Abstract |
All States, Territories and Tribes were reviewed to determine if they have adopted nutrient criteria in their Water Quality Standards. Every State had narrative standards that protected the waters from objectionable conditions, such as floating material, which can be used to indicate nutrient problems. Other States had narrative nutrient standards, which specifically mentioned eutrophication as a problem to be prevented in their narrative nutrient standard. In some States a translator such as the Trophic State Index (TSI) is used to indicate areas where eutrophication may be a problem. Numeric criteria for turbidity is the most common nutrient parameter. In this survey, the turbidity values were recorded but not analyzed to determine if it is for nutrient enrichment protection or for other endpoints. The next most common numeric nutrient criteria is total phosphorus in lakes and rivers. Some States had chlorophyll a criteria for specific water bodies such as lakes and reservoirs. Total nitrogen standards for lakes and rivers are adopted in a few States. Secchi depth standards were found in some Water Quality standards. The eco-region specific nutrient criteria development process recommended by EPA is used by some States in developing criteria. |