2006 integrated 303(d)/305(b) water quality report for Montana

2006·4.6 MB·English

by  Montana. Water Quality Division

2006 Integrated
303(d)/305(b)
Water Quality Report
for
Montana

7 December 2006

Prepared by:
Water Quality Planning Bureau
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
1520 E. Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
Montana Richard Opper, Director
Department of
Environmental
Quality

Planning, Prevention Art Compton, Division Administrator
and Assistance
Division

Water Quality George Mathieus, Bureau Chief
Planning Bureau

Data Management Michael Pipp, Section Manager
Section

Integrated Report Coordinator Staci Stolp, Environmental Scientist

Contributors Chapter Authors: Jeff Blend1 (Cost-Benefit Assessment), Mark Bostrom2
(Water Quality Assessment Process),
Mark Golz3 (State Drinking Water Revolving Fund), Rosie Sada4, Randy
Apfelbeck5, John Camden6 (Surface Water Monitoring and Assessment),
Dean Yashan7, Paul LaVigne8, Robert Ray9, Ann Harrie10, Chris Levine11,
Mike Suplee12 (Water Pollution Control Program), Eric Sivers13 and Tom
Patton14 (Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment)

1 Energy Planning & Technical Assistance, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
2 Data Management, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
3 Drinking Water Revolving Fund, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
4 Water Quality Monitoring Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
5 Water Quality Standards Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
6 Public Water Supply Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
7 Watershed Management Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
8 Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
9 Watershed Protection Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
10 Water Quality Standards Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
11 Ibid
12 Ibid
13 Source Water Protection Program, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
14 Ground-Water Assessment Program, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Acknowledgements

Many people and agencies contributed information and assistance toward the development of this report,
their efforts are sincerely appreciated. A special thanks to Adam Cook, Andrea Day, Jonathan Drygas,
Marcus Granger, and Eric Urban for their extra efforts on various quality assurance/control, data entry, and
analysis tasks which were critical for timely submission of this report.
Table of Contents

ACRONYMS................................................................................................................................................9
PART A. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................12
A.1 CLEAN WATER ACT REPORTING IN MONTANA...................................................................................12
Data Management Systems: 1980s to 2006..........................................................................................12
Data Management Issues for the 2006 Integrated Report....................................................................13
Data Management System: The Next Evolution...................................................................................14
PART B. BACKGROUND INFORMATION..........................................................................................15
B.1 SCOPE OF WATERS IN THE INTEGRATED REPORT................................................................................15
State Overview......................................................................................................................................15
Ecoregions............................................................................................................................................16
Descriptions of Surface Waters............................................................................................................21
B.2 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM...........................................................................................21
Water Quality Standards......................................................................................................................21
Point Source Control Programs...........................................................................................................28
Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program.......................................................................................30
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund.............................................................................................36
Total Maximum Daily Load Program..................................................................................................37
B.3 COST/BENEFIT ASSESSMENT..............................................................................................................39
Montana Point Source Costs................................................................................................................39
Costs of Montana’s Nonpoint Source Program....................................................................................40
Summary of Montana’s Clean Water Costs..........................................................................................41
Benefits of Complying with the CWA in Montana................................................................................41
PART C. SURFACE WATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT.................................................44
C.1 MONITORING PROGRAM.....................................................................................................................44
Purpose of the Monitoring Program....................................................................................................44
Coordination and Collaboration..........................................................................................................45
Laboratory Analytical Support.............................................................................................................46
Networks and Projects..........................................................................................................................47
Programmatic Evaluation....................................................................................................................63
C.2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................63
Overview...............................................................................................................................................63
Identification of Available Water Quality Data....................................................................................64
Sufficient Credible Data.......................................................................................................................64
Beneficial Use Support.........................................................................................................................65
Assessment Record...............................................................................................................................66
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program................................................................................72
C.3 ASSESSMENT RESULTS.......................................................................................................................72
Five-Part Categorization of Surface Waters........................................................................................72
Results of Probability-based Surveys...................................................................................................75
Section 303(d) List................................................................................................................................75
Designated Use Support Summaries....................................................................................................79
CWA Section 314 (Clean Lakes Program)...........................................................................................87
C.4. WETLANDS PROGRAM.......................................................................................................................87
C.5 TREND ANALYSIS FOR SURFACE WATERS..........................................................................................87
C.6 PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES......................................................................................................................87
Fish Kills..............................................................................................................................................87
Fish Consumption Advisories...............................................................................................................88
Public Water Supplies..........................................................................................................................95
Source Water Protection Program.....................................................................................................103
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund................................................................................................105
PART D. GROUNDWATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT................................................109
D.1 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN MONTANA......................................................................................109
Groundwater Use...............................................................................................................................109
Groundwater Characterization and Monitoring................................................................................109
Groundwater Contaminants/Contamination Sources.........................................................................110
D.2 GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS........................................................................................115
Groundwater Management Strategy...................................................................................................115
Source Water Protection....................................................................................................................116
Local Water Quality Districts.............................................................................................................117
Prevention of Agriculture Chemical Pollution...................................................................................117
D.3 GROUNDWATER-SURFACE WATER INTERACTIONS...........................................................................119
PART E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION..................................................................................................120
E.1 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS......................................................................................................120
Background........................................................................................................................................120
2006 List Development Consultation..................................................................................................120
Public Comment/DEQ Response........................................................................................................121
E.2 PUBLIC COMMENTS/STATE RESPONSES............................................................................................122
GLOSSARY..............................................................................................................................................173
List of Tables

TABLE 1. MONTANA SURFACE WATERS.......................................................................................................16
TABLE 2. STATE WATERS EXCLUSIVE OF TRIBAL LANDS, NATIONAL PARKS, AND WILDERNESS AREAS....16
TABLE 3. CHARACTERISTICS OF MONTANA'S ECOREGIONS..........................................................................19
TABLE 4. SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATION...............................................................................................24
TABLE 5. DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL USES BY WATERBODY CLASS................................................................24
TABLE 6. PERMIT STATUS REPORT FOR MAJOR AND MINOR FACILITIES COVERED BY GENERAL NON-
STORMWATER PERMITS.........................................................................................................................28
TABLE 7. TOP FIVE IMPAIRMENT SOURCES CITED IN 2000 (BY NUMBER OF LISTINGS).................................31
TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF AVERAGE ANNUAL COSTS FOR CWA PROGRAMS (1991 – 2004)...........................41
TABLE 9. 1996 VERSUS 2006 CAUSE LISTINGS.............................................................................................53
TABLE 10. DATA COLLECTED BY THE FIXED STATION NETWORK................................................................60
TABLE 11. ASSESSMENT UNIT CHANGES DURING THE 2006 REPORTING CYCLE..........................................68
TABLE 12. SIZE OF SURFACE WATERS ASSIGNED TO REPORTING CATEGORIES...........................................73
TABLE 13. CATEGORY 2B WATERS...............................................................................................................74
TABLE 14. AU/POLLUTANT COMBINATIONS REMOVED FROM THE STATE’S YEAR 2004 SECTION 303(D) LIST
..............................................................................................................................................................76
TABLE 15. RIVERS AND STREAMS DESIGNATED USE SUPPORT SUMMARY...................................................79
TABLE 16. CAUSES OF STREAM IMPAIRMENT IN MONTANA.........................................................................79
TABLE 17. SIZE OF RIVERS AND STREAMS IMPAIRED BY SOURCES..............................................................81
TABLE 18. LAKES DESIGNATED USE SUPPORT SUMMARY...........................................................................84
TABLE 19. SIZE OF LAKES IMPAIRED BY CAUSES.........................................................................................85
TABLE 20: SIZE OF LAKES IMPAIRED BY SOURCES........................................................................................86
TABLE 21: TROPHIC STATUS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLICLY OWNED LAKES......................................................87
TABLE 22: TRENDS IN LAKE QUALITY..........................................................................................................87
TABLE 23. LABORATORY TEST RESULTS: MERCURY AND PCBS IN FISH IN MONTANA (CONCENTRATION
EXPRESSED IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM OF FISH)................................................................................88
TABLE 24. VIOLATIONS OF THE PHASE 2 AND PHASE 5 RULES...................................................................100
TABLE 25. VIOLATIONS OF THE TOTAL COLIFORM RULE...........................................................................101
TABLE 26. VIOLATIONS OF THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT RULE........................................................101
TABLE 27. VIOLATIONS OF THE DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS RULE...........................................................102
TABLE 28. VIOLATIONS OF THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE..........................................................................102
TABLE 29. VIOLATIONS OF THE RADIONUCLIDE RULE...............................................................................103
TABLE 30. VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT RULE...................................................103
TABLE 31. DWSRF ANTICIPATED FUNDING LIST FOR FY2004 - 2005.......................................................106
TABLE 32. SUMMARY OF DWSRF GRANTS FROM 1997 - 2005..................................................................107
TABLE 33. DRINKING WATER REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM STATUS..........................................................107
TABLE 34. NITRATE-NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN 1,151 SAMPLES........................................................112
TABLE 35. DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLING RESULTS BASED ON MCLS ESTABLISHED FOR VARIOUS TRACE
METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES........................................................113
TABLE 36. ARSENIC CONCENTRATIONS IN 978 SAMPLES............................................................................114
TABLE 37. RADON CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION BASED ON A 300 PCI/L PROPOSED MCL.....................114
TABLE 38. RADON CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION BASED ON A 4,000 PCI/L PROPOSED MCL..................114
List of Figures

FIGURE 1. MONTANA'S MAJOR DRAINAGE BASINS AND MONTANA DEQ ADMINISTRATIVE BASINS...........17
FIGURE 2. ECOREGIONS OF MONTANA..........................................................................................................18
FIGURE 3. COLUMBIA BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS...............................................................................49
FIGURE 4. UPPER MISSOURI BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS......................................................................50
FIGURE 5. LOWER MISSOURI BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS....................................................................51
FIGURE 6. YELLOWSTONE BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS.........................................................................52
FIGURE 7. REFERENCE SITES SAMPLED IN 2004-2005..................................................................................55
FIGURE 8. EMAP SITES 2000-2004..............................................................................................................57
FIGURE 9. FIXED STATION MONITORING SITES............................................................................................59
FIGURE 10. DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SOURCES IN MONTANA...........................................98
FIGURE 11. ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLES EVALUATED FOR THIS REPORT WERE COLLECTED BY THE
GROUND-WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM..........................................................................................110
FIGURE 12. ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLES EVALUATED FOR THIS REPORT CAME FROM
UNCONSOLIDATED AQUIFERS..............................................................................................................111
List of Appendices

Appendix A: Reassessment Waters during the 2006 Reporting Cycle A-1
Appendix B: Waters with Use Support Assessments during the 2006 Reporting Cycle B-1
Appendix C: Impairment Causes De-Listed from the 2000 303(d) Reassessment List C-1
Appendix D: Beneficial Use Designation Changes from 2004 to 2006 D-1
Appendix E: Monitoring and Assessment Schedule for 2006 to 2008 E-1
Appendix F: TMDL Priority Schedule by TPA F-1
Appendix G: Approved TMDLs G-1
Appendix H, Section 1: Category 4A Impaired Waters H1-1
Appendix H, Section 2: Category 4C Impaired Waters H2-1
Appendix H, Section 3: Category 5 Impaired Waters (303(d) List) H3-1
State of Montana 2006 Integrated 303(d)/305(b) Water Quality Report

Acronyms

ACR Annual Compliance Report
ADB Assessment Database
ALUS Aquatic Life Use Support
ARM Administrative Rules of Montana
BER Board of Environmental Review
BMP Best Management Practice
BPJ Best Professional Judgment
CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
CASRN Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number
CBM Coal Bed Methane
CERCA Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act
CW Cold Water (fisheries)
CWA Clean Water Act
CWAIC Clean Water Act Information Center
DEQ Department of Environmental Quality
DEQ-7 Circular DEQ-7, Montana Water Quality Standards
DFWP Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
DNRC Department of Natural Resources
DPHHS Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
DQO Data Quality Objectives
DW Drinking Water
DWSRF Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
EA Environmental Assessment
EC Electrical Conductivity
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EQC Montana Environmental Quality Council
FBC Flathead Basin Commission
FERC Federal Energy Regulation Commission
FLBS Flathead Lake Biological Station
FNF Flathead National Forest
FWP Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
FY Fiscal Year
GIS Geographic Information System
GWAP Groundwater Assessment Program
GWIC Groundwater Information Center
GWUDISW Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water
HA Health Advisory
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State of Montana 2006 Integrated 303(d)/305(b) Water Quality Report

HHS Human Health Standard
HUC Hydrologic Unit Code
IOC's Inorganic Chemicals
IR Integrated Report
ISA Intensive Site Assessment
IUP Intended Use Plan
LUSTs Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
LWQD Local Water Quality District
MBMG Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
MCA Montana Code Annotated
MCL Maximum Contaminated Levels
MDT Montana Department of Transportation
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MPDES Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
MWCB Mine Waste Clean-up Bureau
NHD National Hydrography Dataset
NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
NPS Non-Point Source pollution
NRWQC National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
NTNC Non-transient non-community systems
NWIS National Water Information System
PCBs Polychlorinated bi-phenyls
PPL Project Priority List
PS Point Source “pollution or pollutant”
PWS Public Water Supply
QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control
QAPP Quality Assurance Project Plan
QMP Quality Management Plan
SAR Sodium Absorption Ratio
SCD Sufficient Credible Data
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SOC Synthetic Organic Chemicals
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
STORET EPA's storage and retrieval database
SWDAR Source Water Delineation and Assessment Report
SWM Statewide Fixed Station Monitoring
SWTR Surface Water Treatment Rule
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TNC Transient non-community systems
TPA TMDL Planning Area
USGS United States Geological Survey
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