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Section 305(B) Assessment and Reporting

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Section 305(B) Assessment and Reporting State of South Carolina Integrated Report for 2012 Part II: Section 305(b) Assessment and Reporting May 24, 2012 PREFACE The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) prepared this report as a requirement of Section 305(b) of Public Law 100-4, last reauthorized and commonly known as The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987, and as a public information document. The report presents a general assessment of water quality conditions and water pollution control programs in South Carolina. SCDHEC has published Watershed Water Quality Management Assessments (WWQA), that contain information pertaining to the specific watersheds and give a more complete picture of the waters referenced in this document. While the title page states that this is an integrated report, Section 303(d) of the CWA requirements are submitted separately as a companion document. The determinations of surface water quality were based on data collected by SCDHEC at ambient water quality monitoring stations, point source permit required monitoring, and evaluation of nonpoint source (NPS) data. Other information in this report was obtained from SCDHEC programs associated with water quality monitoring and water pollution control. i TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE........................................................................................................................................ i TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES, CHARTS, AND GRAPHS .......................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 5 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 7 1. Resource Overview........................................................................................................ 7 2. Total Waters................................................................................................................... 7 3. Water Pollution Control Program.................................................................................. 7 A. Watershed Approach .......................................................................................... 8 B. Water Quality Standards and Classifications .................................................... 9 Surface Water Classes - Freshwaters..................................................................... 9 Surface Water Classes - Saltwaters...................................................................... 10 Groundwater Classes............................................................................................ 11 Reclassifications and Site-Specific Criteria ......................................................... 11 C. Point Source Program - Municipal Facilities.................................................. 12 Loan Program....................................................................................................... 12 Pretreatment and Toxicity Program..................................................................... 12 Stormwater Controls............................................................................................. 13 Land Application of Treated Waste ...................................................................... 13 Strategies to Improve the Municipal Permitting Program ................................... 14 D. Point Source Program - Industrial and Agricultural Facilities ...................... 14 Industrial Facilities............................................................................................... 14 Agricultural Facilities........................................................................................... 14 Toxics Controls ..................................................................................................... 15 Land Application of Treated Wastewater ............................................................. 15 Stormwater Permits- Industrial ............................................................................ 15 Stormwater Permits - Construction ...................................................................... 15 Stormwater Permits - MS4.................................................................................... 16 E. Permit Compliance and Enforcement .............................................................. 16 F. Nonpoint Source Program................................................................................ 17 G. Wasteload Allocations and Total Maximum Daily Loads ............................... 18 SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT........................................................................................... 21 1. Surface Water Monitoring Program............................................................................. 21 A. Purpose and Design ......................................................................................... 21 B. Networks and Programs................................................................................... 21 C. Laboratory Analytical Support ........................................................................ 22 D. Quality Assurance............................................................................................ 22 E. Data Storage, Management and Interpretation ............................................... 25 2. Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................ 25 A. Probability-Based §305(b) Assessment Approach ........................................... 25 Rivers and Streams ............................................................................................... 26 Lakes and Reservoirs ............................................................................................ 26 Estuaries ............................................................................................................... 27 ii National Coastal Assessments .............................................................................. 27 B. Determination of Attainment of Classified Uses .............................................. 27 General Considerations........................................................................................ 27 Aquatic Life Use Support...................................................................................... 28 Macroinvertebrate Data Interpretation................................................................ 30 Recreational Use Support..................................................................................... 30 3. Rivers and Streams Water Quality Assessment........................................................... 31 A. Summary Statistics ........................................................................................... 31 4. Lakes Water Quality Assessment ................................................................................ 32 A. Summary Statistics ........................................................................................... 32 B. Section 314 Reporting ...................................................................................... 33 Background........................................................................................................... 34 Trophic Status ....................................................................................................... 34 Control Methods ................................................................................................... 40 Restoration Efforts................................................................................................ 40 Acid Effects on Lakes............................................................................................ 40 Toxic Effects on Lakes .......................................................................................... 41 5. Estuary and Coastal Assessment.................................................................................. 41 A. Summary Statistics ........................................................................................... 41 6. Wetlands Assessment................................................................................................... 42 A. Summary Statistics ........................................................................................... 42 B. Extent of Wetlands Resources .......................................................................... 43 C. Integrity of Wetlands Resources....................................................................... 44 Section 404 Permit Program ................................................................................ 44 Section 401 Water Quality Certification .............................................................. 44 Water Quality Certification, Nationwide Permits (NWP) .................................... 45 D. Development of Water Quality Standards for Wetlands.................................. 45 E. Additional Protection Activities ....................................................................... 46 7. Public Health Concerns ............................................................................................... 46 A. Sizes of Water Affected by Toxicants...............................................................
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