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On This Page 303(d) Listed Waters for 2010

Data are also available for these cycles:
2002 2004 2006 2008 2012

Waterbody Changes from Prior Cycle

For More Information:

Rhode Island Assessment Report Exit EPA Disclaimer
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Rhode Island Water Quality Assessment Report

Assessed Waters of Rhode Island by Watershed

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Search for a waterbody within Rhode Island
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Display impaired waters and TMDL information only


NOTE: For more specific information, see the RIDEM website at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/surfwq/iwqmon.htm..



Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Summary Results

Rhode Island (2010)

Description of this table
 
    369.2 5,720.6 102.3 78.6
       3.1 14.7 .0
   
                          
                          
                          
                          
    547.7 9,861.1 56.5
           66.4     3,386.0     5.5     
                          
           19.8     4,942.4     .9     
           461.6     1,532.6     50.1     
              224.2     113.9     .0     .0
                    237.3           1,418.7           50.1          
917.0 15,581.7 158.8 78.6
1,420.0 20,749.0 159.0 78.6
64.6 75.1 99.9 100.0

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Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2010


Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Rhode Island Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table
Assessed 917.0
Unassessed 503.0
Total Miles 1,420.0







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Description of this table
Good 369.2
Threatened .0
Impaired 547.7
Total Miles Assessed 917.0







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Description of this table
290.6
.0
19.8
237.3
Total Threatened and Impaired 547.7

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Rhode Island Rivers and Streams 2010

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table
% Good
% Threatened
% Impaired
Fish And Wildlife Habitat 881.8 68.3 .0 31.7 color.gifcolor.gif
Fish Consumption 53.8 18.9 .0 81.1 color.gifcolor.gif
Primary Contact Recreation 865.2 45.7 .0 54.3 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Drinking Water Supply 6.1 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif
Secondary Contact Recreation 865.2 46.0 .0 54.0 color.gifcolor.gif
Shellfish Controlled Relay And Depuration .2 .0 .0 100.0 color.gif

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Rhode Island Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table
Enterococcus Bacteria Pathogens color.gif 368.6
Fecal Coliform Pathogens color.gif 138.3
Benthic Macroinvertebrates Bioassessments Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 122.4
Non-Native Aquatic Plants Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif 104.1
Lead Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 98.9
Cadmium Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 67.7
Copper Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 64.7
Iron Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 47.5
Mercury in Fish Tissue Mercury color.gif 43.7
Dissolved Oxygen Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion color.gif 37.1
Phosphorus, Total Nutrients color.gif 35.3
PCB(s) in Fish Tissue Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) color.gif 28.4
Eurasian Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum Spicatum Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif 18.1
Chloride Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates color.gif 17.4
Zinc Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 15.0
Dioxin (Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD) Dioxins color.gif 8.7
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) color.gif 8.7
Mercury Mercury color.gif 8.7
Aluminum Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 6.2
Ambient Bioassays - Chronic Aquatic Toxicity Total Toxics color.gif 4.7
Mercury in Water Column Mercury color.gif 4.6
Turbidity Turbidity color.gif 4.2
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 4.1
Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Total Toxics color.gif 2.2
Aquatic Plants - Native Nuisance Native Species color.gif 1.6
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) Pathogens color.gif .1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Rhode Island Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table
Source Unknown Unknown color.gif 456.9
Introduction Of Non-Native Organisms (Accidental Or Intentional) Other color.gif 104.1
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 76.7
Wildlife Other Than Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 63.2
Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 34.7
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 29.6
Municipal Point Source Discharges Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 24.9
Natural Sources Natural/Wildlife color.gif 18.3
Cercla Npl (Superfund) Sites Legacy/Historical Pollutants color.gif 17.4
Wastes From Pets Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 15.8
Impervious Surface/Parking Lot Runoff Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 14.4
Agriculture Agriculture color.gif 13.8
Upstream/Downstream Source Other color.gif 12.0
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics Atmospheric Deposition color.gif 11.0
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 10.4
Illicit Connections/Hook-Ups To Storm Sewers Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 8.7
Contaminated Sediments Legacy/Historical Pollutants color.gif 8.7
Contaminated Groundwater Groundwater Loadings/Withdrawals color.gif 8.2
Landfills Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks color.gif 8.2
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 5.2
Internal Nutrient Recycling Natural/Wildlife color.gif 4.6
Manure Runoff Agriculture color.gif 4.4
Combined Sewer Overflows Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 3.6
Sediment Resuspension (Clean Sediment) Hydromodification color.gif 3.0
Aquaculture (Permitted) Aquaculture color.gif 3.0
Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) Agriculture color.gif 2.7
Industrial Point Source Discharge Industrial color.gif 2.2
Unrestricted Cattle Access Agriculture color.gif 1.6
Illegal Dumps Or Other Inappropriate Waste Disposal Spills/Dumping color.gif .7

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Rhode Island Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table
Assessed 15,581.7
Unassessed 5,167.3
Total Acres 20,749.0







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Description of this table
Good 5,720.6
Threatened .0
Impaired 9,861.1
Total Acres Assessed 15,581.7







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Description of this table
3,500.0
.0
4,942.4
1,418.7
Total Threatened and Impaired 9,861.1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Rhode Island Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table
% Good
% Threatened
% Impaired
Fish And Wildlife Habitat 14,990.6 44.1 .0 55.9 color.gifcolor.gif
Fish Consumption 3,123.8 23.4 .0 76.6 color.gifcolor.gif
Primary Contact Recreation 14,188.6 97.3 .0 2.7 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Drinking Water Supply 4,322.5 98.7 .0 1.3 color.gifcolor.gif
Secondary Contact Recreation 14,188.6 97.3 .0 2.7 color.gifcolor.gif

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Rhode Island Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table
Non-Native Aquatic Plants Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif 6,345.8
Mercury in Fish Tissue Mercury color.gif 2,315.0
Phosphorus, Total Nutrients color.gif 2,272.6
Dissolved Oxygen Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion color.gif 1,529.7
Non-Native Fish/Shellfish/Zooplankton Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif 1,332.1
Excess Algal Growth Algal Growth color.gif 1,079.5
Eurasian Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum Spicatum Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif 1,007.2
Lead Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 498.7
Other Flow Regime Alterations Flow Alteration(s) color.gif 497.1
Fecal Coliform Pathogens color.gif 377.1
Copper Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 282.4
Cadmium Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 266.3
Aluminum Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 266.3
Turbidity Turbidity color.gif 163.9
PCB(s) in Fish Tissue Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) color.gif 76.7
Taste and Odor Taste, Color and Odor color.gif 42.2
Benthic Macroinvertebrates Bioassessments Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 40.7
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 38.0
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Turbidity color.gif 26.3
Chloride Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates color.gif 26.3
Iron Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 21.4
Chlorophyll-A Algal Growth color.gif 12.7

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Rhode Island Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table
Introduction Of Non-Native Organisms (Accidental Or Intentional) Other color.gif 6,345.8
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics Atmospheric Deposition color.gif 2,315.0
Source Unknown Unknown color.gif 1,856.3
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 1,590.0
Internal Nutrient Recycling Natural/Wildlife color.gif 1,285.5
Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 981.0
Agriculture Agriculture color.gif 522.4
Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification Hydromodification color.gif 497.1
Flow Alterations From Water Diversions Hydromodification color.gif 497.1
Upstream/Downstream Source Other color.gif 361.5
Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation Hydromodification color.gif 311.2
Wildlife Other Than Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 262.3
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 221.4
Illegal Dumps Or Other Inappropriate Waste Disposal Spills/Dumping color.gif 143.4
Aquaculture (Permitted) Aquaculture color.gif 130.3
Sediment Resuspension (Clean Sediment) Hydromodification color.gif 130.3
Wastes From Pets Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 119.0
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 113.2
Atmospheric Deposition - Nitrogen Atmospheric Deposition color.gif 104.9
Municipal Point Source Discharges Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 38.0
Combined Sewer Overflows Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 38.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Rhode Island Bays and Estuaries 2010

Description of this table
Assessed 158.8
Unassessed .1
Total Square Miles 159.0







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Description of this table
Good 102.3
Threatened .0
Impaired 56.5
Total Square Miles Assessed 158.8







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Description of this table
5.5
.0
.9
50.1
Total Threatened and Impaired 56.5

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Rhode Island Bays and Estuaries 2010

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table
% Good
% Threatened
% Impaired
Fish And Wildlife Habitat 109.3 53.9 .0 46.1 color.gifcolor.gif
Fish Consumption 158.8 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif
Primary Contact Recreation 155.7 90.0 .0 10.0 color.gifcolor.gif
Secondary Contact Recreation 155.7 90.0 .0 10.0 color.gifcolor.gif
Shellfish Consumption 131.7 75.9 .0 24.1 color.gifcolor.gif
Shellfish Controlled Relay And Depuration 16.5 95.4 .0 4.6 color.gifcolor.gif

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Rhode Island Bays and Estuaries 2010

Description of this table
Dissolved Oxygen Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion color.gif 48.6
Fecal Coliform Pathogens color.gif 46.4
Nitrogen, Total Nutrients color.gif 39.5
Temperature, Water Temperature color.gif 9.8
Fish Bioassessments Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 9.8
Sediment Bioassays for Estuarine and Marine Water Total Toxics color.gif 1.0
Non-Native Aquatic Plants Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif .6
Eurasian Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum Spicatum Nuisance Exotic Species color.gif .3
Enterococcus Bacteria Pathogens color.gif .0
Phosphorus, Total Nutrients color.gif .0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Rhode Island Bays and Estuaries 2010

Description of this table
Source Unknown Unknown color.gif 44.9
Combined Sewer Overflows Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 34.1
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 18.0
Industrial Thermal Discharges Industrial color.gif 9.8
Cooling Water Intake Structures (Impingement Or Entrainment) Industrial color.gif 9.8
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 7.3
Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 5.5
Wildlife Other Than Waterfowl Natural/Wildlife color.gif 5.4
Wastes From Pets Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif 2.7
Upstream Source Other color.gif 2.1
Upstream/Downstream Source Other color.gif 1.7
Contaminated Sediments Legacy/Historical Pollutants color.gif 1.0
Municipal Point Source Discharges Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif 1.0
Rcra Hazardous Waste Sites Industrial color.gif 1.0
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif .9
Impervious Surface/Parking Lot Runoff Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater color.gif .9
Introduction Of Non-Native Organisms (Accidental Or Intentional) Other color.gif .9
Agriculture Agriculture color.gif .7
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures) Municipal Discharges/Sewage color.gif .4
Landfills Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks color.gif .1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Rhode Island Coastal Shoreline 2010

Description of this table
Assessed 78.6
Unassessed -.0
Total Miles 78.6







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Description of this table
Good 78.6
Threatened .0
Impaired .0
Total Miles Assessed 78.6







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Description of this table
.0
.0
.0
.0
Total Threatened and Impaired .0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Rhode Island Coastal Shoreline 2010

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table
% Good
% Threatened
% Impaired
Fish Consumption 78.6 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif
Primary Contact Recreation 78.6 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif
Secondary Contact Recreation 78.6 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif
Shellfish Consumption 78.6 100.0 .0 .0 color.gif

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Rhode Island Coastal Shoreline 2010

No causes of impairment reported.

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Rhode Island Coastal Shoreline 2010

No probable sources of impairments reported.

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Rhode Island Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2010


Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined Cause of Impairment Group to see a list of specific state causes of impairment making up the Cause of Impairment Group. See also Pollution categories summary document (PDF) (20 pp, 557K, About PDF) for brief, non-technical descriptions of general cause categories.
Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Algal Growth 1,079.5
Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota 126.5 78.7 9.8
Dioxins 8.7
Flow Alteration(s) 497.1
Mercury 48.3 2,315.0
Metals (other than Mercury) 187.9 785.7
Nuisance Exotic Species 104.1 6,345.8 .9
Nuisance Native Species 1.6
Nutrients 35.3 2,272.6 39.5
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion 37.1 1,529.7 48.6
Pathogens 470.1 377.1 46.4
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 28.4 76.7
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates 17.4 26.3
Taste, Color and Odor 42.2
Temperature 9.8
Total Toxics 6.9 1.0
Turbidity 4.2 190.2

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Rhode Island Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2010

Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined Probable Source Group to see a list of specific state Probable Sources making up the Probable Source Group.
Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments
Agriculture 18.2 522.4 .7
Aquaculture 3.0 130.3
Atmospheric Deposition 11.0 2,419.9
Groundwater Loadings/Withdrawals 8.2
Hydromodification 3.0 825.4
Industrial 2.2 10.8
Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks 8.2 .1
Legacy/Historical Pollutants 17.4 1.0
Municipal Discharges/Sewage 52.9 372.6 41.8
Natural/Wildlife 81.1 1,489.2 5.5
Other 116.0 6,679.1 4.7
Spills/Dumping .7 143.4
Unknown 456.9 1,856.3 44.9
Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater 78.8 1,590.0 19.0

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Rhode Island TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2010


Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment " value to see a listing of those Causes of Impairment.
Fish Bioassessments color.gif 4 10
Temperature, Water color.gif 4 10

Total: 8 TMDL Alternatives

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Rhode Island Previously 303(d)-Listed Waters Now Attaining All Applicable Water Quality Standards

Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of Waters Attaining" value for a detailed list of those previously 303(d)-listed waters now attaining all applicable water quality standards.
2008 color.gif 4 4
2011 color.gif 1 1
2012 color.gif 1 1

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Rhode Island Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters

Description of this table
NOTE: Click on a cause of impairment (e.g. pathogens) to see the specific state-reported causes that are grouped to make up this category. Click on the "Number of Causes of Impairment Reported" to see a list of waters with that cause of impairment.
Pathogens color.gif 95
Metals (other than Mercury) color.gif 78
Nutrients color.gif 43
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion color.gif 39
Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota color.gif 30
Mercury color.gif 10
Total Toxics color.gif 7
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) color.gif 7
Turbidity color.gif 3
Dioxins color.gif 2
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates color.gif 2

Total: 316 Causes of Impairment

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Rhode Island Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant

This chart includes TMDLs since October 1, 1995.

Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Pollutant" value to see associated listed waters for which a TMDL was developed. Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs" value to see a listing of those TMDLs for the pollutant.
Number of Causes of
Impairment Addressed
Enterococcus Bacteria color.gif 59 59
Fecal Coliform color.gif 59 59
Pathogens color.gif 20 20
Mercury color.gif 19 19
Phosphorus, Total color.gif 17 37
Copper color.gif 4 4
Lead color.gif 4 4
Zinc color.gif 4 4
Cadmium color.gif 2 2
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) color.gif 1 1
Nutrients color.gif 1 4

Total: 190 TMDLs; 213 Causes of Impairment Addressed


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Rhode Island Cumulative Number of TMDLs

EPA Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30.


Description of this table
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs Completed" value for a detailed list of the TMDLs for the fiscal year.
1999 color.gif 1 3
2001 color.gif 3 3
2002 color.gif 7 7
2003 color.gif 5 5
2004 color.gif 3 6
2005 color.gif 2 2
2006 color.gif 25 28
2007 color.gif 18 30
2008 color.gif 28 31
2009 color.gif 12 12
2010 color.gif 7 7
2011 color.gif 65 65
2013 color.gif 14 14

Total: 190 TMDLs; 213 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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Full Text Search of TMDL Documents

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