enrichment assessments, which are expected to be expanded and refined into more quantitative evaluations as the guidance is further developed and as individual Statesnribes

### make regional adjustments to the methods. Even as apartial listing, this material may seem remarkablydetailed to the general reader for a strategy document. 

### It must be recognized that this strategy is predicated upon the proper

15I Imeasurement ofvalid environmental indicators for the establishment of scientifically defensible nutrient criteria. The identification of the premises upon which these criteria are based is essential to a fair and objective review of this strategyby the public. 

### A. 

### INDICATORS The indicators (parameters) listed below are the initial candidates for inclusion 

### in the guidance documents. Each 

### EPA technical guidance drafting committee 

### will make final recommendations as they 

### fkrther explore the scientific veracity and practicality of the material. Additionally, each document 

### will include recommendations for the most appropriate sampling and analytical techniques. 

### LAKES

### AND RESERVOIRS 

### A focus of this guidance

### will be to establish the connectionbetween lake nutrient environmental impacts to public health concerns,e.g., septic and sewage effluent discharges. This twofold approach relating environmental degradation to potential public health 

### risks (as well as recreational uses and biodiversity concerns) should 

### hrther stimulate public support of these initiatives. 

### An outline of this proposed guidance document is attached as Appendix 

### C. The guidance 

### will include and emphasize watershed-scale assessmentsand management approaches,illustrated by case histories and demonstrationprojects. Surveys should address both spatial and temporal variability, including seasonality and 

### in some
. instances variation over 

### the course of a day. Wheneverpossible,year-roundsampling 

### is advisable. For 

### in-lakesurveys,it is presumed that the investigator

### will design for optimal spatial and bathymetricplacement of the stations for that waterbody and that these data 

### will be compared to reference lakes in that classification. Some of the parameters or indicators to consider follow:

a Early Warning WatershedIndicators 

### -Land useAoading assessments and changes 

### in watersheds (geographic information systems 

### (GIs) are effective tools for evaluating nutrient loadings as a function of land use at avariety of scales). 

### In areas ofthe country where agriculture and/or animal feeding operations exist, it is imperative to identify and assess these locations ofpotential sources 

### ofnutrients by collecting data on size and location 

### of farms/animalfeeding operations 

### within a given watershed. 

### - Changes inhydrologic regimes

e 

### ChemicaUBiomass Pararneters 

### - Phosphorus 

### (P) concentration (total 

### P 

### (TP) and total dissolved 

### P in hypolimnion 

### ) 

### -Nitrogen 

### (N)Concentration (total 

### KN, NO,as 

### N, 

### NO,as 

### N, and 

### NH, as 

### N, e.g., total 

### N (TN), also N:P ratios) 

# - Chlorophyll (total or chlorophyll a)

### - Secchi disk depth (m) 

### - DO (hypolimetic) i

0 CommunityStructure Parameters 

### - Algal community (compositionand biomass) 

### - Macroinvertebrate structure (composition and biomass)
- Fish (composition and biomass)
- Macrophytes (composition and biomass) Secondary Parameters 

### - Total suspended solids 

### (TSS) 

### - Total organic carbon 

### (TOC)

0 hdicatorsfor ImmediateAssessment 

### -Preliminary survey data in addition to early warning land use information: 

### TP, total chlorophyll, Secchi depth and 

### DO.These should have established validity, low cost, and they should be readily used in prediction and modeling. 

### A historical perspective might be helpfid to the data assessmentprocess by integrating paleolimnological surveyswith an evaluation of land use practices and changes. 

### STREAMSAND 

### RIVERS It is useful, for assessment purposes,to separate streams and rivers into two categories with optimal reference systems: for plankton-dominated systems and periphyton-dominated systems. Themajor differentiating characteristic between these two systems is that nutrients saturate the biomass at amuch lower level in the periphyton-dominatedsystems than they do in the plankton-dominatedsystems. Summarized below are potential nutrient indicators for the plankton-dominated and periphyton-dominatedsystems. 

### Early warning indicators of potential excess nutrient loadings may be significant 

### shifts in land use patterns or 

### in climatological events or other activities contributing to extreme runoff. The indicators that follow are not presented in any order of sensitivityor 

### utility. Plankton-dom inated Svstems



### -Algal biomass coverage) 

### -Transparency 

### -TN Periphyton-dominated Svstems



### -Algal biomass 

### (mg/m’ percent



### -Transparency 

### -TN, dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Approm-iate to Either Plankton or Periphvton-dominated Svstems
18 

## L1

1

6 t 

## c

i 

## ji 

### -pH (maximum andrdiel)



### -DO (minimumand diel)



### -Ash Free 

### Dry Weight 

### (AFDW)/



### -Aesthetics (foam, scum) 

### -Benthic communitymetabolism Chlorophyll a



### - Secondaryproduction (meiofauna, index macroinvertebrates, 

### fish) 

### -Hydrologic characteristics 

### -TP, soluble reactive

. phosphorus 

### (SRP)


### ESTUARIESAND COASTAL

### MARINE WATERS 

### - Sediment composition (physicalkhemical) 

# -Ratios 

### of summer/winternutrient concentration 

### -Ratios 

### of dissolvedtotal nutrient concentrations 

### -Temperature
-

### TSS, volatile to suspended solids ratio 

### -Biointegrity (macroinvertebrate



### -Productiodrespiration 

### -Dissolved organic material
-Relative plankton composition of Cyanophyta and dinoflagellates community composition)

Estuaries and coastal marine systems can be subclassified for assessment according to 

### the dominant vegetation type, as was done by the Estuaries Workgroup during the 

### 1995 workshop. However,other systems of classification,such as classificationby physical characteristics,can also be used. Theparticipants in the December 1995 workshop selected 

### the following categories: seagrass-dominated, plankton-dominated,and macroalgaedominated (as indicated below). The indicators associated with these categories can be applied to either short-term or long-termassessments. 

### It should also be noted that there are physical, chemical,and biological indicators other than those listed below (such as fish 

### kills, suspendedmaterial, nutrient concentrations, toxins, and benthic invertebrate communities). 

### Early warning indicators ofpotential excess nutrient loadings might be significant shifts in land use patterns or in climatological events or other activities contributing to extreme 

### runoff. 

### All indicatormeasurements 

### in these waters must be qualified by attention to tide cycles,density and salinity gradients, and currents when 

### they were made.

e Seagrass-dominatedSystems 

### -Areal surveys ofdistribution,abundance, and depth ofgrasses -Waterbody-typelight requirements (seagrass depth vs. light attenuation) 

### -C:N:P ratios 

### in plant leaves 

### -Leaf chlorophyll a 

### -Quantum irradience levels 

### -Chlorophylla-to-b ratios 

### -Transparency

0 Hankton-dominatedSvsterns 

### -Chlorophylla 

### -Algae such as cyanophyta, dinoflagellate,and diatom assemblages including

### HABs;



### -DO determinations that consider cyclic fluctuations and distinguishbetween natural documentation ofthe incidence and location ofblooms
19

### i and anthropogenic causes 

### -The role of silica relative to nitrogen and phosphorus 

### inphytoplanktonblooms
-Macroinvertebrateand other consumer community changes

9 Macroalpae-dominatedSvstems 

### -Macroalgae influenceon 

### DO concentrations,dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and lower trophic levels. 

### WETLANDS Methods for assessing nutrient impacts to wetlands are perhaps less established and standardized than those for the other waterbody types. This is due to the variabilitywithin wetland types (e.g.,bogs, swamps, etc.) and the lack 

### of historic databases in these areas. Somemethods developed for 

### lakes and rivers are applicable to wetlands with standing water, but there are fewmethods appropriate for wetlands that have saturated soils or are infrequently flooded. Surveys ofwetlands should address both the spatial and temporal variability innutrient levels, including seasonal and diel variation. Surveys should also address the variation in nutrient levels both within awetland and between different wetland types. Somewetlands are often naturally eutrophic and 

### will respond to nutrient additions much differentlythanbogs and other oligotrophic wetlands. The variability 

### inplant communities (i.e., succession) 

### will also affect how awetland assimilatesnutrients. 

### The following are suggestedmethods for assessing the effects ofnutrients 

### inwetland habitats. However,formost of these parameters,fewbaseline data are available 

### with which to compare collected data.

e Early Warning Watershed Indicators
-Land use/loading assessments and changes inwatersheds
-Precipitation, in-flow, runoff, and any extreme climatological or anthropogenic events

0 Chemical/Biomass Parameters
-Phosphorus concentration (total) 

### -Nitrogen concentration (total, also N:P ratios) 

### - Chlorophyll (total or chlorophyll a)
- Secchi disk depth (m) (for wetlands with standing water)
-

### DO and soil oxygen demand Biological Assemblage Parameters (e.g.,composition, richness,diversity, and indicator species) 

### -Attached microbial community 

### -Algae such as dinoflagellates and diatoms
-Macrophytes including emergent vegetation 

### -Macroinvertebrates
-Fish (for wetlands with standing water) i

i

i

r

9 Secondary Parameters 20

### -TSS
-

### TOC Since wetlands differ 

### in their capacity to assimilatenutrients, it might be difficult to evaluate whether a given nutrient load 

### will have a significant ecological impact 

### on a wetland. Biological monitoring is useful to assess the response ofwetland plants and animal assemblages to overenrichment and to detect degraded habitats. Microbial,macrophyte communities and algae, such as dinoflagellate and diatom assemblages,are particularly usefbl for detecting nutrient impacts by measuring their diversity,richness,composition,and structure. These assemblages can be compared to the assemblages found 

### in reference wetlands that range fiom “minimally disturbed” to severely impactedby nutrient enrichment. Thus,the biological integrityof awetland canbe determined relative to 

### the biologic assemblagespresent in the referencewetlands. The macroinvertebrate, fish, and plant assemblages can also reflect direct impacts of overenrichment and indirect impacts such as reduced levels of dissolved oxygen. Another method ofmonitoring wetlands is to identify the accumulation oforganic material over time as an indication of a change 

### inproductivity. 

### This can be done by placing pieces of feldsparwithin wetlands and monitoring them for accumulation. Feldspar does not react with other chemicals 

### in the soil and,therefore,could be used as abenchmark formeasuring 

### the buildup of organic material. There are two systems ofwetland classificationthat might be useful for selecting and comparing wetlands. Cowardin et al. (1979) developed ahierarchical system ofwetland classificationbased largely on the structure of the plant community (e.g.,forested, scrub/shrub, emergent,etc.). 

### In addition,Brinson (1 993) developed ahydrogeomorphic 

### (HGM) framework for classifying wetlands based on awetland’s landscapeposition, source of water, and hydrodynamics. 

### B. 

### DATA STORAGE 

### AND PROCESSING Once a standardized methodology for data gathering is available,the States and Tribes 

### will also need a consistent and mutually compatibledata storage,retrieval,and assessment system to help them interpret data and convert them to meaningful management information. 

### An element of each waterbody-type guidance document shouldbe convenient desktop,PC-based data storage and modeling programs. Such programs 

### will not only enhance data assessment, but 

### will,if consistent throughout a region,promote coordinated interstate surveys and data sharing. Many States alreadyhave sufficient nutrient databases and such data storage systems should be established 

### in consultation

### with all potential partners. In fact, as Regions develop this aspect of the strategy, it is imperative that 

### they consult 

### with the StatesITribes to establish what systems are most efficient,cost-effective, and appropriate for data sharing without violating resource management confidentiality. 

### EPA is currently engaged 

### in determining the future design of a nationwide database, and 

### this strategy should be compatible

### with that effort. Ensuring compatibility would include standardizationofboth data storage systems and models. The success ofmulti-Statecooperation and coordination ofmonitoring activities 

### will depend 

### on this. 21

### In all cases it 

### will be essential that the quality of 

### the data entered into 

### these databases be carefully documented. Documentation should include information 

### on methods used,

### minimum detection limits, and comparison to standards. Modelers should use due caution if quality assurance aspects of the data are not available. Once such a database system is inplace, calibrated and verified models can be developed or applied to help predict the likely consequences ofmanagement actions or, just as important, the lack thereof. Listed below are suggestedneeds or available resources appropriate to each waterbody type. 

### LAKES 

### AND RESERVOIRS Modeling: Modeling is ideal inmany ways for 

### lake assessments. The 

### BATHTUB and Reckhow-Simpson technique are two ofmany examples of existing lake models used by managers to predict trophic responses to estimating nutrient loading adjustments. The 

### BATHTUB applies a series of empirical eutrophication models to morphologicallycomplex lakes and reservoirs. The program performs steady-state water and nutrient balance calculations 

### in a spatially segmented hydraulic network that accounts for advective and diffusive transport, and nutrient sedimentation. (Fordetails, seeNational Nutrient Assessment 

### Workshop Proceedings,

### EPA 822-R-96-004, 

### July 1996.) The goal of

### this strategy is to provide simple,user-friendly, desktop-basedsoftwaremodels for States and Tribes and local governments to aid them inwaterbody management decision making. Impoundmentsh-eservoirs often have unique hydrographic profiles and therefore 

### will probably require models calibrated specifically for use with these waterbodies. 

### STREAMS

### AND RIVERS Modeling: 

### It is necessary to identifyways to improve on the existing models to examine the interrelationshipsand 

### links between nutrient sources and nutrient impacts and help to tailor these models to both plankton- and periphyton-dominated systems. Participants at the December 1995 workshop noted inparticular that modeling tools are lacking forperiphytondominated systems,including

### both simplemass balance or regression relationships

### and complex process-based models. Below are ways to improve 

### on the existing models’ capabilities. For more details 

### on any of the models listed below, see theNational Nutrient 

### Assessment Workshop Proceedings 

### (EPA 822-R-96-004, July 1996).

0 Provide land use connections inwatershed-scale models. i

i

i

Conduct sensitivityanalyses.
* Conduct carbon-basedsimulations. 22i Add temperature simulation to the 

### WASP5 model. WASPS 

### is widely used 

### in both water quality assessment and toxic modeling. Themodel considers comprehensivedissolved oxygen and algal processes,but does not include the carbon and silica cycles or full sediment diagenesis model. 

### In addition, its use is limited because it does not account for temperature. Therefore,adding temperature simulation to 

### WASP5 would allow for diurnal temperaturevariations. Add periphyton to the 

### QUAL2E, WASPS,and 

### HSPF models. 

### QUAL2E and 

### HSPF are models that capture the longitudinal transport that dominates 

### in most rivers and streams. 

### QUAL2E and 

### HSPF both consider advection and dispersion. Adding periphyton to these models would allow for simulation ofperiphyton biomass in the riverine system. Introduce loadresponserelationship (plankton) and concentratiodresponse relationship (periphyton) to pinpoint where nutrient loading reduction can be targeted. Develop desktop models that are easily transferred across waterbodies and use the following parameters:

### TP, 

### TN, total chlorophyll,

### DO, temperature and transparency (Secchi disk and black disk). 

### ESTUARIES

### AND COASTALMARINE 

### WATERS Modeling: Estuarine and coastal 

### marine models are in the process ofdevelopment and testing around the country,including efforts on the Chesapeake Bay. Much of this work 

### is promising,and the following are areas requiring further effort.

i e Seagrass-dominated Svstems



### -Develop water qualitymodels, from simple to complex,that 

### look at simulation of chlorophyll a concentrations over seagrass beds from nutrient loadings ofthe surrounding watershed.


# -Develop multiple regression analysis models that simultaneously consider such factors as 

### TSS, color, and chlorophyll a. Plankton-dominatedsvstems



### -There is a need for 

### an estuarine version of “Vollenweider”relationships to better understand the relation ofnutrient loadings to chlorophyll a. Macroalrzae-dominatedSvstems



### -Many databases exist that would alllow identification 

### ofnutrient loading thresholds for macroalgae-dominatedsystems.
23

### WETLANDS ModeIing: Very few models exist that are capable ofpredicting wetland responses to nutrient loadings. Of the literature reviewed, Mitsch and Gosselink (1 993) and Howard-Williams 

### (1 985) offer conceptual diagrams ofpotential relationships for nutrients in wetlands. Wetlands can function as a source,sink, or transformer for aparticular nutrient. 

### A wetland is considered a 

### sink if it has anet accumulation of anutrient. In contrast, awetland is considered a source 

### if it exports more ofa nutrient 

### than it accumulates. 

### A wetland is 

### a transformer if it transforms a chemical from one form to another, such as from dissolved to particulate form, but does not change 

### the amount going into or out of 

### the wetland (Mitsch and Gosselink, 

### 1993). In some cases, a wetland can be a 

### sink for one nutrient while it is simultaneously a source for another nutrient. Nutrient models for wetlands,as for all waterbodies, should account for atmospheric, surface, and subsurface inflows and outflows. The models should account for gaseous,aqueous, solid, and sediment-attachedforms of the nutrients. The models should also account for the uptake and release ofnutrients by livingbiomass and by decomposition ofbiomass. In addition,the models should address 

### the seasonal and daily patterns ofnutrient uptake and release by plants and animals. Chemical transformations based on changes 

### inpH and concentrations ofother chemicals should also be considered. 

### All models should be validated on reference wetlands. Sediment loading models used to predict 

### TMDL loading rates from storm events can be useful for estimating phosphorus inputs. Sometraditionalwater qualitymodels,such as 

### CEQUALW2and WASPS, have been used for evaluating wetlands. Hydrodynamic models, such as 

### EFDC,are being applied to wetlands in Florida to assess hydrologic response. Analysis of wetlands may also include the assessment of inputsAoadingsusing avariety of loading models (e.g.,

### SWMM, HSPF) that can be used to predict nutrient and sediment loads to local wetlands 

### (USEPA1992). Further model development is needed,particularly for wetlands that have saturated soils and are infrequently flooded. 

### C. 

### MANAGEMENTAND EVALUATION The material 

### in this section is not intended to be an all-inclusivelist ofremediation, protection, and management approaches. However,it is an introductorypresentation of some 

### of 

### the readily evident options States and Tribes and other responsible parties can use to make a positive response to the nutrient informationthey obtain and the water quality criteria States and Tribes develop. Options also exist that might not be specific to waterbody-type, such as the watershed approach. This approach allows communities to focus resources on a watershed’smost serious nutrient sources,which might include animal waste and excess fertilizer runoff Additional basic managementmeasures canbe found 

### in other 

### EPA documents such as Guidance SpecifiingManagementMeasuresfor Sources of NonpointPollution in Coastal Waters 

### (EPA 840-B-92-002). The following, as well as additional approaches (such as the I 

# i
t

### 24!

! development of 

### TMDLs for nutrient-impacted waters,the control ofanimal waste discharges, and the control of outbreaks ofPfiesteria and 

### similar 

### harmhl algal blooms), 

### will be explored further in the guidance materials to be developed as part of this strategy. 

### MANAGEMENT In considering the various management options, the resource manager should also keep 

### in mind that the different waterbody types described here may often be interrelated, e.g.,streams draining 

### to and from lakes, and rivers entering estuaries and coastal waters. Under these circumstances,the manager should be carefil to select for amanagementplan practices that do not have negative downstream effects. For example,it might not be appropriate to raise a lake level to the detriment ofriparian wetlands and influent streams. 

### LAKES

### AND RESERVOIRS Examples ofmanagement options to considerwhen dealing with 

### lakes and reservoirs are provided below. Vegetative buffer zones- Preserve 

### or reestablishnatural, indigenousvegetation (ground cover,shrubs,trees) 

### in the riparian zone to intercept sediment and nutrient runoffbefore the runoffreaches the waterbody. Watershed land use changes- IdentifL critical loading sources and promote changes of these land use practices. Examples ofpractices to promote are implementationof conservation farming; use ofmanure holding facilities; use ofroad,commercial, and municipal runoffdiversions and detentions; restoration ofwoodlots in critical drainage areas; land use planning to avoid excessive tiers of lake residences; and on-siteseptic 

### system use and improvement. Habitat restoration- Improve lake nursery and spawning areas to restore a diverse aquatic community and food chain. 

### Fish stocking and removal- Perform adjustment of 

### fish communitiesdisrupted by overenrichmentby the selective removal ofundesired species,the addition ofmore preferred species. Water columnprecipitation and sediment sealing techniques- Apply alum to the water column to remove 

### P and to seal nutrients into bottom sediments under precipitate. Macrophyte harvesting and flow regulation- Perform weed control by use ofmechanical harvesters to enhance lake use ofnutrients and to remove somenutrients present 

### in biomass. Initiatewinter or other episodic drawdowns of lakelreservoirwaters to augment sediment removal or consolidation. Biomanipulations- Ensure balanced predator stocking or grazer support to control bluegreen algae and other nuisanceprimary producers. 25Relocationof sewage outfalls- Move sewage outfalls to locations that 

### will minimize deleterious impacts to the waterbody. Restoration and protection of strategicwetlands- Restore and protect wetlands located in areas critical to water quality concerns. i 

# i. Hypolimnetic aeration- Implement techniques designed to aerate the hypolimnion. Point source nutrient removal- Remove nutrients at point sources using techniques such as tertiary treatment and phosphorus precipitation. Storm water management- Implement storm water 

### BMPs such as constructingponds, wetlands, infiltration and detention basins, and diversions. 

### STREAMS

### AND RIVERS Issues and actions to consider associatedwith the abatement ofnutrients 

### in streams and rivers include: Land use- Include land use as a separate early warning indicator 

### (Le., ifdevelopment is proposed in a watershed,an environmental impact study should be done to assess the potential impact of such development on the surroundingwaterbody). Designated use and biomass relationships- Employ public survey techniques to monitor relationshipsbetween designated uses and algal biomass. Seasonal relationships- Investigate seasonal relationshipsbetween nutrients and biomass across streams. Nitrogen-phosphorus cycling- Enhance nitrogen-phosphorus cycling on different land uses: to reduce mobilization (septic, forest systems). Riparian zonemanagement- Introduce riparianbuffers, shade the streams,or perform canopy restoration to minimize direct sunlight on surface water. Shading can also reduce the amount ofdirect air deposition ofnitrogen and other nutrient sources. Channel restoration- Minimize the nutrient loadings by constructing channels to help reduce the rapid nutrient flushfrom one segment ofthe waterbody to another. Biological controls- Introduce biomass eating organisms such as caddis 

### fly larvae (Dicomoecus gilvipes), which efficiently remove both periphytic diatoms and filamentous algae from rock substrata. Hydrology,hydraulics (flow regime,storm water management, stream regulation)- Identify natural hydrologic regimes and use such information 

### in addressing dam operations to better replicate natural conditions in the area while generating power or preserving

. 26 !j /I intended reservoir levels.



# I Impoundmentremoval- Remove man-madeimpoundments that have lost their 

### utility and are now causes of flow interruptionand sources of excessive algae and water quality degradation. Restoration 

### of riparian and floodplainwetlands- Implement programs designed to restore riparian and floodplainwetlands. Point source nutrient removal- Remove nutrients at point sources using techniques such as tertiary treatment and phosphorus precipitation. Storm water management- Implement storm water 

### BMPs such as constructingponds, wetlands,infiltrationand detention basins, and diversions. 

### ESTUARLESAND COASTAL MARLNE WATERS The following are basic management options to consider for all vegetation system types: Land use and development controls- Promote natural vegetative cover in shore areas and zoning restrictions on dense residential or commerciallindustrial development along shoreline areas. Discharge and dumping regulation and marine sanitationdevices- Encourage enhanced Publicly Owned Treatment Works 

### (POTW) design and operation, and the diversion of 

### POTW effluent from sensitive or poorly circulated waters. Promote and enforce 

### marine sanitationdevice 

### (MSD) regulations includingproviding adequatepumpout services. Restricted estuarinekoastal areas- Protect sensitivewaters such as endangered shellfish beds, spawning and nursery areas, and recovering weed beds. Shoreline erosion controls- Implement erosion controls on banks subject to wave or ice damage. Restrict access to sensitive shorelines,dune restoration areas, and shorelines susceptible to erosion. Seagrass replenishment- Restore weedbeds 

### in estuaries, including wetland areas. 

### Plant and protect emergents 

### and terrestrial riparian vegetation as ful-ther protection 

### of tidal zone wetlands from runoft 

### WETLANDS Best management options to consider forwetlands include: Wetland protection and restoration- Preserve and restore wetlands through the implementationofvoluntary and regulatory programs.
i

. 27Vegetative buffer zones- Preserve or reestablish natural, indigenousvegetation (ground cover,shrubs,trees) as buffer zones adjacent to wetlands to intercept sediment and nutrient runoffbefore the runoffreaches the wetland. Watershed land use changes- Identifj critical 

### land loading sources and promote changes of these land practices. Examples of changes that could be made include the implementationof conservation farming techniques; the reduction of the use of fertilizers on farms and lawns;the construction of manure holding facilities,runoffdiversions and detentions, filter strips,and vegetated drainage ways;the implementation of forestry 

### BMPs;the implementation of controls on urbanization and industrial development; and the upgrading of on-siteand municipal wastewater treatment systems. I i L

. Land use planning- Protectwetlands by limiting amounts of impervious surfaces, limiting development near waterbodies or steep slopes,and minimizing discharges fiom storm I 

### I i water, sewer,and septic systems. Protect and restore streams entering wetland- Stabilize stream channels and establish riparian buffers to reduce the amount of sediment-attached nutrients entering awetland.



### EVALUATION Once 

### the appropriate parameters or indicators have been established,

### EPA and 

### the States or Tribes 

### will be able to evaluate the effectiveness 

### of the management and regulatory approaches taken. The databases and monitoring systems developed,together with the derived criteria, shouldbe used to assess actual managementprogress toward ameliorating overenrichment conditions. (This process 

### will be described 

### in detail in each waterbody type specific technical guidance manual.) Where methods and techniques have been successfullyemployed,the experience may be applied to similar circumstances elsewhere. Where success has not been achieved,the knowledge gained is valuable 

### in developing alternative approaches and 

### in avoidingmaking the samemistake again. 

### This information shouldbe shared among the Regional Nutrient Teams,through correspondence and national meetings,to enhance management effectiveness. Periodic program progress reports and budget statements 

### will be prepared for the Office of Water,based on the proceedings described immediately above, so continuity of the program can be maintained, funding and other administrative support provided,and 

### new needs identified and addressed. The sum total of these reports and proceedings of the periodic national team meetings 

### will provide the necessary feedback to 

### EPA Headquarters to help further development and shaping ofnational policy with respect to nutrient management of the Nation's waters. 

### D. RESEARCH NEEDS 28i



## f

I

l i i For all four major waterbody types, there are a number of research needs that should be addressed. 

### A number 

### of these research needs are noted below. They are highlighted to indicate areas which each technical guidance draftinggroup should address to attempt to reduce uncertainty 

### in the assessmentprocess. 

### LAKES

### AND RESERVOIRS

0 0 0 Biomanipulationtechniques.
0 Phosphorus and nitrogen speciation investigations. Sedimentationand nutrient load impacts on trophic states. Internal loading and recycling 

### ofnutrients regarding biological responses. Better understanding of cascading trophic interactions, i.e., the effects of nutrient changes on one level of

### the food chain and how the rest of 

### the community is affected. 

### STREAMSAND RIVERS Chlorophyll measurements (periphyton). Cladophora,diatom,and blue-greenalga growth requirements. Literature search on stream models (periphytonsystem). Stream bank, riparian 

### zone, and denitrification. Investigation

### ofdissolved oxygen and pHamplitude. Investigationof comunity metrics to characterize rivers for nutrient effects. 

### - Sampling methods



### - Field research

- Ecoregions
- Which metrics are most sensitive? 

### - Literature searchon indicator taxa
- 

### Is biointegrity sensitive as 

### an early warning tool? Role 

### of fluvial geomorphology as a factor in controlling algae development. Whole stream overenrichment studies. Investigationofseasonal relationshipsbetween nutrients and biomass across 

### streams. 

### In addition to identifying the above research needs,the December 

### 1995 workshop participants discussed a number 

### of other actions that should be 

### taken to help managers and scientists assess nutrient impacts on river and stream systems. These actions include the following: Conduct literatwe searches on streammodeling techniques,community metrics, and designated use and biomass relationships (e.g., using survey techniques). Explore howbiological indicators can be used to determine causes of systematic change, Explore,on an ecoregional basis, the level at which biomass and chlorophyll a concentrationsbegin to impairbeneficial uses 

### of rivers and streams. Explore causal linkages observed 

### in stream 

### communitymetrics. Explore how the use 

### of various management options, 

### in addition to nutrient controls,

### will help maintain designated uses 

### of river and stream systems (e.ggsediment and erosion controls, channel restoration,riparian zone management,etc). Involve other organizations 

### in efforts to understand nutrient impacts on river and stream 29systems,including volunteer monitoring programs.


### ESTUARIESAND COASTALMARINE WATERS Resolution of 

### N-Plimiting question 

### with salinity gradients. Role ofdissolved oxygen in estuarine overenrichment. Role of sedimentation-turbidity in overenrichment. Biological community indicators. Tidal and discharge dynamics in estuarinenutrient flux resources including marine loadings vs . watershed resources. Impact of shore discharges on estuaries and coastal 

### marine overenrichment including better loading estimationmodels. Models to predict 

### HAB events 

### in eutrophic systems and appropriate response strategy as described 

### inNationalHarmful 

### Algal Bloom Research 

### andMonitoring Strategy: an initial focus on PJiesteria, Jish lesions, fish 

### kills andpublic health (draft,November 

### 1997). i

i I i.-

I 

### WETLANDS Development ofan accepted national wetland classificationsystem similar to 

### the hydrogeomorphic system developed by the Army Corps ofEngineers. Development of a nationwide database for natural wetlands like that currently available for constructed wetlands shouldbe developed. The database should include wetland types and statistical characteristics that apply to each type. 

### A national database could be used to compare 

### the measurement parameters of assessed (impacted) wetlands to 

### an established set 

### of reference conditions. Comprehensive literature search to determinewhat work has already been done on nutrient-related wetland issues. Development and testing ofbiological assessment and monitoring methods for detecting nutrient impacts. 

### - Which biological assemblages are most sensitive? 

### - Which metrics are most sensitive? Establishment ofa regionalizednetwork ofwetlands of different types (e.g.,bogs, swamp) across a gradient ofnutrient disturbance from “minimally impacted” to degraded. Further research on 

### the impacts ofnutrients on different wetland types (e.g.,bog,marsh, Further research on influence of land use 

### within watersheds on the impacts ofnutrients to wetlands. Field experimentationto determinenutrient limitation to wetland type and to isolate the effects ofnutrients fi-om other variables, such as hydrology,climate, and physical alterationofhabitat. Models for nutrient inflow,export, and transformation 

### within different wetland types. Further investigationofhow the bioavailability ofnutrients is affected by water chemistry (e.g.,gH,dissolved metals) and substrate (eg, percent clay,percent organic matter). swamp).

30 

## i

## i L i

r i

i31

# i32 ,



### APPENDICESi

LI 

### Appendix A: Summary of Water Quality Criteria and Standards for Nutrient Overenrichment In 1994,

### EPA commissioned a study that gathered information on State Water Quality Criteria and Standards forNutrients. The following is an abstract ofthat study. Table 1 is a summary ofwater quality criteria and standards for nutrient enrichment listed by State. Nitrogen

i

i

i Seventeen States,

### the District ofColumbia,and 

### the Virgin 

### Islands have no specifiedwater quality criteria for nitrates and/or nitrites. Seven States have only narrative criteria for nitrogen. Four States have narrative and quantitative criteria. Nine States use only 

### EPArecommended nitrate-nitrogencriteria (10 mg/L) for the protection of domestic drinking water supplies. Twelve States and Puerto Rico use EPA-recommendedcriteria in conjunction with other criteria, either quantitative or narrative. Five States and four 

### U.S. territories have quantitative water quality criteria for nitrogen but do not incorporate EPA-recommended criteria into 

### them. Phosphorus In the case ofphosphorus, 

### 2 1 States, the District of Columbia,and the Virgin Islands have 

### no specified water quality criteria. Twelve States have narrative criteria addressing phosphorus in general. Seven States have both narrative criteria and quantitative criteria addressing phosphorus. One state, Florida,uses the EPA-recommended phosphorus criterion 

### of 0.10 ug/L for its estuarine and marine waters. Fifteen States and five 

### U.S. territories have quantitative water quality criteria addressing phosphorus but do not use the 

### EPArecommended numerical criteria.

33Region/State Nitrate

Region 3 Total Total Nitro en Phos horus
Connecticut Maine Massachusetts J (2) New Hampshire Rhode Island J (3) Vermont J (2) J (3) J (7,3,8) J (2) J (2) J (2) J (3) J (3) J (2) J (2)

34 NewJersey J (2) NewYork Puerto Rico J (9) Virgin Islands J (2) J (9,3) J (2) J (9) J (82) J (8,9)
Delaware District ofColumbia Maryland Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia ~~ J (2) J (2) J (2)

J (4)

South Carolina I'ennessee J (2) J (2) J (3)RegionIState Nitrate

35 Total Total Ammonia Nitrogen PhosphorusTABLE 1 FOR NUTRIENT OVERENRICHMENT , SUMMARY OF STATES’ EXISTING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

Region 10 Alaska Idaho J (2) Oregon Washington NOTES FOR TABLE 1 Blank entry indicates that neither a narrative nor numeric criterion for the nutrient have been specified by the State. (1) Site-specific numeric values for ambient nutrient levels. (2) Narrative criteria related to natural conditions, eutrophication and nutrient overenrichment for nitrate, ammonia, inorganic nitrogen, total nitrogen, or total phosphorus. (3) Narrative criterion that is not related to natural conditions,eutrophication,or nutrient overenrichment issues. (4) Numeric values for effluent nutrient levels. (5) Numeric values related to public health (nitrate) or aquatic toxicity (ammonia). (6) Habitat-basednumeric values for ambient nutrient levels. (7) Water use classification-or water use designation-based numeric values for ambient nutrient levels. (8) State wide numeric values for ambient nutrient levels. (9) Waterbody-based ( streams,rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastaVoceanic waters) numeric values for ambient nutrient levels.

36 i

### Appendix 

### B: Nutrient Criteria Activities and Timeline
Year Activities 1997 Publish Final National Nutrient Strategy

1998 Publish Technical Guidance Document for: 

### Lakes and Reservoirs Demonstrations and Case Studies: Initiate 3-5 case studies

Outreach Activities 

### & Communication Strategy: RegionaVStateMeetings on Strategy and Nutrient Criteria Development 

### WQS Academy Document availability via Internet



### Link info to Regional Nutrient Teams
1999 Publish Technical Guidance Documents for: Rivers and Streams

37 Products Date Strategy 

### & FR Notice of 6/98

### FR notice Availability

Final Guidance
Methodology validation and regional criteria for Lakes and Reservoirs
Proceedings

Presentations Brochures 

### & Fact Sheets

Training

Final Guidance 12/98
On-going

10/98

Summer, 1 998 National Nutrient Strategy
On-going

03/99Year Activities Products Date 1999 Demonstrations and Case Studies: Initiate 5-10 case studies Methodology validation On-going and regional criteria for Rivers and Streams Methodology validation On-going and regional criteria for Marine Coastal Waters and Estuaries Outreach Activities: RegionaVStateMeetings on Rivers Proceedings 

### & StreamsLakes Guidance 

### WQS Academy, Presentations Document availability via Internet Brochures 

### & Fact Sheets
2000-2 Publish Technical Documents for: 7/99
On-going Lakes and Reservoirs

Coastal Marine Waters and Final guidance 03/00 Estuaries Wetlands Draft guidance 

### 03/00 Data processing and assessment Final Guidance 

### & 4/00 National Modeling Database
Demonstrations and Case Studies 

### : Maintain ongoing case studies and Regional Criteria 0 

### 1-02 publish regional criteria Guidance 

### i 

### i

381 Year Activities Products

2000-02 Outreach Activities: RegionaVStateMeetings on Coastal Proceedings Waters and Estuaries Guidance 

### WQS Academy Document availability via Internet Sheets Presentations Brochures 

### & Fact 

### Date

On-going On-going Rivers and Streams Coastal Waters and Estuaries Data processing and Assessment

!



# i

tAppendix 

### C: Draft Outline for the Development of Nutrient Criteria for Streams and Rivers, Lakes and Reservoirs, and Estuaries and Coastal Marine Waters. 

### I. Introduction Concept 

### ofNutrient Criteria 

### -Regional in nature 

### -Methods and guidance to support development ofnutrient criteria
-Discussion ofcriteria vs. standards
-Narrative criteria vs. numeric,but always quantitativelybased 

### Uses ofNutrient Criteria
-Basis for StatejTribal Water Quality Standards
-Resource assessment 

### - Setting 

### ofmanagement priorities
-Evaluationofmanagement projects
-Long-rangeplanning 

### - Coordinationofnutrient management planning and implementationwith other related programs Rationale for Trophic Classificationand Tiered Sampling Design 

### -Discussion 

### ofderiving nutrient reference conditions 

### -Discussion of cost-effectivenessof tiers, potential to evolve toward more



### -Detailed discussion of importance 

### of adequate data for decision making detailed sampling as needed compared to budget and level 

### of certainty needed 11. Conducting Nutrient Surveys Classification of the surface waters Indicators 

### -Howanalyzed 

### -When to sample 

### -Where to sample Survey

### Design Data Storage and Processing 

# i

1 

# t

1 I i IrInterpretation 111. Trophic Classification

40L. Howto estabiish regions 

### Size classifications Watershed classifications Cultural development classes 

### IV. Indicators For each indicator: Method 

### of collection Storage and 

### time constraints Method(s) 

### of analysis Expected range 

### of results and trophic state indicated by geographic region and season 

### V. Sampling Design ! Number 

### of stations based on waterbody size

i I i
1 Placement of survey stations relative to characteristicsof the waterbody and suspected loading sites Time 

### ofyear and frequency 

### of sampling 

### VI. Data Processing and Storage Discuss models and software packages Regional databases and multi-Statecoordination

### of efforts 

### VII. Interpretation Synopsis 

### of indicatormeanings Discussion 

### of interrelationshipsof trophic state and overenrichment indicators Comprehensive interpretations '67111. Detailed Nutrient Investigations for Cause and Effect Determination Follow-upon initial surveys to generate definitive information

41 iSeasonal adjustments i

Relocation 

### of some stations and addition 

### of others 

### - Importance 

### ofbasic survey continuity 

### IX. Management Response Should be broad-basedand general to indicatepotential as opposed to a directive to 

### the community Types of loadings the indicatorsreflect 

### -BMPs and other protection or mitigation measures available Approaches to achieveprotection or change 

### -Local government 

### - Communities 

### -Property owners -Businesses Management Planning 

### - Incorporate the 10-step approach described 

### in Chapter 

### IV of this nutrient strategy document 

### X. Evaluation Monitoring 

### A variation on the original surveyplan 

### is used to keep track 

### of the response of the waterbody to 

### the protection or remediation effort This informationis used to assess the relative success 

### of the project and to plan hture courses of action
-Evaluation 

### of “before, during, and after”project data Close the loop 

### in 

### the managementprocess by returning to step 

### 1 of the 10-step process to plan the next phase 

### ofmanagement or to apply these results to other similar,nearby waterbodies. Appendices Discussion 

### ofhow States get from data gathering to using the information in management decision making to incorporation into State policies. Illustrationofthese experiences with case studies and names ofcontacts for 

### hrther information. i

42

### i

I

I

! Appendix 

### D: Drafting Committee for the National Nutrient Strategy
Office of Science and Technology Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds Nick Baer 

### John Heisler 

### USEPA Office ofWater Health and Ecological CriteriaDivision 

### (202) 260-1306 (202) 260-8632 ' 

### USEPA Office ofWater Oceans 

### and Coastal ProtectionDivision
Robert Cantilli,National Nutrient Program Coordinator 

### USEPA Office of Water 

### USEPA Office ofWater Kristen Martin Assessment 

### and Watershed Protection Division Health and Ecological CriteriaDivision (202) 

### 260-5546 (202) 260-7108 George Gibson 

### USEPA Office ofWater Health and Ecological Criteria Division 

### (202) 260-7580/(410) 573-2618 Patrick Ogbebor 

### USEPA Office ofWater 

### Permits Division 

### (202) 260-6322

,

43 

## i

### APPENDIX E: Excerpt from the 

### Clean Water 

### Action Plan 

### Reduce Nutrient Over-en

### richmen t Nutrients, 

### in the appropriate amounts,are essential to the health and continued functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Excessivenutrient loadings

### will,however,result 

### in excessive growth 

### of macrophytes or phytoplankton and potentiallyharmful algal blooms 

### (€€AB), leading to oxygen declines, imbalance 

### of aquatic species,public health risks, and a general decline ofthe aquatic resource. Nutrient over-enrichment has also been strongly linked to the large hypoxic zone 

### in the Gulf ofMexico and to recent outbreaks ofPfiestevia along the mid-AtlanticCoast. State water quality reports indicate that over-enrichment ofwaters by nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) is the biggest overall source of impairment of the nation’s rivers and streams, lakes and reservoirs,and estuaries. 

### In the 

### 1996National Water Quality Inventory,states reported that 

### 40percent of surveyed rivers, 5

### 1 percent of surveyed lakes, and 

### 57 percent of surveyed estuarieswere impairedby nutrient enrichment.Agriculture is the most widespread

, source ofthese impairments,followed by municipal sewage treatment plants, urban runoffand

storm sewers,and various other nonpoint pollution sources, including air deposition. Define Nutrient Reduction Goals Although nutrient over-enrichment

### is clearly a major challenge for the nation’swaters,the assessment of the seriousness and extent ofthe problem is often based on subjective criteria that can result 

### inwidely varying assessments.. Research to improve the basis for understanding and assessing nutrient over-enrichment problems is critical to better control 

### ofnutrient levels in waters and to meeting the nation’s cleanwater goals. 

### EPA is developing a strategy to establish an objective, scientificallysound basis for assessing nutrient over- enrichment problems. Specifically,

### EPA will develop nutrient criteria

# - numerical ranges for acceptable levels ofnutrients (i.e.,nitrogen and phosphorus) 

### inwater. Unlike other criteria that 

### EPA has developed,nutrient criteria

### will be established as 

### amenu of different numeric values based 

### on the type ofwater body (i.e., river, estuary, lake) and the region 

### of the country 

### inwhich 

### the water 

### is located. 

### It is vital that 

### this work be done to provide the technical basis forpollution reductionplans. 

### EPA will develop nutrient criteria for the various water body types and ecoregions 

### of the countryby the year 2000. Under 

### the Clean Water Act, states use pollutant criteria established by 

### EPA as the basis for adopting water quality standards.

### Within three years 

### of 

### EPA issuance ofapplicable criteria, all states and tribes 

### with water quality standards should have adopted water quality standards for nutrients. Where a state or tribe fails to adopt a water quality standard for nutrients within 

### the three-year period, 

### EPA will begin to promulgate the nutrient criteria appropriate to the region and water body type. Whenpromulgated,the 

### EPA standard would apply until a state or tribe adopts, 

### and 

### EPA approves,

### a revised standard. 

### i 

### i

44f 

### KEY ACTION: EPA will establish, by the year 

### 2000,numeric criteria for nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) that are tailored to reflectthe different types 

### of water bodies (e.g., lakes,rivers, and estuaries) and the different ecoregions ofthe country, 

### and 

### will assist states in adoptingnumeric water quality standards based 

### on these criteria over the followingthree years. If a state does not adopt appropriate nutrient standards,

### EPA will begin the process of promulgating nutrient standards.



## i

45

### REFERENCES Anderson,

### D.M., S.B. Galloway,and 

### J.D. Joseph. 1993. Marine Biotoxins andHarmfur Algae: 

### A National Plan. Technical Report

### No.WHOI-93-02.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Brinson,

### M.M. 1993. 

### A Hydrogeographic ClassiJication of Wetlands. TechnicalReport

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### U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cowardin,

### L.M., V. Carter, 

### F.C. Golet,and 

### E.T. LaRoe. 

### 1979. ClassificationofWetlands and Deep Water Habitats 

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### U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dennison,

### W. et al. 1993. Assessing Water Quality with Submersed Aquatic Vegetation. BioScience 43:86-94. Flemer,

### D.A. 1972. Current Status ofKnowledge Concerning the Cause and Biological Effects of Eutrophication in Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Ches. Sci. 13:S144-S149. Howard-Williams, 

### C. 1985. Cycling and Retention 

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### A Theoretical and Applied Perspective. FreshwaterBiology 15:391-43 

### 1 Metropolitan Washington Council ofGovernments. 

### 1982. 

### A Review of State Water Quality Staridards 

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### D.C. NationaI Harmful Algal BIoom Research andMonitoring Strategy: an initial focus on 

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fiesteria,fish lesions, fislz 

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### S.W., and V. Lee. 1986. Wetlands and Water Quality: 

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### Review ofRecent Research in the 

### United States on the Role of Freshwater and Saltwater Wetlands as Sources, 

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### Y 86 2,Final Report. University 

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### 1986. 

### Omemik, J.. 

### M. 1995. Ecoregions: 

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### T.

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### J.M, 

### C.

### M. Rohm,

### S.E.Clarke and 

### D.P. Larsen. 1988. Summer Total Phosphorus in Lakes: aMap ofMinnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. EnvironmentalManagement 12:815- 825. 

### i 

# L

Redfield,A.C. 1958. The Biological Control 

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i I 

### i
ti I 

### U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988a. Nitrogen-Ammonia/r\ritrate/hritrite: Water Quality Standards CriteriaSummaries:

### A Compilation of State and Federal Criteria. 

### EPA 440-5-88-029. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency, Office of Water Regulations and Standards,Washington, 

### D.C. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 

### 1988b.Phosphorus 

# - rater Quality Standards CriteriaSummaries:

### A Compilation of State and Federal Criteria. 

### EPA 440-5-88-012. 

### US. Environmental ProtectionAgency,Office of 

### Water Regulations 

### and Standards,Washington, 

### D.C. U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 1992. Compendium of Watershed-Scale Models for 

### TMDLDevelopment. 

### EPA 841-R-94-002. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency,

### Office of Water,Washington, 

### D.C. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 1993. Guidance SpeczfLing ManagementMeasures for Sources ofNonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters. 

### EPA 840-B-92-002. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency, Office of Water, Washington,

### D.C. U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 

### 1994. National Water Quality Inventory: 1992 Report to Congress. 

### EPA 841 

### -R-94-001 

### U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency,

### Office of Water,Washington, 

### D.C. U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 

### 1994a.Report of theNutrient 

### Task Force: Findings and Recommendations.

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency,Office of Water, Office

### of Science and Technology,Washington, 

### D.C. 

### U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. 1995. National Water QualityInventory: 

### 1994 Report to Congress. 

### EPA 841-R-95-005. 

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