Tennessee Water Quality Assessment Report

Assessed Waters of Tennessee by Watershed

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Search for a waterbody within Tennessee

Features

Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Summary Results

Tennessee (2010)

	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)
	Size of Water
Good Waters	17,675.4	383,775.7
Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses	97.6
Threatened Waters	38.9
TMDL completed
TMDL alternative
Non-pollutant impairment
TMDL needed	38.9
Impaired Waters	12,914.6	181,767.7
TMDL completed
TMDL alternative
Non-pollutant impairment
TMDL needed	12,914.6	181,767.7
New TMDLs completed	425.5	53,831.0
Remaining TMDLs needed	12,489.1	127,936.7

Total Assessed Waters	30,628.9	565,543.4
Total Waters	61,075.0	572,006.8
Percent of Waters Assessed	50.1	98.9

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

Statewide Statistical Survey Summary Results

Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table

Attainment Category	Miles

Fully Supporting	17,453.9
Not Supporting	42,940.1
Total Assessed:	60,394.0

Attainment Category	Miles

Fully Supporting	26,814.9
Not Supporting	33,579.1
Total Assessed:	60,394.0

Attainment Category	Miles

Fully Supporting	35,001.1
Not Supporting	25,392.9
Total Assessed:	60,394.0

Statewide Statistical Survey Stressors

Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table

Stressor	Miles Fully Supporting	Miles Partially or Not Supporting	Total Miles
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)	35,001.1	25,392.9	60,394.0
Sedimentation/Siltation	42,275.8	18,118.2	60,394.0
Riparian Habitat Alteration	43,617.9	16,776.1	60,394.0
Nitrate/Nitrite	45,631.0	14,763.0	60,394.0
Phosphorus, Total	45,631.0	14,763.0	60,394.0
Physical Substrate Habitat Alterations	46,302.1	14,091.9	60,394.0
Dissolved Oxygen	55,025.6	5,368.4	60,394.0
Cause Unknown - Biological Integrity	.0	671.0	671.0
Temperature	59,723.0	671.0	60,394.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Miles

Assessed	30,628.9
Unassessed	30,446.1
Total Miles	61,075.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Miles

Good	17,675.4
Threatened	38.9
Impaired	12,914.6
Total Miles Assessed	30,628.9

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Miles

All TMDLs completed	425.5
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	12,528.0
Total Threatened and Impaired	12,953.5

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

* 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
Domestic Water Supply	3,334.9	98.8	.0	1.2
Fish And Aquatic Life	29,986.4	66.9	.1	32.9
Industrial Water Supply	3,131.2	100.0	.0	.0
Irrigation	30,287.9	100.0	.0	.0
Livestock Watering And Wildlife	30,287.9	100.0	.0	.0
Naturally Reproducing Trout Stream	275.3	100.0	.0	.0
Recreation	16,518.0	57.0	.0	43.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)	Pathogens	6,706.9
Sedimentation/Siltation	Sediment	5,953.3
Physical Substrate Habitat Alterations	Habitat Alterations	4,172.5
Alteration in Stream-Side or Littoral Vegetative Covers	Habitat Alterations	2,002.8
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	1,823.6
Phosphorus, Total	Nutrients	1,547.8
Nitrate/Nitrite (Nitrite + Nitrate as N)	Nutrients	1,150.0
Other Anthropogenic Substrate Alterations	Habitat Alterations	507.6
Low Flow Alterations	Flow Alteration(s)	453.4
pH	pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	409.9
Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators	Nutrients	306.4
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	300.4
Nitrates	Nutrients	289.7
Mercury	Mercury	256.6
Chlordane	Pesticides	256.3
Dioxin (Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD)	Dioxins	256.1
Iron	Metals (other than Mercury)	240.3
Phosphate	Nutrients	226.3
Manganese	Metals (other than Mercury)	190.7
Temperature, Water	Temperature	130.1
Cause Unknown	Cause Unknown	107.9
Lead	Metals (other than Mercury)	90.5
Arsenic	Metals (other than Mercury)	84.0
RDX (Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,2,5-Triazine	Toxic Organics	62.9
Ammonia, Un-ionized	Ammonia	54.2
Zinc	Metals (other than Mercury)	46.8
Copper	Metals (other than Mercury)	45.8
Aluminum	Metals (other than Mercury)	33.8
Sulfates	Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	31.3
Loss Of Native Mussel Species	Nuisance Native Species	29.8
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Aquatic Ecosystems)	Toxic Organics	26.1
Chloride	Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	22.4
Oil and Grease	Oil and Grease	17.6
Solids (Suspended/Bedload)	Sediment	13.9
Aldrin	Pesticides	8.6
Endrin	Pesticides	8.6
Dieldrin	Pesticides	8.6
DDT	Pesticides	8.6
Strontium	Metals (other than Mercury)	7.3
Sludge	Other Cause	7.2
Creosote	Toxic Organics	7.1
Odor Threshold Number	Taste, Color and Odor	6.7
Sulfide-Hydrogen Sulfide	Toxic Inorganics	6.7
Cesium	Radiation	5.3
Color	Taste, Color and Odor	5.0
Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET)	Total Toxics	4.3
Chromium, Hexavalent	Metals (other than Mercury)	3.8
Chlorine	Chlorine	3.3
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)	Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	1.0
Toluene	Toxic Organics	.5
Acetone	Toxic Organics	.5

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Tennessee Rivers and Streams 2010

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Grazing In Riparian Or Shoreline Zones	Agriculture	5,280.7
Channelization	Hydromodification	3,424.0
Non-Irrigated Crop Production	Agriculture	2,701.2
Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Ms4)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	2,304.4
Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment)	Construction	1,013.0
Source Unknown	Unknown	1,002.8
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	600.1
Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures)	Hydromodification	592.5
Municipal Point Source Discharges	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	583.6
Impacts From Abandoned Mine Lands (Inactive)	Resource Extraction	450.4
Municipal (Urbanized High Density Area)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	389.9
Contaminated Sediments	Legacy/Historical Pollutants	344.4
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	319.3
Unrestricted Cattle Access	Agriculture	310.2
Animal Feeding Operations (Nps)	Agriculture	268.6
Sources Outside State Jurisdiction Or Borders	Other	251.0
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics	Atmospheric Deposition	216.5
Dredging (E.G., For Navigation Channels)	Hydromodification	207.3
Rcra Hazardous Waste Sites	Industrial	120.1
Industrial Point Source Discharge	Industrial	88.8
Silviculture Harvesting	Silviculture (Forestry)	86.5
Sand/Gravel/Rock Mining Or Quarries	Resource Extraction	80.2
Streambank Modifications/Destabilization	Hydromodification	75.1
Highways, Roads, Bridges, Infrastructure (New Construction)	Construction	66.6
Coal Mining Discharges (Permitted)	Resource Extraction	59.3
Off-Road Vehicles	Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	53.1
Dredge Mining	Resource Extraction	50.1
Landfills	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	50.0
Specialty Crop Production	Agriculture	44.2
Package Plant Or Other Permitted Small Flows Discharges	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	37.8
Nps Pollution From Military Base Facilities (Other Than Port Facilities)	Military Bases	35.2
Mine Tailings	Resource Extraction	34.9
Mill Tailings	Industrial	31.6
Cercla Npl (Superfund) Sites	Legacy/Historical Pollutants	31.4
Permitted Runoff From Confined Animal Feeding Operations (Cafos)	Agriculture	30.4
Industrial/Commercial Site Stormwater Discharge (Permitted)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	29.8
Irrigated Crop Production	Agriculture	29.3
Channel Erosion/Incision From Upstream Hydromodifications	Hydromodification	24.8
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	24.5
Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification	Hydromodification	14.6
Loss Of Riparian Habitat	Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	13.4
Dairies (Outside Milk Parlor Areas)	Agriculture	12.4
Atmospheric Deposition - Acidity	Atmospheric Deposition	12.3
Impacts From Land Application Of Wastes	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	12.1
Combined Sewer Overflows	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	9.8
Land Application Of Wastewater Biosolids (Non-Agricultural)	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	9.4
Subsurface (Hardrock) Mining	Resource Extraction	9.1
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	8.9
Other Spill Related Impacts	Spills/Dumping	8.4
Livestock (Grazing Or Feeding Operations)	Agriculture	6.5
Surface Mining	Resource Extraction	6.4
Aquaculture (Permitted)	Aquaculture	4.0
Forest Roads (Road Construction And Use)	Silviculture (Forestry)	2.1
Petroleum/Natural Gas Production Activities (Permitted)	Industrial	1.4
Manure Runoff	Agriculture	1.1
Above Ground Storage Tank Leaks (Tank Farms)	Spills/Dumping	.5
Golf Courses	Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	.3

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Tennessee Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Acres

Assessed	565,543.4
Unassessed	6,463.4
Total Acres	572,006.8

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Acres

Good	383,775.7
Threatened	.0
Impaired	181,767.7
Total Acres Assessed	565,543.4

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Acres

All TMDLs completed	53,831.0
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	127,936.7
Total Threatened and Impaired	181,767.7

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Tennessee 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

Designated Use	Acres Assessed	Percent Good	Percent Threatened	Percent Impaired	% Good
					% Threatened
					% Impaired
Domestic Water Supply	526,637.0	99.9	.0	.1
Fish And Aquatic Life	563,642.4	92.7	.0	7.3
Industrial Water Supply	428,818.7	100.0	.0	.0
Irrigation	563,642.4	100.0	.0	.0
Livestock Watering And Wildlife	563,642.4	100.0	.0	.0
Navigation	1,971.0	100.0	.0	.0
Recreation	564,932.4	70.2	.0	29.8

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Tennessee Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	95,438.0
Mercury	Mercury	67,562.0
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	37,978.7
Temperature, Water	Temperature	20,459.0
Sedimentation/Siltation	Sediment	18,174.7
Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators	Nutrients	15,635.7
Chlordane	Pesticides	13,873.0
Low Flow Alterations	Flow Alteration(s)	11,444.0
Dioxin (Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD)	Dioxins	10,370.0
Aquatic Plants - Native	Nuisance Native Species	4,550.0
Copper	Metals (other than Mercury)	2,254.0
Zinc	Metals (other than Mercury)	2,254.0
Iron	Metals (other than Mercury)	2,254.0
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)	Pathogens	2,044.0
Aluminum	Metals (other than Mercury)	455.0
Arsenic	Metals (other than Mercury)	455.0
Coal Ash	Toxic Organics	455.0
Taste and Odor	Taste, Color and Odor	45.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Tennessee Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2010

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Contaminated Sediments	Legacy/Historical Pollutants	97,692.0
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics	Atmospheric Deposition	67,421.0
Industrial Thermal Discharges	Industrial	20,459.0
Non-Irrigated Crop Production	Agriculture	15,587.0
Internal Nutrient Recycling	Natural/Wildlife	15,500.0
Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment)	Construction	10,950.0
Drainage/Filling/Loss Of Wetlands	Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	10,950.0
Industrial Point Source Discharge	Industrial	7,791.4
Sources Outside State Jurisdiction Or Borders	Other	4,223.0
Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures)	Hydromodification	2,468.7
Mill Tailings	Industrial	2,254.0
Mine Tailings	Resource Extraction	2,254.0
Impacts From Abandoned Mine Lands (Inactive)	Resource Extraction	2,254.0
Source Unknown	Unknown	1,050.0
Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Ms4)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	994.0
Combined Sewer Overflows	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	994.0
Grazing In Riparian Or Shoreline Zones	Agriculture	481.0
Other Spill Related Impacts	Spills/Dumping	455.0
Municipal (Urbanized High Density Area)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	45.0
Animal Feeding Operations (Nps)	Agriculture	34.0
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	3.7

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Tennessee Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2010

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)
Ammonia	54.2
Cause Unknown	107.9
Chlorine	3.3
Dioxins	256.1	10,370.0
Flow Alteration(s)	453.4	11,444.0
Habitat Alterations	6,315.8
Mercury	256.6	67,562.0
Metals (other than Mercury)	500.1	2,709.0
Nuisance Native Species	29.8	4,550.0
Nutrients	2,913.6	15,635.7
Oil and Grease	17.6
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	1,823.6	37,978.7
Other Cause	7.2
Pathogens	6,706.9	2,044.0
Pesticides	256.3	13,873.0
pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	409.9
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	300.4	95,438.0
Radiation	5.3
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	54.7
Sediment	5,967.2	18,174.7
Taste, Color and Odor	11.7	45.0
Temperature	130.1	20,459.0
Total Toxics	4.3
Toxic Inorganics	6.7
Toxic Organics	96.7	455.0

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Tennessee Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2010

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)
Agriculture	7,898.9	16,015.0
Aquaculture	4.0
Atmospheric Deposition	228.9	67,421.0
Construction	1,044.7	10,950.0
Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	13.4	10,950.0
Hydromodification	4,287.8	2,468.7
Industrial	241.9	30,504.4
Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	80.4
Legacy/Historical Pollutants	375.9	97,692.0
Military Bases	35.2
Municipal Discharges/Sewage	1,439.9	997.7
Natural/Wildlife		15,500.0
Other	251.0	4,223.0
Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	53.4
Resource Extraction	609.9	2,254.0
Silviculture (Forestry)	86.5
Spills/Dumping	8.9	455.0
Unknown	1,002.8	1,050.0
Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	2,611.8	1,039.0

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Tennessee TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2010

No TMDL Alternatives reported.

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Tennessee 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.
2007	6	7
2008	1	2
2012	5	6

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Tennessee 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.
Habitat Alterations	448
Sediment	396
Nutrients	348
Pathogens	236
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	150
Metals (other than Mercury)	92
Mercury	36
pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	35
Temperature	22
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	22
Flow Alteration(s)	18
Cause Unknown	16
Pesticides	12
Toxic Organics	11
Ammonia	10
Oil and Grease	6
Dioxins	6
Turbidity	4
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	4
Taste, Color and Odor	4
Other Cause	3
Nuisance Native Species	2
Toxic Inorganics	1
Total Toxics	1
Chlorine	1
Radiation	1

Total: 1,885 Causes of Impairment

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Tennessee 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.
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)	541	547
Siltation	342	476
Fecal Coliform	62	62
Other Habitat Alteration(s)	60	61
Nitrogen, Total	41	52
Phosphorus, Total	40	40
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	21	21
Alkalinity	18	19
Carbonaceous Bod	14	15
Iron	12	13
Chlordane	11	21
pH	10	10
Low pH	7	7
Chlordane in Fish Tissue	6	6
Dioxin in Fish Tissue	6	7
Manganese	5	6
Dioxins	4	4
Ammonia, Un-ionized	2	3
Antimony	1	1
Arsenic	1	1
Cadmium	1	1
Copper	1	1
Lead	1	1
PCB(s) in Fish Tissue	1	2
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides	1	1
Zinc	1	1

Total: 1,210 TMDLs; 1,379 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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Tennessee 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.
1999	1	1
2001	8	8
2002	13	13
2003	51	72
2004	65	66
2005	80	97
2006	319	383
2007	90	100
2008	311	324
2009	101	143
2010	57	57
2011	56	56
2012	58	59

Total: 1,210 TMDLs; 1,379 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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TMDL Document Search

Full Text Search of TMDL Documents

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