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Integrated Water Monitoring and Assessment Report

Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to assess and report on whether Indiana waters support the beneficial uses designated in Indiana’s water quality standards. IDEM’s CWA Section 305(b) assessments are made in accordance with IDEM’s Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) by comparing existing and readily available water quality data to the applicable water quality criteria in the State’s water quality standards.

The majority of the data IDEM uses in its 305(b) assessments are collected by IDEM staff using a rotating basin approach. IDEM has divided Indiana into nine major water management basins and monitors one major basin each year. IDEM staff assess the data collected in each basin the following year.

In addition to agency-collected data, IDEM solicits data through its External Data Framework from external organizations and agencies, including the United States Geological Survey, Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and the Indiana State Department of Health. IDEM also solicits water quality data from other colleges, universities, and local organizations, such as county health departments, watershed management groups and cities and towns. OWQ’s Integrated Reporting Program solicits data for its 305(b) assessment and 303(d) listing processes every two years. These solicitations follow OWQ’s nine-year rotating monitoring, assessment and reporting schedule and focus on the next basin to be assessed.

Basins Water Quality Data Assessed for the Basin Results Published in Indiana's Integrated Report and 303(d) List Indiana’s Major River Basins
Ohio River Tributaries 2020 2022 Indiana’s Major River Basins
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White River, West Fork Basin 2021
Patoka River Basin 2022 2024
White River, East Fork Basin 2023
Great Miami River Basin (Whitewater River) 2024 2026
Upper Wabash River Basin 2025
Lower Wabash River Basin 2026 2028
Upper Illinois River Basin 2027
Great Lakes Basin 2028 2030

IDEM’s water quality assessment results are reported to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) every two years through the Indiana Integrated Water Monitoring and Assessment Report, which describes the condition of Indiana’s lakes, streams, ground water and its Lake Michigan shoreline.

Indiana’s 2022 Integrated Water Monitoring and Assessment Report

IDEM published the notice of public comment period for its draft 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters, in the Indiana Register on January 14, 2022, formally opening the 45-day public comment period. IDEM received no public comments on the draft 2022 303(d) list or the Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) used to develop the 303(d) list prior to the close of the public comment period on February 28, 2022.

IDEM uploaded its 2022 Integrated Report, including the finalized 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters to U.S. EPA’s Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS) online on April 1, 2022.

U.S. EPA reviewed Indiana’s 2022 303(d) list of Impaired Waters and issued a partial approval on April 29, 2022. In its partial approval, U.S. EPA concluded that IDEM has met the requirements of Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act and all applicable requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations for all waters submitted on its 303(d) lists to date. However, U.S. EPA has determined that IDEM’s 303(d) list is not fully consistent with the requirements of Section 303(d) of the CWA and EPA’s implementing regulations based on IDEM’s decision to not list a number of waterbodies for certain metal pollutants.

U.S. EPA issued a Public Notice for the waters it planned to add to Indiana’s 2022 List of Impaired Waters and accepted public comments on this issue from May 26, 2022, through June 27, 2022; no comments were received. On July 28, 2022, U.S. EPA transmitted the final list of water quality-limited segments and associated metal pollutants added to Indiana’s 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters to IDEM.

A complete set of documents comprising U.S. EPA’s partial approval of Indiana’s 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters is provided in the links at the bottom of this page.

IDEM’s 2022 Integrated Water Monitoring and Assessment Report Submittal, Including the 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters

U.S. EPA’s Partial Approval of Indiana’s 2022 303(d) List of Impaired Waters

General information on the 303(d) list is available on the Section 303(d) List Frequently Asked Questions page. You may also contact the Integrated Report Coordinator with any questions regarding the 303(d) list or to obtain files for previous listing cycles.

The draft 2024 303(d) list and CALM are currently available for review on the Indiana 303(d) List of Impaired Waters webpage. Public comments will be accepted from February 1, 2024 to March 16, 2024.

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