What's New
Upcoming public meetings:
- June 8 - July 7: Comment Period on the Approval of Water Quality management Planning Actions (six TMDL reports and four TMDL modifications)
- June 18: Mill Creek and Powhatan Creek - Williamsburg , York
- June 18: Mossy Creek, Long Glade Run, Naked Creek - Augusta, Rockingham
- June 24: Shellfish Growing Areas - Northumberland
- June 30: Hunting Creek, Cameron Run, Holmes Run - Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax
- July 9: Upper Nansemond River Watershed Implementation Plan - Isle of Wight, Suffolk
- July 15: Morris Creek - Charles City
- July 16: Middle River Watershed Implementation Plan - Augusta
- July 21: Elk Creek - Grayson
- July 23: Cripple Creek - Wythe
- July 28: Middle Fork Holston River - Smyth, Washington
- July 28: Wolf Creek - Washington
Other information:
- Class VII - Swamp Waters Natural Conditions reports
- TMDL Progress Report (2000 - 2006) and Summary Booklet
- Reasonable Grounds Proposal Aquatic Life Use Attainability Analysis Submitted by the VA Coalfields TMDL Group and Public Notice
- Handout on TMDLs - DEQ's South Central Regional Office
- Report of the Academic Advisory Committee: Freshwater Nutrient Criteria for Rivers and Streams (December 2006)
- BST Analyses to support Virginia's TMDLs
- Virginia's Watershed Planning Process for Water Quality Management (A Continuing Planning Process)
- Division of Mined Land Reclamation TMDL Workshop
- Valley Region's First TMDL Implementation Workshop
- Cooks Creek and Blacks Run Implementation Fact Sheet
- Spotlight on water quality improvements in DEQ's valley region
- Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning
TMDLs in Virginia
DEQ extensively tests Virginia's rivers, lakes, and tidal waters for pollutants. Over 130 different pollutants are monitored annually to determine whether the waters can be used for swimming, fishing and drinking. Most rivers, lakes and estuaries in Virginia do meet standards as described in our biennial 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Reports. Waters that do not meet standards are reported to the citizens of Virginia and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the 303(d) Impaired Waters Report. Those impaired waters are the subject of this web site.
DEQ has developed lists of impaired waters in every even year since 1992. The most recent list was published in 2008. It individually describes segments of streams, lakes, and estuaries that exhibit violations of water quality standards. The report details the pollutant responsible for the violations, and the cause and source of the pollutant. Since 1998, DEQ has developed plans, with public input, to restore and maintain the water quality for the impaired waters. These plans are called "Total Maximum Daily Loads," or TMDLs. TMDL is a term that represents the total pollutant a waterbody can assimilate and still meet standards.