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Assessment Data for the State of Virginia Year 2002

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National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress, 2002 Reporting Cycle

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Impaired Water Information
2002 303(d) List Report

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The most current report available for this state is 2006.
Data are also available for these years: 2004


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Total Assessed Waters for the State of Virginia

 Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 50,414.89 148,461.78 2,461.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in VA 50,414.88 149,982.00 2,500.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 100.00 98.99 98.47 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of Virginia by Watershed

 Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
APPOMATTOX 2,340.14 2,133.00 2.68 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BANISTER 867.29 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BLACKWATER 354.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONOCOCHEAGUE-OPEQUON 443.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
GREAT WICOMICO-PIANKATANK 453.79 .00 102.23 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY .00 .00 1,428.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER DAN 856.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER JAMES 1,031.31 3,310.00 51.46 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER POTOMAC 677.12 91.00 44.51 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER RAPPAHANNOCK 1,175.13 .00 164.68 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MATTAPONI 1,280.80 .00 16.33 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAURY 996.28 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MEHERIIN 837.99 210.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE JAMES-BUFFALO 3,138.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE JAMES-WILLIS 1,344.53 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE NEW 1,120.87 .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE POTOMAC-ANACOSTIA-OCCOQUAN 1,121.02 .00 15.12 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE POTOMAC-CATOCTIN 1,010.13 140.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE ROANOKE 1,997.10 11.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NORTH FORK HOLSTON 1,134.33 90.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NORTH FORK SHENANDOAH 848.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NOTTOWAY 1,481.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PAMUNKEY 2,084.78 2,546.00 13.37 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POWELL 700.16 206.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RAPIDAN-UPPER RAPPAHANNOCK 1,591.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RIVANNA 925.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ROANOKE RAPIDS 305.75 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SHENANDOAH 267.57 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC 84.04 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH FORK HOLSTON 877.86 1,964.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH FORK SHENANDOAH 1,381.95 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TUG 166.85 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CLINCH 1,782.20 77.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER DAN 1,653.03 499.68 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER JAMES 2,830.53 800.17 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER LEVISA 1,028.63 1,143.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER NEW 2,613.35 1,894.38 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER ROANOKE 3,419.76 19,151.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER YADKIN 176.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Name Not Reported 4,357.83 114,195.05 623.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Virginia Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 15,583.24 51.05 34.39 14.56 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 9,006.80 64.68 .11 35.20 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 6,520.72 99.46 .44 .11 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 50,414.89 96.25 2.59 1.16 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 50,414.89 miles of rivers and streams, or 100.00% of 50,414.88 total miles.

Virginia Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 40,669.65 80.67
Threatened 4,909.92 9.74
Impaired 4,835.32 9.59
Total Miles Assessed 50,414.89 100.00

Virginia Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 DESIGNATED NEW 4,176.46
2 PATHOGENS 3,115.05
3 EXCEEDANCE OF FISH TISSUE 1,351.32
4 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 1,028.30
5 DESIG. USE STD (BENTHIC) 1,017.58
6 PH 901.26
7 EXCEEDANCE OF NUTRIENT SV 751.98
8 EXCEEDANCE OF SEDIMENT SV 612.58
9 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 599.74
10 PESTICIDES 391.72

Virginia Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 6,481.55
2 NATURAL SOURCES 1,828.20
3 AGRICULTURE 1,152.76
4 VDH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY 1,097.74
5 WILDLIFE 660.65
6 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 654.98
7 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 464.52
8 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 219.70
9 OTHER URBAN RUNOFF 193.70
10 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 175.31

Virginia Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 134,655.28 43.98 9.17 46.84 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 117,057.75 99.09 .00 .91 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 116,456.42 99.39 .51 .09 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 148,461.78 42.26 5.13 52.61 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 148,461.78 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 98.99% of 149,982.00 total acres.

Virginia Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 20,851.47 14.05
Threatened 12,052.60 8.12
Impaired 115,557.71 77.84
Total Acres Assessed 148,461.78 100.00

Virginia Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 84,111.89
2 NONPRIORITY ORGANICS 69,268.00
3 EXCEEDANCE OF FISH TISSUE 64,281.89
4 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 63,082.83
5 LOW DO 34,969.83
6 EXCEEDANCE OF SEDIMENT SV 33,541.11
7 DESIGNATED NEW 24,410.36
8 EXCEEDANCE OF NUTRIENT SV 16,955.57
9 PH 12,906.38
10 CITIZEN MONITORING 12,016.89

Virginia Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 108,299.81
2 STRATIFICATION 37,940.83
3 NATURAL SOURCES 34,627.83
4 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 20,410.00
5 NONPOINT SOURCES 12,804.57
6 EPA OVERLISTING FOR 1998 1,500.00
7 AGRICULTURE 683.00
8 WILDLIFE 683.00
9 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 378.00
10 VDH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY 110.00

Virginia Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Square Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 2,433.59 5.83 29.76 64.41 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 838.98 95.70 .03 4.27 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 8.73 99.89 .11 .00 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 2,461.80 79.00 13.48 7.53 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 2,461.80 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 98.47% of 2,500.00 total square miles.

Virginia Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 140.28 5.70
Threatened 658.42 26.75
Impaired 1,663.10 67.56
Total Square Miles Assessed 2,461.80 100.00

Virginia Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 DESIGNATED NEW 2,034.80
2 DESIG. USE STD (BENTHIC) 1,965.36
3 NUTRIENTS 1,777.34
4 TURBIDITY 1,516.11
5 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 1,507.34
6 LOW DO 1,371.90
7 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT 1,351.05
8 SUSPENDED ALGAE 1,214.21
9 PHOSPHORUS, ELEMENTAL 1,125.00
10 NITROGEN, AMMONIA (TOTAL AMMONIA) 1,125.00

Virginia Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 EPA OVERLISTING FOR 1998 1,538.91
2 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 1,429.99
3 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 1,428.23
4 NONPOINT SOURCES 1,428.02
5 SOURCES OUTSIDE STATE JURISDICTION OR BORDERS 1,395.02
6 STRATIFICATION 1,084.09
7 SOURCE UNKNOWN 848.31
8 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 151.63
9 VDH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY 128.73
10 NATURAL SOURCES 113.42

Virginia

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Squar Miles)
ZINC 18.42 .00 7.18 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOW DO 5.41 34,969.83 1,371.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ARSENIC 89.23 1,143.00 135.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CAUSE UNKNOWN 8.52 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 88.96 .00 6.86 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS 85.64 110.00 12.61 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NITRATES 2.15 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PATHOGENS 3,115.05 1,061.00 111.85 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SUSPENDED ALGAE .93 228.00 1,214.21 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNKNOWN TOXICITY .00 .00 44.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EXCEEDANCE OF NUTRIENT SV 751.98 16,955.57 103.64 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AMMONIA (UNIONIZED) - TOXIN 22.50 .00 5.25 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LEAD 17.75 .00 .06 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHROMIUM (TOTAL) 2.84 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ODOR THRESHOLD NUMBER 26.24 599.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EXCEEDANCE OF FISH TISSUE 1,351.32 64,281.89 178.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EXCEEDANCE OF SEDIMENT SV 612.58 33,541.11 33.63 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 1,028.30 63,082.83 1,507.34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 599.74 84,111.89 101.77 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 5.99 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERCURY 246.96 254.00 .27 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TEMPERATURE 271.79 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DESIGNATED NEW 4,176.46 24,410.36 2,034.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CADMIUM 17.34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NONPRIORITY ORGANICS 113.21 69,268.00 24.78 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 138.10 3,200.00 1,777.34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CITIZEN MONITORING 165.47 12,016.89 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PHOSPHORUS, ELEMENTAL 134.16 1,700.00 1,125.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 8.45 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 901.26 12,906.38 6.61 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 4.08 389.00 .65 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TURBIDITY .00 .00 1,516.11 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 391.72 1,143.00 217.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT .00 .00 1,351.05 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DESIG. USE STD (BENTHIC) 1,017.58 .00 1,965.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 22.27 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NITROGEN, AMMONIA (TOTAL AMMONIA) .00 .00 1,125.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Virginia

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles)
OTHER 62.56 .00 .34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LAND DISPOSAL 57.49 .00 .52 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER URBAN RUNOFF 193.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RESOURCE EXTRACTION 64.61 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 464.52 20,410.00 151.63 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION 17.06 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
VDH SHELLFISH CONDEMNATION .00 .00 80.08 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 29.74 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ILLEGAL DUMPS OR OTHER INAPPROPRIATE WASTE DISPOSAL 15.41 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) 9.88 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL RETENTION DOMESTIC SEWAGE LAGOONS 13.88 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPACTS FROM ABANDONED MINE LANDS (INACTIVE) 6.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPSTREAM IMPOUNDMENTS (E.G., PL-566 NRCS STRUCTURES) 12.88 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATTACHMENT B 11.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVICULTURE 7.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOSS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT 14.16 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MINOR MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE 88.37 .00 .01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 45.46 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 13.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCES OUTSIDE STATE JURISDICTION OR BORDERS .00 .00 1,395.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SURFACE MINING 4.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ABANDONED MINING 6.94 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE 2.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
VDH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY 1,097.74 110.00 128.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) 1.81 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INTENSIVE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS 1.81 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 654.98 378.00 27.61 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 14.16 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AGRICULTURE 1,152.76 683.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MINE TAILINGS 6.69 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHANNELIZATION 3.26 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAJOR MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE 49.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS 1.86 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN AND/OR UPLAND 7.92 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WILDLIFE 660.65 683.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
STRATIFICATION .00 37,940.83 1,084.09 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NATURAL SOURCES 1,828.20 34,627.83 113.42 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEPTAGE DISPOSAL 35.15 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 37.55 .00 10.84 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MINOR INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE 44.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 219.70 .00 1,429.99 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HISTORIC BOTTOM DEPOSITS (NOT SEDIMENT) .00 .00 .75 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 82.17 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 62.15 .00 .52 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NONPOINT SOURCES 98.26 12,804.57 1,428.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EPA OVERLISTING FOR 1998 45.87 1,500.00 1,538.91 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DAM CONSTRUCTION (OTHER THAN UPSTREAM FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS) 4.58 29.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WATERFOWL 13.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 6,481.55 108,299.81 848.31 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HYDROMODIFICATION 17.46 29.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ACID MINE DRAINAGE 15.18 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - UPLAND 52.34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 175.31 .00 1,428.23 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PACKAGE PLANT OR OTHER PERMITTED SMALL FLOWS DISCHARGES 10.04 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
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