THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT 2012 INTEGRATED REPORT TO THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND CONGRESS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 305(b) AND 303(d) CLEAN WATER ACT (P.L. 97-117) District Department of the Environment Natural Resources Administration Water Quality Division i PREFACE The Water Quality Division of the District of Columbia's District Department of the Environment, Natural Resources Administration, prepared this report to satisfy the listing requirements of §303(d) and the reporting requirements of §305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act (P.L. 97-117). The report provides water quality information on the District of Columbia’s surface and ground waters that were assessed during 2010-2011 and updates the water quality information required by law. Various programs in the Natural Resources Administration contributed to this report including the Fisheries and Wildlife Division, the Stormwater Management Division, and the Watershed Protection Division. The Lead and Healthy Housing Division, Environmental Protection Administration also contributed to this report. Questions or comments regarding this report should be forwarded to the address below. The District of Columbia Government District Department of the Environment Natural Resources Administration Water Quality Division 1200 First Street, NE 5th Floor Washington, D.C. 20002 Attention: N. Shulterbrandt ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... ii ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................. v PART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 1 District of Columbia Water Quality ............................................................................................ 1 Causes and Sources of Water Quality Impairment ..................................................................... 3 Programs to Correct Impairment ................................................................................................ 3 Water Quality Trends .................................................................................................................. 4 Highlights .................................................................................................................................... 4 PART II: BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 5 Atlas and Total Waters ................................................................................................................ 5 Maps ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Water Pollution Control Programs.............................................................................................. 9 Watershed Approach ............................................................................................................... 9 Water Quality Standards Program ........................................................................................ 11 Point Source Program ........................................................................................................... 12 Nonpoint Source Control Program ....................................................................................... 18 Cost/Benefit Assessment .......................................................................................................... 46 Cost ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Benefits ................................................................................................................................. 48 Special State Concerns and Recommendations ........................................................................ 50 PART III: SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 53 Current Surface Monitoring Program ....................................................................................... 53 Plan for Achieving Comprehensive Assessments ..................................................................... 53 Assessment Methodology and Summary Data ......................................................................... 53 Assessment Methodology ..................................................................................................... 53 Maps ...................................................................................................................................... 57 Section 303(d) Waters ........................................................................................................... 57 Rivers and Streams Water Quality Assessment ........................................................................ 62 Lakes Water Quality Assessment ............................................................................................. 68 Estuary and Coastal Assessment ............................................................................................... 70 Special Topics ........................................................................................................................... 73 Wetlands Assessment................................................................................................................ 87 PART IV: PUBLIC HEALTH - RELATED ASSESSMENTS ................................................... 88 Drinking Water Program Monitoring & Assessments .............................................................. 88 Lead in Drinking Water ............................................................................................................ 88 Fish Tissue Study ...................................................................................................................... 89 PART V: GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT ............................................................................ 91 iii Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 91 Summary of Groundwater Quality ............................................................................................ 91 Overview of Groundwater Contamination Sources .................................................................. 91 Overview of Groundwater Protection Programs ....................................................................... 92 Summary of Groundwater Contamination Sources .................................................................. 94 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 96 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Monthly, yearly and normal total rainfall (inches), 2010-2011 .................................. 6 Figure 2.2: Monthly and yearly average flow on the Anacostia River, 2010-2011....................... 7 Figure 2.3: Monthly and yearly average flow on the Potomac River, 2008-2009 ......................... 8 Figure 3.1: Relative Abundance of Harvestable Largemouth Bass vs. SAV Cover W1E……...80 Figure 3.2: Relative Abundance of Harvestable Largemouth Bass vs. SAV Cover P2E……….81 v LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1.1: Designated Use Support by Rivers or Streams ........................................................ 2 TABLE 1.2: Designated Use Support by Lakes ............................................................................ 2 TABLE 1.3: Designated Use Support by Estauries ....................................................................... 2 TABLE 2.1: Atlas .......................................................................................................................... 5 TABLE 2.2: NPDES Permitted Facilities in the District of Columbia ........................................ 13 TABLE 2.3: NPDES Permitted Facilites Inspected .................................................................... 14 TABLE 2.4: Permits Reviewed and Certified by WQD .............................................................. 14 TABLE 2.5: NWPs Reviewed and Certified ............................................................................... 16 TABLE 2.6: Rock Creek Watershed Activities ........................................................................... 33 TABLE 2.7: Anacostia Watershed Activities .............................................................................. 34 TABLE 2.8: Watts Branch Sub-watershed Activities ................................................................. 36 TABLE 2.9: Fort Dupont Sub-watershed Activities.................................................................... 36 TABLE 2.10: Pope Branch Sub-watershed Activities ................................................................. 37 TABLE 2.11: Nash Run Sub-watershed Activities ..................................................................... 37 TABLE 2.12: Oxon Run Watershed Projects .............................................................................. 37 TABLE 2.13: Anacostia CSO Watershed Activities ................................................................... 38 TABLE 2.14: Estimations of Pollution Abatement Resulting From 2010-2011 LID Projects ... 39 TABLE 2.15: Number and Type of S BMPs Approved for Installation ....................................