The National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress

Section 305(b) requires the EPA to report to Congress on the overall health of surface waters every two years. The EPA compiles this national assessment of progress toward national clean water goals from surveys and reports from each state. These reports help determine pollution control and management priorities at the state, tribal, and national levels. They are also a rich source of current information for concerned citizens. The reports indicate how each state measures water bodies against its standards.

Where water quality falls short in some respect, the state lists known problems, known or suspected causes, and proposed corrective actions. Some states include a complete list for all waters, while others summarize the list and provide the full list only upon request. Every watershed group should have a copy of its state's most recent 305(b) report on the shelf, and should be on the state's mailing list for future versions. Groups should also consider publishing summaries of the state report pertaining to their watersheds in a concise, easy-to-read document that interprets the information for members, supporters, and the media. Visit the EPA's 305(b) Web site. The EPA publishes another valuable resource, Volunteer Monitor. Check out Volume 13, No. 1 - Spring 2001, p. 4 and p. 16.