Alaska Water Quality Assessment Report

Assessed Waters of Alaska by Watershed

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Features

Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Summary Results

Alaska (2008)

	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles)	Coastal Shoreline (Miles)
	Size of Water
Good Waters	115.3	3,382.0	25.1
Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses	24.1
Threatened Waters
TMDL completed
TMDL alternative
Non-pollutant impairment
TMDL needed
Impaired Waters	398.4	4,656.1	.6	17.6
TMDL completed	129.3	1,247.0	.6
TMDL alternative	25.2		.0	12.6
Non-pollutant impairment
TMDL needed	243.9	3,409.1	.0	5.0
New TMDLs completed	4.0	3,100.0	.0	.0
Remaining TMDLs needed	239.9	309.1	.0	5.0

Total Assessed Waters	513.7	8,038.1	25.8	17.6
Total Waters	365,000.0	12,787,200.0	33,204.0	36,000.0
Percent of Waters Assessed	.1	.1	.1	.0

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Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008

Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Alaska Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Miles

Assessed	513.7
Unassessed	364,486.4
Total Miles	365,000.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Miles

Good	115.3
Threatened	.0
Impaired	398.4
Total Miles Assessed	513.7

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Miles

All TMDLs completed	133.3
TMDL alternative	25.2
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	239.9
Total Threatened and Impaired	398.4

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Alaska 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
					% Impaired
Fresh Water / Growth And Propagation Of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife	359.0	6.8	.0	93.2
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Contact Recreation	311.7	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Secondary Recreation	311.7	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Agriculture, Including Irrigation And Stock Watering	311.7	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	311.7	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Drinking, Culinary, And Food Processing	480.2	18.7	.0	81.3
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Industrial	311.7	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	1.0	100.0	.0	.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Alaska Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Turbidity	Turbidity	219.6
Petroleum Hydrocarbons	Oil and Grease	65.3
Sedimentation/Siltation	Sediment	61.5
Fecal Coliform	Pathogens	60.3
Ammonia, Un-ionized	Ammonia	40.0
Residues	Other Cause	20.0
Debris/Floatables/Trash	Trash	7.5
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	7.0
Iron	Metals (other than Mercury)	6.2
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	4.5
Manganese	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.2
Cadmium	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.2
Arsenic	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.2
Copper	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.2
Lead	Metals (other than Mercury)	1.0
Zinc	Metals (other than Mercury)	1.0
Barium	Radiation	1.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Alaska Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Placer Mining	Resource Extraction	193.6
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	95.9
Unspecified Urban Stormwater	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	53.0
Municipal Point Source Discharges	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	40.0
Unspecified Domestic Waste	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	26.0
Highways, Roads, Bridges, Infrastructure (New Construction)	Construction	20.0
Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment)	Construction	20.0
Other Recreational Pollution Sources	Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	19.0
Silviculture Harvesting	Silviculture (Forestry)	16.5
Other Spill Related Impacts	Spills/Dumping	15.3
Streambank Modifications/Destabilization	Hydromodification	13.0
Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification	Hydromodification	13.0
Drainage/Filling/Loss Of Wetlands	Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	13.0
Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation	Hydromodification	13.0
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	7.3
Inappropriate Waste Disposal	Spills/Dumping	7.0
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	6.4
Subsurface (Hardrock) Mining	Resource Extraction	4.7
Rcra Hazardous Waste Sites	Industrial	4.5
Contaminated Sediments	Legacy/Historical Pollutants	4.5
Nps Pollution From Military Port Facilities	Military Bases	4.5
Landfills	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	4.5
Silviculture Activities	Silviculture (Forestry)	4.5
Forest Roads (Road Construction And Use)	Silviculture (Forestry)	4.0
Mine Tailings	Resource Extraction	3.2
Impacts From Abandoned Mine Lands (Inactive)	Resource Extraction	2.5
Surface Mining	Resource Extraction	1.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Alaska Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Acres

Assessed	8,038.1
Unassessed	12,779,161.9
Total Acres	12,787,200.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Acres

Good	3,382.0
Threatened	.0
Impaired	4,656.1
Total Acres Assessed	8,038.1

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Acres

All TMDLs completed	4,347.0
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	309.1
Total Threatened and Impaired	4,656.1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Alaska 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
Fresh Water / Growth And Propagation Of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife	4,669.1	1.8	.0	98.2
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Contact Recreation	3,756.1	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Secondary Recreation	3,756.1	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Agriculture, Including Irrigation And Stock Watering	3,756.1	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	4,586.1	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Drinking, Culinary, And Food Processing	7,125.1	46.3	.0	53.7
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Industrial	3,756.1	.0	.0	100.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Alaska Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Petroleum Hydrocarbons	Oil and Grease	3,100.1
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	1,137.0
Fecal Coliform	Pathogens	417.0
Manganese	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.0
Iron	Metals (other than Mercury)	2.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Alaska Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Other Recreational Pollution Sources	Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	3,100.0
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	830.0
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	417.1
Unspecified Domestic Waste	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	307.0
Landfills	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	2.0
Nps Pollution From Military Port Facilities	Military Bases	2.0
Other Spill Related Impacts	Spills/Dumping	.1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Alaska Bays and Estuaries 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Square Miles

Assessed	25.8
Unassessed	33,178.2
Total Square Miles	33,204.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Square Miles

Good	25.1
Threatened	.0
Impaired	.6
Total Square Miles Assessed	25.8

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Square Miles

All TMDLs completed	.6
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	.0
Total Threatened and Impaired	.6

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Alaska Bays and Estuaries 2008

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

Description of this table

Designated Use	Square Miles Assessed	Percent Good	Percent Threatened	Percent Impaired	% Good
					% Threatened
					% Impaired
Fresh Water / Growth And Propagation Of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife	4.9	100.0	.0	.0
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Contact Recreation	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Recreation / Secondary Recreation	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Agriculture, Including Irrigation And Stock Watering	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Drinking, Culinary, And Food Processing	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Fresh Water / Water Supply / Industrial	.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Growth And Propagation Of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife	20.7	97.0	.0	3.0
Marine Water / Harvesting For Consumption Of Raw Mollusks Or Other Raw Aquatic Life	.6	.3	.0	99.7
Marine Water / Water Recreation / Contact Recreation	.7	14.2	.0	85.8
Marine Water / Water Recreation / Secondary Recreation	.6	.3	.0	99.7
Marine Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	.6	.3	.0	99.7
Marine Water / Water Supply / Industrial	.6	.3	.0	99.7
Marine Water / Water Supply / Seafood Processing	.7	14.1	.0	85.9

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Alaska Bays and Estuaries 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Square Miles Threatened or Impaired
Debris/Floatables/Trash	Trash	.5
Sulfide-Hydrogen Sulfide	Toxic Inorganics	.3
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	.3
Residues	Other Cause	.2
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	.1
Organic Enrichment (Sewage) Biological Indicators	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	.0
Mercury	Mercury	.0
Copper	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Petroleum Hydrocarbons	Oil and Grease	.0
Iron	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Cobalt	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Silver	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Arsenic	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Cadmium	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Lead	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0
Zinc	Metals (other than Mercury)	.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Alaska Bays and Estuaries 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Square Miles Threatened or Impaired
Industrial Point Source Discharge	Industrial	.2
Seafood Processing Operations	Aquaculture	.1
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	.0
Historic Bottom Deposits (Not Sediment)	Legacy/Historical Pollutants	.0
Silviculture Activities	Silviculture (Forestry)	.0
Mine Tailings	Resource Extraction	.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Alaska Coastal Shoreline 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Miles

Assessed	17.6
Unassessed	35,982.5
Total Miles	36,000.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Miles

Good	.0
Threatened	.0
Impaired	17.6
Total Miles Assessed	17.6

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Miles

All TMDLs completed	.0
TMDL alternative	12.6
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	5.0
Total Threatened and Impaired	17.6

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Alaska Coastal Shoreline 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
					% Impaired
Marine Water / Growth And Propagation Of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife	5.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Harvesting For Consumption Of Raw Mollusks Or Other Raw Aquatic Life	5.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Recreation / Contact Recreation	5.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Recreation / Secondary Recreation	5.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Supply / Aquaculture	17.6	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Supply / Industrial	5.0	.0	.0	100.0
Marine Water / Water Supply / Seafood Processing	5.0	.0	.0	100.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Alaska Coastal Shoreline 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Petroleum Hydrocarbons	Oil and Grease	12.6
Residues	Other Cause	5.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Alaska Coastal Shoreline 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Other Spill Related Impacts	Spills/Dumping	12.6
Industrial Point Source Discharge	Industrial	5.0

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Alaska Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment Group	Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
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	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles)	Coastal Shoreline (Miles)
Ammonia	40.0
Mercury			.0
Metals (other than Mercury)	7.2	2.0	.0
Oil and Grease	65.3	3,100.1	.0	12.6
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	7.0	1,137.0	.3
Other Cause	20.0		.2	5.0
Pathogens	60.3	417.0
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	4.5
Radiation	1.0
Sediment	61.5
Toxic Inorganics			.3
Trash	7.5		.5
Turbidity	219.6

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Alaska Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source Group	Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments
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	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles)	Coastal Shoreline (Miles)
Aquaculture			.1
Construction	33.0
Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	13.0
Hydromodification	39.0
Industrial	4.5		.2	5.0
Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	4.5	2.0
Legacy/Historical Pollutants	4.5		.0
Military Bases	4.5	2.0
Municipal Discharges/Sewage	73.3	1,137.0
Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	19.0	3,100.0
Resource Extraction	200.3		.0
Silviculture (Forestry)	16.5		.0
Spills/Dumping	22.3	.1		12.6
Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	155.3	417.1	.0

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Alaska TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Number of TMDL Alternatives	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles)	Coastal Shoreline (Miles)
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment " value to see a listing of those Causes of Impairment.
Petroleum Hydrocarbons	23	19		13
Arsenic	1	2
Cadmium	1	2
Copper	1	2
Iron	1	2
Manganese	1	2
Residues	1		0
Sedimentation/Siltation	1	4

Total: 30 TMDL Alternatives

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

Description of this table

Year Attaining	Number of Waters Attaining	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
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.
2006	2	2
2008	7	7
2010	2	3

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Alaska Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment Group Name	Number of Causes of Impairment Reported
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.
Turbidity	12
Oil and Grease	10
Sediment	6
Metals (other than Mercury)	4
Other Cause	3
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	2
Radiation	1
Trash	1
Total Toxics	1

Total: 40 Causes of Impairment

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Alaska Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant

This chart includes TMDLs since October 1, 1995.

Description of this table

Pollutant	Number of TMDLs	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
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.
Fecal Coliform	15	15
Residues	6	6
Dissolved Oxygen	3	3
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Aquatic Ecosystems)	3	3
Turbidity	3	3
Debris	2	2
Seafood Residue	2	2
Sediment	2	3
Arsenic	1	1
Cobalt	1	1
Contaminated Sediments (Cadmium)	1	1
Contaminated Sediments (Copper)	1	1
Contaminated Sediments (Lead)	1	1
Contaminated Sediments (Zinc)	1	1
Copper	1	1
Iron	1	1
Lead	1	1
Manganese	1	1
Mercury	1	1
Oil and Grease	1	1
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	1	1
Silver	1	1
Total Aromatic Hydrocarbons	1	1
Toxic & Other Deleterious Substances	1	1
Zinc	1	1

Total: 53 TMDLs; 54 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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Alaska Cumulative Number of TMDLs

EPA Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30.

Description of this table

Fiscal Year	Number of TMDLs	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs Completed" value for a detailed list of the TMDLs for the fiscal year.
1996	1	1
1997	3	3
1999	2	2
2000	4	4
2001	1	1
2002	5	5
2003	2	2
2004	6	6
2005	4	4
2006	2	2
2007	3	3
2008	2	2
2009	8	8
2010	7	8
2011	1	1
2012	2	2

Total: 53 TMDLs; 54 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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TMDL Document Search

Full Text Search of TMDL Documents

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