Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integgrated Report Assessment Period - October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2012 Prepared in accordance with thee requirements of Sections 303(d)/305(b)/314 of the Clean Wateer Act December 2016 Kings River in the Bllack Rock Desert Region Nevada Division of Environmental Protecction Bureau of Water Quality Planning [This page intentionally left blank] Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report Table of Contents Section 1.0 - Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Section 2.0 - Background ................................................................................................................ 1 2.1 Topography and Hydrogeography ....................................................................................... 1 2.2 Climate and Precipitation ..................................................................................................... 1 2.3 Surface Water ...................................................................................................................... 2 Section 3.0 - Water Quality Control Programs ............................................................................... 5 3.1 Water Quality Standards ...................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Nevada’s Water Pollution Control Program for Point Source Discharges. ......................... 5 3.3 Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program .............................................................. 6 3.4 Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund ............................................................................ 7 3.5 Total Maximum Daily Load Program ................................................................................. 7 Section 4.0 - Surface Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment ................................................. 9 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Data Sources ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3 NDEP Monitoring Data ..................................................................................................... 12 4.4 Other Sources of Monitoring Data ..................................................................................... 12 4.5 Assessment Methodology .................................................................................................. 14 Section 5.0 Assessment Results ................................................................................................... 21 5.1 Category Summary ............................................................................................................ 21 5.2 Beneficial Use Summary ................................................................................................... 24 5.3 Category 5 Waters (303(d) List) ........................................................................................ 26 5.4 Delisted Waters .................................................................................................................. 27 5.5 TMDLs ............................................................................................................................... 29 Section 6.0 - Public Participation .................................................................................................. 29 Section 7.0 - References ............................................................................................................... 30 Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report Page i December 2016 List of Tables Table 1. Summary of Nevada Waterbodies ................................................................................... 4 Table 2. Sources of Data Used for the 2014 Integrated Report ................................................... 13 Table 3. Minimum Number of Exceedances to Categorize a Standard as Not Met .................... 16 Table 4. Summary of Waterbody Segments Evaluated in the 2014 Integrated Report ............... 21 Table 5. Summary of Assessment Results – Streams .................................................................. 23 Table 6. Summary of Assessment Results – Lakes and Reservoirs ............................................ 23 Table 7. Summary of Assessment Results – Wetlands ................................................................ 24 Table 8. Summary of Beneficial Use Status for Streams ............................................................. 25 Table 9. Summary of Beneficial Use Status for Lakes and Reservoirs ....................................... 25 Table 10. Summary of Beneficial Use Status for Wetlands ........................................................ 26 Table 11. Summary of Category 5 waters ................................................................................... 26 Table 12. Causes of Impairment (Category 5 - 303(d) List) ........................................................ 27 List of Figures Figure 1. Nevada Hydrographic Regions and Basins .................................................................... 3 Figure 2. Water Quality Sample Sites Used in the 2014 Integrated Report ................................ 11 Figure 3. Waters Assessed for the 2014 Integrated Report ......................................................... 22 List of Attachments Attachment 1 – List of Waterbodies Included in the 2014 Integrated Report Attachment 2 – Assessment Sampling Stations Attachment 3(a & b) – 2014 Waterbody Assessment Results Attachment 4 – Category 5 Waters (303(d) List) Attachment 5 – Delisted Waters Attachment 6 – EPA Approved TMDL List Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report Page ii December 2016 Abbreviations and Acronyms The following abbreviation and acronyms appear throughout this document and the Attachments: A Acres AA Annual Average ADB Assessment Database AGM Annual Geometric Mean AQL Aquatic Life BLM United States Bureau of Land Management BWQP Bureau of Water Quality Planning CFR Code of Federal Regulations CORPS United States Army Corps of Engineers CWA Clean Water Act DRI Desert Research Institute EAV Water of Extraordinary Ecological or Aesthetic Value EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency EWQ Enhancement of Water Quality F Fully Supporting °F Degrees Fahrenheit FC Fish Consumption FDA United States Food and Drug Administration FM Freshwater Marsh I Insufficient Information IND Industrial Supply IR Integrated Report IRR Irrigation MCL Maximum Contaminant Limit MDS Municipal or Domestic Supply MGD Million gallons per day N Not Supporting NAC Nevada Administrative Code NDBU No Designated Beneficial Use NDEP Nevada Division of Environmental Protection NDPBH Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health NDOW Nevada Department of Wildlife NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPS Nonpoint source NRS Nevada Revised Statute PWL Propagation of Wildlife RMHQ Requirement to Maintain Higher Quality RNC Recreation Not Involving Contact with Water RWC Recreation Involving Contact with Water TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load TMWRF Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility USGS United States Geological Survey X Not Assessed WLS Watering of Livestock WQS Water Quality Standard Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report Page iii December 2016 [This page intentionally left blank] Nevada 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report Page iv December 2016 Section 1.0 - Introduction In 1972, Congress passed Public Law 92-500, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The goal of the act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s surface waters. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) implements the CWA in Nevada with oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CWA Sections 303(d) and 305(b) require states to prepare and submit biennial reports to EPA. The 305(b) Report is an overall assessment of surface water quality within the state and describes the extent to which current conditions provide for the protection of beneficial uses of the waters. The 303(d) Report is a list of waters that are not meeting state water quality standards, known as the 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. EPA must review and approve or disapprove the 303(d) List. CWA Section 303(d) also requires that states develop a water quality control plan or total maximum daily load (TMDL) for waters on the 303(d) List. In 2006 and subsequent years, EPA issued guidance recommending that states prepare a combined or integrated 303(d)/305(b) report. NDEP has developed integrated reports for the 2008-2010, 2012 and 2014 reporting cycles. The 2014 Integrated Report assesses water quality data collected from October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2012. The 2014 Integrated Report is intended as a planning tool for use by NDEP, public agencies and the general public to manage and protect the quality of Nevada’s surface water resources. Section 2.0 - Background 2.1 Topography and Hydrogeography Nevada is characterized by isolated, long, narrow, roughly parallel mountain ranges and broad, intervening, near flat valleys and basins. The spectacular magnitude of alternating mountain ranges and valleys prompted the often used designation “Basin and Range Province” for most of Nevada. For water planning and management purposes, the U.S. Geological