water quality
Water quality describes the physical conditions of the waters of the United States. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform levels, nutrients, and toxins are all part of water quality. Water quantity and water rights affects water quality, most where low levels of summer base flow result in increased temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels.
Maintaining water quality levels is required by state and federal law, and is necessary to meet tribal treaty rights. The many behaviors that affect the quality of our waters is maintained through a confusing mosaic of law, regulation, policy, and government and non-government activities. This is best described by WDOE 2015 which presents an EPA approved plan under which the State of Washington proposes to comply with the Clean Water Act.
Relationships
- broader: Stream Team
- broader: Water Rangers
- related to: Aquaculture
- related to: Effects of Forest Management on Stream Flow
- related to: Shellfish Aquaculture
- related to: Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA)
- related to: clean water act
- related to: epa
- related to: federal nexus
- related to: floodplain restoration
- related to: integrated floodplain management
- related to: state forests
- related to: stormwater;toxics;land use
- related to: wdfw 2018
- related to: Chehalis River Basin Land Trust
- related to: Conservation Districts
- related to: Thurston Conservation District
- related to: Native Riverscape AgroforestryDesign Toolkit
- related to: Planning
- related to: Puget Sound Ecosystem Funding
Source: water quality on Salish Sea Wiki