Charting A Course To Clean Water : Strategic Plan

W AT E R
N
A
ELC
Strategic Plan
CHARTING A COURSE TO CLEAN WATER:
2012
ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND INTERSTATE WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATORS

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Charting A Course To Clean Water:
Strategic Plan
Clockwise from top left: MT’s Clark Fork
River; Monitoring water quality in MO;
Canoeing in upstate SC; Sampling
macroinvertebrate aquatic life in the
Susquehanna River basin; Enjoying a
drink of water in MO
Founded in 1961, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control
Administrators (ASIWPCA) is a national, nonpartisan professional organization.
ASIWPCA members are the State, Interstate, and Territorial officials who are responsible
for the implementation of water quality protection programs throughout the nation.
In addition to serving as a liaison among these officials, ASIWPCA facilitates their
communication with the Federal government and promotes public education. Long
before the enactment of the Clean Water Act, State and Interstate professionals were
working to protect and improve water quality. They continue to lead the way in creating
and realizing a vision for clean water in America.
For more information, visit www.asiwpca.org
ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND INTERSTATE WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATORS

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Everywhere in the United States, everyone has
Goal 1: clean water.
• Restore at least 25% of currently impaired waters to their designated
uses by 2012.
• Improve the quality of at least 10% of unimpaired waters by 2012.
• Assess, restore, and protect priority groundwater resources.
Base decisions on sound science.
Goal 2:
• Assess at least 50% of the nation’s surface water by 2012.
Goal 3: Enhance citizen awareness and involvement.
• Double the percentage of Americans who correctly answer basic
questions about watersheds and water quality issues by 2012.
Summary
• Increase the number of Americans who participate in World Water
Monitoring Day to 1,000,000 by 2012.
Goal 4: Ensure pollution control and prevention for
nonpoint sources as well as point sources.
• Nonpoint sources: Decrease by 25% the number of waterbody
impairments caused solely by nonpoint source pollution such as
runoff from agriculture, construction, and city streets by 2012.
• Point sources: Decrease by 25% the number of waterbody
impairments caused solely by point source pollution such as discharge
from pipes from industry and sewage treatment plants by 2012.
• Mixed point and nonpoint source pollution: Decrease by 25%
the number of waterbody impairments caused by a combination of
point and nonpoint sources by 2012.
Strategic Plan Program Funding:
ASIWPCA is committed to doing its part to ensure that funding at
all levels of government is sufficient to attain national water quality
goals. Funds must, at the very least, be kept constant in real terms.

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Introduction
In 2002, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the nation’s Clean Water Act. Over the
past 30 years, State and Interstate agencies have worked successfully to reduce pollutants
entering America’s waters and to restore them for drinking water, recreation, and fishing.
Much has been done, yet much remains to be accomplished.
In the 30th anniversary year, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution
Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) rededicated and recommitted itself to the goal of
Clean Water Everywhere for Everyone through this Strategic Plan. Within this document
are the goals, objectives, and performance measures we recognize as critical to our
continuing effort to provide clean water for all our citizens. The Association recognizes
that it cannot achieve this alone. To accomplish our ambitious agenda, ASIWPCA will
need to enhance and establish partnerships with other agencies at the Federal, State, and
local levels and with an active and engaged citizenry. ASIWPCA’s members call upon
individuals, organizations, and agencies across the nation to join in this effort.
Clockwise from top left: Youth monitors
inspect bug populations as part of PA’s
annual Watershed Snapshot; Volunteers
with MO River Relief load trash for
disposal during 2001 Missouri River
Clean-Up; VA Department of
Environmental Quality staff train local
wastewater treatment plant operators in
laboratory analysis techniques
Clean Water Everywhere for Everyone
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Goal 1:
Everywhere in the United States, everyone
has clean water.
• Restore at least 25% of currently impaired waters to their designated
uses by 2012.
• Improve the quality of at least 10% of unimpaired waters by 2012.
• Assess, restore, and protect priority groundwater resources.
Many of our nation’s waters do not fully meet their designated uses (i.e. are
impaired). This means that there are times we can’t swim, eat the fish, drink
the water, etc. According to USEPA’s 2000 National Water Quality Inventory,
39% of assessed rivers and streams, 45% of assessed lakes (including reservoirs
and ponds), 51% of assessed estuaries, 14% of assessed ocean shoreline miles,
and 78% of assessed Great Lakes shoreline miles are impaired. Our significant
challenge as managers of water quality is to increase the number of our waters
that achieve their designated uses. As discussed under Goal 2, less than half of
the nation’s total waters have been assessed. The following graphs only reflect
impairments for these assessed waters.
Assessed River/Stream Miles Meeting Designated Uses
Unimpaired waters
fully meet their uses.
Unimpaired 61%
Impaired 39%
(426,633 miles)
(269,258 miles)
Assessed Lake Acres Meeting Designated Uses
Unimpaired waters
fully meet their uses.
Unimpaired 55%
Impaired 45%
(9,375,891 Acres)
(7,702,370 Acres)
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Assessed Estuarine Square Miles Meeting Designated Uses
Unimpaired waters
fully meet their uses.
Unimpaired 49%
Impaired 51%
(14,873 sq. miles)
(15,676 sq. miles)
Assessed Ocean Shoreline Miles Meeting Designated Uses
Unimpaired waters
fully meet their uses.
Unimpaired 86%
Impaired 14%
(2,755 miles)
(434 miles)
Assessed Great Lakes Shoreline Miles Meeting Designated Uses
Unimpaired waters
fully meet their uses.
Unimpaired 22%
Impaired 78%
(1,095 miles)
(3,955 miles)
To achieve the goal of clean water everywhere for everyone, the members of ASIWPCA
commit themselves to restoring 25% of impaired waters to their designated uses by 2012
and to improving the quality of an additional 10% of assessed waters that already meet
their designated uses. We will guard against the degradation of currently unassessed
and unimpaired waters. Additionally, we are mindful of the critical and essential role
of our groundwater resources. We will assess, restore, and protect our priority groundwater
resources.
ASIWPCA Goals for % Assessed Waters Impaired* in 2012
IMPAIRED WATERS DECREASED BY 25%
80%
78%
60%
59%
51%
40%
45%
39%
38%
34%
29%
20%
14% 11%
0% Rivers/Streams
Lakes
Estuaries
Ocean/Shoreline
Great Lakes
Shoreline
Impaired 2000
Impaired 2012
*Impaired Waters do not fully meet their designated uses.
Clean Water Everywhere for Everyone
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Goal 2:
Base decisions on sound science.
• Assess at least 50% of the nation’s surface water by 2012.
ASIWPCA recognizes the regulatory implications of many of our water quality
programs on communities and businesses throughout our individual States.
That is why we insist that our decisions and programs be grounded in the best
available science. Good information from State assessments of waters must
be at the heart of every water quality program. Currently in the contiguous
States, only 19% of total river/stream miles, 43% of lake acres, 36% of
estuarine square miles, and 6% of ocean shoreline miles are assessed. 92%
of Great Lakes shoreline miles are assessed. The member States of ASIWPCA
agree that, by 2012, at least 50% of our surface water will be assessed using
the best available science. For the Great Lakes, ASIWPCA will strive for
assessment of 96% of shoreline miles.
ASIWPCA Goals for River/Stream Miles that are Assessed by 2012
100%
80%
Assessed 2000
60%
3,692,830
Assessed 2012
Miles
40%
1,846,415
Miles
Total US River/
20%
Stream Miles
699,946
Miles
0%
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ASIWPCA Goals for Lake Acres that are Assessed by 2012
100%
80%
Assessed 2000
60%
40,603,893
Assessed 2012
Acres
40%
20,301,946
17,339,080
Acres
Total US
20%
Acres
Lake Acres
0%
ASIWPCA Goals for Estuarine Square Miles that are Assessed by 2012
100%
80%
Assessed 2000
60%
87,369
Assessed 2012
Sq. Miles
40%
43,685
Total US Estuarine
20%
31,072
Sq. Miles
Square Miles
Sq. Miles
0%
ASIWPCA Goals for Ocean Shoreline Miles that are Assessed by 2012
100%
80%
Assessed 2000
60%
58,618
Assessed 2012
Miles
40%
29,309
Miles
Total Ocean
20%
Shoreline Miles
0%
3,221 Miles
ASIWPCA Goals for Great Lakes Shoreline Miles that are Assessed by 2012
100%
80%
Assessed 2000
60%
5,521
5,300
Miles
Assessed 2012
40%
5,066
Miles
Miles
Total Great Lakes
20%
Shoreline Miles
0%
Clean Water Everywhere for Everyone
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Goal 3:
Enhance citizen awareness and
involvement
• Double the percentage of Americans who correctly answer basic
questions about watersheds and water quality issues by 2012.
• Increase the number of Americans who participate in World
Water Monitoring Day to 1,000,000 by 2012.
The members of ASIWPCA believe that individual awareness, commitment,
Question:
and responsibility are essential to accomplishing their water quality goals.
What is a watershed?
According to an April 2001 survey by the Pew Research Center for the People
Answer:
and the Press, 84% of Americans surveyed worry a “great deal” or a “fair
The land area from which
amount” about “pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.” However, a National
water drains into a
Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF)/Roper survey in
waterbody. The watershed
1998 found that only 41% of respondents selected the correct definition of a
for a large waterbody may
watershed from a multiple choice question. Only 22% correctly selected run-
encompass a number of
off as the most common cause of water pollution. And only 16% correctly
smaller watersheds.
selected individuals dumping motor oil into a storm drain or onto the ground
as the primary source of oil in the nation’s waters. The members of ASIWPCA
will work to double the percentage of Americans who correctly answer such
questions.
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Personal commitment to improving and protecting water quality is crucial to
the nation’s success in achieving its water quality goals. In October of 2002,
more than 75,000 Americans participated in National Water Monitoring Day.
ASIWPCA was a major partner in organizing this event in which volunteers
and professional water monitors alike took to the nation’s rivers, lakes, and
other waterbodies to test water quality. That event will expand globally to
become World Water Monitoring Day in 2003. In 2003, ASIWPCA intends
to double the number of Americans who participate to 150,000 and to double
it again to 300,000 in 2005. ASIWPCA’s goal for 2012 is for 1,000,000
Americans to take part in World Water Monitoring Day. (Additional information
on World Water Monitoring Day is available at www.asiwpca.org.)
Question:
What is the most common
cause of pollution in
waterbodies?
Answer:
Nonpoint source pollution,
which is runoff from farm
fields, construction sites,
city streets, parking lots,
backyards, etc.
Clockwise from top left: Volunteers in Maine’s Portage Lake Buffer Project
plant perennials to buffer nonpoint source pollution; Student volunteer helps
clean up the Ohio River for Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s
2002 River Sweep; Students in Michigan test water samples as part of
National Water Monitoring Day
Clean Water Everywhere for Everyone
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