On This Page
- Vermont Assessment Summary
- Water Quality by Waterbody Type
- Causes of Impairment
- Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
- Previously Impaired Waters Now Attaining All Uses
- TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment
- Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters
- Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant
- Cumulative Number of TMDLs
Data are also available for these years: 2002 2004 2006
Waterbody Changes from Prior Cycle
Comparison Summary by Reporting Year
For More Information:
Vermont Assessment Report
State Water Quality Program
Vermont 2008 Water Quality Assessment Report
NOTE: In 2008, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources restructured the state's assessment units in order to maximize the utility of the assessment database (ADB) to track stressors and observed effects. As a result, you may see differences between the data contained in this website and Vermont's final approved 303(d) list. For more information, refer to the state's website at http://www.vtwaterquality.org.
Vermont Assessment Summary for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table| Size of Water | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
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| Good Waters | 5,158.7 | 32,019.0 | |||||||||||||
| Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses |
485.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Threatened Waters | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | |||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | |||||||||||||||
| Impaired Waters | 396.5 | 197,703.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | 56.6 | 19,340.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | 6.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | 85.0 | 6,711.0 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | 248.3 | 171,652.0 | |||||||||||||
| New TMDLs completed | 6.4 | .0 | |||||||||||||
| Remaining TMDLs needed | 241.9 | 171,652.0 | |||||||||||||
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| Total Assessed Waters | 5,555.2 | 229,722.0 | |||||||||||||
| Total Waters | 7,099.0 | 229,498.0 | |||||||||||||
| Percent of Waters Assessed | 78.3 | 100.1 | |||||||||||||
Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008
Vermont Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
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Vermont Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Miles Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | 2,909.1 | 95.9 | .0 | 4.1 | |
| Aquatic Biota, Wildlife, And Aquatic Habitat | 2,876.6 | 91.1 | .0 | 8.9 | |
| Boating, Fishing, And Other Recreational Uses | 3,453.3 | 99.0 | .0 | 1.0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 5,437.9 | 98.8 | .0 | 1.2 | |
| Public Water Supply | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
| Swimming And Other Primary Contact Recreation | 1,926.3 | 94.2 | .0 | 5.8 |
Vermont Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens | |
| Flow Alteration(s) | Flow Alteration(s) | |
| Mercury in Fish Tissue | Mercury | |
| Ag Runoff | Cause Unknown | |
| Temperature, Water | Temperature | |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | |
| Stormwater | Other Cause | |
| pH, Low | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | |
| Metals | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Nutrients | Nutrients | |
| Toxics | Total Toxics | |
| PCB(s) in Fish Tissue | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Low Flow Alterations | Flow Alteration(s) | |
| Iron | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Asbestos | Toxic Inorganics | |
| Zinc | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Arsenic | Metals (other than Mercury) |
Vermont Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Dam Or Impoundment | Hydromodification | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | |
| Mine Tailings | Resource Extraction | |
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Impacts From Resort Areas (Winter And Non-Winter Resorts) | Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating) | |
| Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment) | Construction | |
| Silviculture Activities | Silviculture (Forestry) | |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks |
Vermont Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
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Vermont Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Acres Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | 228,568.0 | 34.5 | .0 | 65.5 | |
| Aquatic Biota, Wildlife, And Aquatic Habitat | 228,546.0 | 81.9 | .0 | 18.1 | |
| Boating, Fishing, And Other Recreational Uses | 227,567.0 | 87.0 | .0 | 13.0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 229,685.0 | 20.6 | .0 | 79.4 | |
| Public Water Supply | 165,560.0 | 90.5 | .0 | 9.5 | |
| Swimming And Other Primary Contact Recreation | 227,543.0 | 34.5 | .0 | 65.5 |
Vermont Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury in Fish Tissue | Mercury | |
| PCB(s) in Fish Tissue | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | |
| Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorph | Nuisance Exotic Species | |
| Eurasian Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum Spicatum | Nuisance Exotic Species | |
| Flow Alteration(s) | Flow Alteration(s) | |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | |
| Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Exotic Species | Nuisance Exotic Species | |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | |
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens |
Vermont Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics | Atmospheric Deposition | |
| Inappropriate Waste Disposal | Spills/Dumping | |
| Non-Point Source | Unspecified Nonpoint Source | |
| Municipal Point Source Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Natural Sources | Natural/Wildlife | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | |
| Other Shipping Releases (Wastes And Detritus) | Commercial Harbor And Port Activities | |
| Other Marina/Boating On-Vessel Discharges | Recreational Boating And Marinas | |
| Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation | Hydromodification | |
| Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Flow Alterations From Water Diversions | Hydromodification | |
| Source Unknown | Unknown | |
| Industrial Point Source Discharge | Industrial | |
| Atmospheric Deposition - Acidity | Atmospheric Deposition | |
| Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification | Hydromodification | |
| Non-Irrigated Crop Production | Agriculture | |
| Managed Pasture Grazing | Agriculture | |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | |
| Streambank Modifications/Destabilization | Hydromodification | |
| Internal Nutrient Recycling | Natural/Wildlife |
Vermont Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined Cause of Impairment Group to see a list of specific state causes of impairment making up the Cause of Impairment Group. | |||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
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| Cause Unknown | 52.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Flow Alteration(s) | 78.2 | 5,985.0 | |||||||||||||
| Mercury | 56.0 | 182,290.0 | |||||||||||||
| Metals (other than Mercury) | 19.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Nuisance Exotic Species | 23,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Nutrients | 12.5 | 139,927.0 | |||||||||||||
| Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 6.0 | 700.0 | |||||||||||||
| Other Cause | 30.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Pathogens | 103.9 | 9.0 | |||||||||||||
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 28.4 | 4,420.0 | |||||||||||||
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 7.0 | 163,678.0 | |||||||||||||
| Sediment | 32.1 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||
| Temperature | 34.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Toxics | 11.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic Inorganics | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||
Vermont Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined Probable Source Group to see a list of specific state Probable Sources making up the Probable Source Group. | |||||||||||||||
| Probable Source Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
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| Agriculture | 5.2 | 33,767.0 | |||||||||||||
| Atmospheric Deposition | 183,018.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Commercial Harbor And Port Activities | 23,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Construction | .7 | ||||||||||||||
| Hydromodification | 5.5 | 22,274.0 | |||||||||||||
| Industrial | 4,423.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | .4 | ||||||||||||||
| Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 2.5 | 73,869.0 | |||||||||||||
| Natural/Wildlife | 68,046.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating) | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Recreational Boating And Marinas | 17,942.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Resource Extraction | 5.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Silviculture (Forestry) | .7 | ||||||||||||||
| Spills/Dumping | 163,678.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Unknown | 4,455.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Unspecified Nonpoint Source | 133,509.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 2.8 | 13,725.0 | |||||||||||||
Vermont TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment " value to see a listing of those Causes of Impairment. | ||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment | Number of TMDL Alternatives |
Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metals | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Sedimentation/Siltation | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Temperature, Water | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Toxics | 0 | |||||||||||||
Total: 7 TMDL Alternatives
Vermont Previously Impaired Waters Now Attaining All Uses
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of Waters Attaining" value for a detailed list of those waters now attaining all uses. | ||
| Cycle Attaining | Number of Waters Attaining | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 | |
| 2007 | 4 | |
Vermont Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on a cause of impairment (e.g. pathogens) to see the specific state-reported causes that are grouped to make up this category. Click on the "Number of Causes of Impairment Reported" to see a list of waters with that cause of impairment. | |
| Cause of Impairment Group Name | Number of Causes of Impairment Reported |
|---|---|
| Pathogens | |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Cause Unknown | |
| Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Sediment | |
| Other Cause | |
| Nutrients | |
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | |
| Temperature | |
| Total Toxics | |
| Toxic Inorganics | |
Total: 153 Causes of Impairment
Vermont Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant
This chart includes TMDLs since October 1, 1995.
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Pollutant" value to see associated listed waters for which a TMDL was developed. Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs" value to see a listing of those TMDLs for the pollutant. | ||
| Pollutant | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Acid | 37 | |
| Mercury | 31 | |
| Pollutants in Urban Stormwater | 12 | |
| Phosphorus, Total | 10 | |
| Sediment | 2 | |
| Pathogens | 1 | |
| Phosphorus | 1 | |
Total: 94 TMDLs; 94 Causes of Impairment Addressed
Vermont Cumulative Number of TMDLs
EPA Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30.
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs Completed" value for a detailed list of the TMDLs for the fiscal year. | ||
| Fiscal Year | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 39 | |
| 2004 | 6 | |
| 2007 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 35 | |
| 2009 | 4 | |
Total: 94 TMDLs; 94 Causes of Impairment Addressed
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