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- Vermont Assessment Summary
- Water Quality by Waterbody Type
- Causes of Impairment
- Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
- TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment
- Previously 303(d)-Listed Waters Now Attaining All Applicable Water Quality Standards
- Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters
- Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant
- Cumulative Number of TMDLs
Data are also available for these cycles:
2002
2004
2006
2010
Waterbody Changes from Prior Cycle
For More Information:
Vermont Assessment Report
State Water Quality Program
Vermont Water Quality Assessment Report
Assessed Waters of Vermont by Watershed
Search for a waterbody within Vermont
NOTE: In 2008, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources restructured the state's assessment units in order to maximize the utility of the assessment database (ADB) to track stressors and observed effects. As a result, you may see differences between the data contained in this website and Vermont's final approved 303(d) list. For more information, refer to the state's website at http://www.vtwaterquality.org.
NOTE: In 2008, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources restructured the state's assessment units in order to maximize the utility of the assessment database (ADB) to track stressors and observed effects. As a result, you may see differences between the data contained in this website and Vermont's final approved 303(d) list. For more information, refer to the state's website at http://www.vtwaterquality.org.
Features
- About This Database (Integrated Report)
- Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)
- Integrated Reporting Guidance
- Previous National Water Quality Reports
- EnviroMapper for Water
- AskWATERS
- EPA WATERS Homepage
- Exchange Network
- Assessment Database
- Statewide Statistical Surveys
- How's My Waterway Local Search tool
- Pollution Categories Summary Document
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Summary Results
Vermont (2008)
Description of this table| Size of Water | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
||||||||||||||
| Good Waters | 5,158.7 | 32,019.0 | |||||||||||||
| Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses |
19.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Threatened Waters | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | |||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | |||||||||||||||
| Impaired Waters | 401.3 | 197,703.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | 58.4 | 19,340.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | 6.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | 81.0 | 6,711.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | 255.3 | 171,652.0 | |||||||||||||
| New TMDLs completed | 95.3 | 1,456.0 | |||||||||||||
| Remaining TMDLs needed | 160.0 | 170,196.0 | |||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
| Total Assessed Waters | 5,560.0 | 229,722.0 | |||||||||||||
| Total Waters | 7,099.0 | 229,498.0 | |||||||||||||
| Percent of Waters Assessed | 78.3 | 100.1 | |||||||||||||
For the 2008 Integrated Report Cycle, the total assessed waters size is greater than the total waters size for the EPA Waterbody Type Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds in Vermont. This discrepancy was identified after the release of the data, and is likely due to the improvements in mapping state waters.
Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Vermont Rivers and Streams 2008
Description of this table
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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Individual Designated Use Support
Vermont Rivers and Streams 2008
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Miles Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired |  % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 % Threatened |
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 % Impaired |
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| Aesthetic | 2,910.9 | 95.9 | .0 | 4.1 | |
| Aquatic Biota, Wildlife, And Aquatic Habitat | 2,878.4 | 91.0 | .0 | 9.0 | |
| Boating, Fishing, And Other Recreational Uses | 3,455.1 | 99.0 | .0 | 1.0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 5,439.7 | 98.8 | .0 | 1.2 | |
| Public Water Supply | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
| Swimming And Other Primary Contact Recreation | 1,932.1 | 93.7 | .0 | 6.3 | |
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Causes of Impairment
Vermont Rivers and Streams 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens | 115.4 |
| Flow Alteration(s) | Flow Alteration(s) | 74.2 |
| Mercury in Fish Tissue | Mercury | 56.0 |
| Ag Runoff | Cause Unknown | 52.9 |
| Temperature, Water | Temperature | 34.8 |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | 32.1 |
| Stormwater | Other Cause | 31.9 |
| pH, Low | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 28.4 |
| Metals | Metals (other than Mercury) | 15.5 |
| Nutrients | Nutrients | 12.5 |
| Toxics | Total Toxics | 11.8 |
| PCB(s) in Fish Tissue | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 7.0 |
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 6.0 |
| Low Flow Alterations | Flow Alteration(s) | 4.0 |
| Iron | Metals (other than Mercury) | 3.9 |
| Asbestos | Toxic Inorganics | 1.3 |
| Zinc | Metals (other than Mercury) | .2 |
| Arsenic | Metals (other than Mercury) | .2 |
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Probable Sources
Vermont Rivers and Streams 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Runoff | Agriculture | 8.0 |
| Dam Or Impoundment | Hydromodification | 5.5 |
| Mine Tailings | Resource Extraction | 5.2 |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | 5.2 |
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 2.8 |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Discharges/Sewage | 2.5 |
| Impacts From Resort Areas (Winter And Non-Winter Resorts) | Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating) | 1.9 |
| Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment) | Construction | .7 |
| Silviculture Activities | Silviculture (Forestry) | .7 |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | .4 |
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Vermont Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008
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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Individual Designated Use Support
Vermont Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Acres Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Threatened |
|||||
| % Impaired |
|||||
| Aesthetic | 228,568.0 | 34.5 | .0 | 65.5 | |
| Aquatic Biota, Wildlife, And Aquatic Habitat | 228,546.0 | 81.9 | .0 | 18.1 | |
| Boating, Fishing, And Other Recreational Uses | 227,567.0 | 87.0 | .0 | 13.0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 229,685.0 | 20.6 | .0 | 79.4 | |
| Public Water Supply | 165,560.0 | 90.5 | .0 | 9.5 | |
| Swimming And Other Primary Contact Recreation | 227,543.0 | 34.5 | .0 | 65.5 | |
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Causes of Impairment
Vermont Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury in Fish Tissue | Mercury | 182,290.0 |
| PCB(s) in Fish Tissue | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 163,678.0 |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | 139,927.0 |
| Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorph | Nuisance Exotic Species | 21,740.0 |
| Eurasian Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum Spicatum | Nuisance Exotic Species | 18,211.0 |
| Flow Alteration(s) | Flow Alteration(s) | 5,985.0 |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 4,420.0 |
| Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 700.0 |
| Exotic Species | Nuisance Exotic Species | 628.0 |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | 100.0 |
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens | 9.0 |
Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results
Probable Sources
Vermont Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics | Atmospheric Deposition | 182,290.0 |
| Inappropriate Waste Disposal | Spills/Dumping | 163,678.0 |
| Non-Point Source | Unspecified Nonpoint Source | 133,509.0 |
| Municipal Point Source Discharges | Municipal Discharges/Sewage | 73,869.0 |
| Natural Sources | Natural/Wildlife | 67,992.0 |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | 33,315.0 |
| Other Shipping Releases (Wastes And Detritus) | Commercial Harbor And Port Activities | 23,046.0 |
| Other Marina/Boating On-Vessel Discharges | Recreational Boating And Marinas | 17,942.0 |
| Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation | Hydromodification | 14,177.0 |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Discharges/Sewage | 13,725.0 |
| Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 13,725.0 |
| Flow Alterations From Water Diversions | Hydromodification | 7,997.0 |
| Source Unknown | Unknown | 4,455.0 |
| Industrial Point Source Discharge | Industrial | 4,423.0 |
| Atmospheric Deposition - Acidity | Atmospheric Deposition | 4,420.0 |
| Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification | Hydromodification | 2,198.0 |
| Non-Irrigated Crop Production | Agriculture | 1,908.0 |
| Managed Pasture Grazing | Agriculture | 1,854.0 |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | 1,456.0 |
| Streambank Modifications/Destabilization | Hydromodification | 100.0 |
| Internal Nutrient Recycling | Natural/Wildlife | 54.0 |
Vermont Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008
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. | |||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
||||||||||||||
| Cause Unknown | 52.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Flow Alteration(s) | 78.2 | 5,985.0 | |||||||||||||
| Mercury | 56.0 | 182,290.0 | |||||||||||||
| Metals (other than Mercury) | 19.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Nuisance Exotic Species | 23,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Nutrients | 12.5 | 139,927.0 | |||||||||||||
| Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 6.0 | 700.0 | |||||||||||||
| Other Cause | 31.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Pathogens | 115.4 | 9.0 | |||||||||||||
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 28.4 | 4,420.0 | |||||||||||||
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 7.0 | 163,678.0 | |||||||||||||
| Sediment | 32.1 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||
| Temperature | 34.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Toxics | 11.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic Inorganics | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||
Vermont Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008
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. | |||||||||||||||
| Probable Source Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
||||||||||||||
| Agriculture | 13.2 | 33,767.0 | |||||||||||||
| Atmospheric Deposition | 183,018.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Commercial Harbor And Port Activities | 23,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Construction | .7 | ||||||||||||||
| Hydromodification | 5.5 | 22,274.0 | |||||||||||||
| Industrial | 4,423.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | .4 | ||||||||||||||
| Municipal Discharges/Sewage | 2.5 | 73,869.0 | |||||||||||||
| Natural/Wildlife | 68,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating) | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Recreational Boating And Marinas | 17,942.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Resource Extraction | 5.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Silviculture (Forestry) | .7 | ||||||||||||||
| Spills/Dumping | 163,678.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Unknown | 4,455.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Unspecified Nonpoint Source | 133,509.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 2.8 | 13,725.0 | |||||||||||||
Vermont TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008
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. | ||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment | Number of TMDL Alternatives |
Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metals |  2 |
1 | ||||||||||||
| Sedimentation/Siltation | 2 |
3 | ||||||||||||
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | 1 |
6 | ||||||||||||
| Temperature, Water | 1 |
4 | ||||||||||||
| Toxics | 1 |
0 | ||||||||||||
Total: 7 TMDL Alternatives
Vermont 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. | ||
| Year Attaining | Number of Waters Attaining | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 9 |
11 |
| 2007 | 4 |
4 |
| 2011 | 8 |
11 |
Vermont 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. | |
| Cause of Impairment Group Name | Number of Causes of Impairment Reported |
|---|---|
| Pathogens | 37 |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 27 |
| Cause Unknown | 18 |
| Metals (other than Mercury) | 17 |
| Sediment | 15 |
| Other Cause | 14 |
| Nutrients | 12 |
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 7 |
| Temperature | 5 |
| Total Toxics | 5 |
| Toxic Inorganics | 2 |
Total: 159 Causes of Impairment
Vermont 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. | ||
| Pollutant | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Acid |  37 |
37 |
| Mercury | 31 |
31 |
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | 22 |
22 |
| Pollutants in Urban Stormwater | 12 |
12 |
| Phosphorus, Total | 10 |
10 |
| Dichlorvos | 2 |
2 |
| Phosphorus | 2 |
2 |
| Sediment | 2 |
2 |
| Pathogens | 1 |
1 |
Total: 119 TMDLs; 119 Causes of Impairment Addressed
Vermont 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. | ||
| Fiscal Year | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
3 |
| 2003 | 39 |
39 |
| 2004 | 6 |
6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
5 |
| 2008 | 35 |
35 |
| 2009 | 4 |
4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1 |
| 2011 | 22 |
22 |
| 2012 | 2 |
2 |
Total: 119 TMDLs; 119 Causes of Impairment Addressed