The department of ecology (ecology) submitted Washington state's 2018 water quality assessment (assessment) and candidate 303(d) list to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 on August 31, 2021. The 2018 assessment represents an "integrated report" to meet the federal Clean Water Act requirements of sections 305(b) and 303(d). The assessment fulfills Washington state's obligation under the Clean Water Act to identify polluted waters (known as the § 303(d) list) as well as report on the status of water quality in the state (called the § 305(b) report).

How can I learn more about the 2018 assessment results? For information on Washington state's 2018 assessment submittal to EPA, go to ecology's website at https://ecology.wa.gov/303d.

Ecology gathered and analyzed water quality data and information that was received through 2017 for this assessment cycle. A public review of the draft assessment results was held April 8 - June 4, 2021. As part of the submittal to EPA, ecology developed two key documents associated with the 2018 water Quality Assessment:

1. Supporting Information for 2018 Water Quality Assessment: Supplemental methods, citations, and data sources (https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2110043.html).

2. Response to Public Comments: 2018 Water Quality Assessment (https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2110044.html).

What happens after submittal of the 2018 assessment to EPA? EPA will review the 2018 assessment and take an approval action on the Category 5 list of waters (i.e. the 303(d) list). Approved Category 5 listings will need to have a clean-up plan developed (also known as a total maximum daily load or TMDL) to improve water quality so that the water is meeting water quality standards.

To ask questions about the 2018 assessment, please contact Jeremy Reiman, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, email 303d@ecy.wa.gov, phone 360-819-0197.