FINAL Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Water Quality Assessment Report Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality September, 2014 Old Man by the Sea– Talofofo Watershed Photo by Kathy Yuknavage Authors: Clarissa T. Bearden, Derek Chambers, Ryan Okano, Kathy Yuknavage. Maps: Yubert Alepuyo, Derek Chambers and Ken Cochrane September, 2014 CNMI 305(b) And 303(d) Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report <This page left intentionally blank> September, 2014 CNMI 305(b) And 303(d) Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Fiscal Year 2014 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Water Quality Assessment Report was prepared by a number of Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality staff, all credited on the cover page. Dr. Ryan Okano updated the sections covering the CNMI’s Biological Monitoring Assessment Program. Surface water quality data was analyzed and compiled by Clarissa T. Bearden, Department of Coastal Resources Management’s Water Quality Surveillance and Non- Point Source Program Manager and Kathy Yuknavage, MS., Technical Advisor. Capt. Derek Chambers, PE, MPH, U.S. Public Health Service, prepared all sections covering groundwater quality. The authors of this report would also like to thank Lt. Commander Brian G. Bearden, PE, US Public Health Service, for his tremendous assistance with formatting content and creating the initial tables detailing shoreline miles in the 2010 Integrated Report from which the present document is based. September, 2014 CNMI 305(b) And 303(d) Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 1 B. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................... 3 B.1. Scope of Waters in the Integrated Report ........................................................................ 3 B.2. Water Pollution Control Program .................................................................................... 6 B.2.1. Water Quality Surveillance/Nonpoint Source Program ............................................ 6 B.2.2. DEQ Wastewater and Erosion Control Program ...................................................... 7 B.2.3. DEQ Safe Drinking Water Quality Program ............................................................ 8 B.3. Special State Concerns and Recommendations ............................................................... 8 C. SURFACE WATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT .............................................. 10 C1. Monitoring Programs ..................................................................................................... 10 C.1.1. Surface Water Monitoring Program ........................................................................ 10 C.1.2. Biological Monitoring Program .............................................................................. 11 C.1.3. Other Information and Data Used ........................................................................... 13 C.1.3.1. UOG-WERI Fish Tissue and Biota Contaminant Studies:.................. 13 C.1.3.2. PMRI and NOAA-CRED Surveys of the Northern Islands ................ 14 C.1.3.3. MMT LaoLao Bay Watershed Restoration Project ............................. 15 C.1.3.4. MMT Reef Flat Probabilistic Monitoring Program............................. 15 C.1.3.5. CNMI Division of Fish & Wildlife Fresh Aquatic Survey ................. 15 C.2. Assessment Methodology .............................................................................................. 16 C.2.1. Water Body Segmentation - Watershed Approach ................................................. 16 C.2.2. CNMI Designated Uses .......................................................................................... 17 C.2.3. Criteria and Assessment of Coastal Waters Designated Uses ................................ 18 C.2.3.1. Support and Propagation of Aquatic Life ............................................ 19 C.2.3.2. Fish and Shellfish Consumption .......................................................... 20 C.2.3.3. Recreational Use .................................................................................. 20 C.2.3.4. Aesthetic Enjoyment and Other Uses .................................................. 21 C.2.4. Criteria and Assessment of Fresh Waters & Streams Designated Uses ................. 21 C.2.4.1. Support and Propagation of Aquatic Life ............................................ 21 C.2.4.2 Fish/Shellfish Consumption ................................................................ 22 C.2.4.3. Recreational Use .................................................................................. 22 C.2.4.4. Potable Water Supply .......................................................................... 22 C.2.4.5. Aesthetic Enjoyment/Other Uses ........................................................ 22 C.2.5 USEPA’s CALM Assessment Categories .............................................................. 23 C.2.5.1. Category 1: Attaining all designated uses and water quality standards, and no use is threatened. ................................................................................................... 23 C.2.5.2. Category 2: Attains some of the designated uses; no use is threatened or impaired; and insufficient data or no data and information is available to determine if September, 2014 CNMI 305(b) And 303(d) Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report the remaining uses are attained, threatened, or impaired (with presumption that all uses are attained)……………... ................................................................................................ 24 C.2.5.3. Category 3: Insufficient data and information to determine if designated uses are attained. ............................................................................................. 24 C.2.5.4. Category 4: Impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses, but does not require development of a TMDL.................................................................. 25 C.2.5.5. Category 5: Waters impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses by a pollutant(s) and a TMDL is required................................................................. 25 C.3. 305(b) Assessment Results for All CNMI Waters ......................................................... 26 C.3.1. 305(b) Assessment Results for Saipan .................................................................... 33 C.3.1.1 Kalabera Watershed – Bird Island ....................................................... 37 C.3.1.2 Talofofo Watershed - Jeffrey’s and Hidden Beaches .......................... 38 C.3.1.3 Kagman Watershed - Marine and Tank Beaches ................................ 38 C.3.1.4 LaoLao Watershed - LaoLao Bay ....................................................... 39 C.3.1.5 DanDan Watershed – Remote Private Beaches ................................... 40 C.3.1.6 Isley Watersheds - Obyan and Ladder Beaches .................................. 40 C.3.1.7 Susupe Watersheds – San Antonio Beach and Susupe Lake .............. 41 C.3.1.8 West Takpochao Watersheds – Micro Beach ...................................... 43 C.3.1.9 Achugao Watersheds – Tanapag Lagoon ............................................ 45 C.3.1.10 As Matuis Watershed – Pau Pau and Wing Beach .............................. 47 C.3.1.11 Banaderu Watershed – Grotto Cave and Bird Island .......................... 47 C.3.1.12 Managaha Watershed .......................................................................... 48 C.3.2. 305(b) Assessment Results for Rota ....................................................................... 48 C.3.3. 305(b) Assessment Results for Tinian .................................................................... 50 C.3.4. 305(b) Assessment Results for the Northern Islands .............................................. 52 C.4. Cumulative 305(b) Assessment Results for All CNMI Waters ..................................... 52 C.4.1. Cumulative Coastal Marine Water Quality............................................................. 53 C.4.2. TMDL Development Status .................................................................................... 53 C.4.3. Removal of Waters from the 303(d) List ................................................................ 54 C4.3.1. Criteria for Removal of Water Segment/Pollutant Combinations from the 303(d) List……….. ..................................................................................................... 54 C.5. Public Health Issues ....................................................................................................... 56 C.5.1. Beach Water Quality Issues .................................................................................... 56 C.5.2. Public Water Supply/Drinking Water Use Reporting ............................................. 57 D. GROUND WATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT ............................................... 59 D.1 Overview of Ground Water Contamination Sources ..................................................... 59 D.2. Overview of State Ground Water Protection Programs ................................................. 61 D.2.1. Well Drilling and Well Operation Regulations ...................................................... 61 D.2.2. Wastewater Disposal Regulations........................................................................... 61 September, 2014 CNMI 305(b)