WHEN STEWARDSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH: DECISION TREE FOR FURTHER ACTIONS
8/8/01 Draft
PRIORITY WITHIN
CATEGORY
Higher Priority Water a
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Water body is evaluated for further action if a
problem is indicated or likely or if too little
information or data exist to tell whether there
is a problem.
DATA COLLECTION TRACK
Information or data inadequate
to determine extent or
existence of problem.
What: Stewardship information sources are
used to identify waters for the needs
assessment, e.g.,
--Routine public solicitation (305(b) list)
--Impaired waterbody list (303(d) list)
--Fish kills
--Compliance action reports
--Agency professional input (DEC drinking
water source rankings, ADF&G aquatic
assessment
-- Land use/development plans
Lower Priority Water
When: every 2 years, plus emergency issues
Field Monitoring
Priority 1
Problems not evident or
expected to increase
Field Monitoring
Priority 2
Problems evident or
expected to increase
Field Monitoring
Priority 3
Problems not evident or
expected to increase
No Action at this time
CORRECTIVE ACTION ARM #1: PROTECTION & RESTORATION OF WATERS AT RISK
Evident impacts to
aquatic resources
or uses
Examples of problems that are indicated or
likely:

Imminent or rapid watershed
development

Use impairment (e.g., fish kills, biota
deformities)

Violations of regulations or standards
Who: interagency technical and policy
committee using public input
Problems evident or
expected to increase
Higher priority water
Lower priority water
CORRECTIVE ACTION TRACK
Information or data adequate to
evaluate problem or determine
that a problem likely exists
High risk b
Prot. & Restoration
Priority 1
Low risk
Prot. & Restoration
Priority 2
High risk
Prot. & Restoration
Priority 2
Low risk
Prot. & Restoration
Priority 3
CORRECTIVE ACTION ARM #2: RECOVERY OF POLLUTED WATERS
Actual or imminent
violations
of water quality standards
(WQ-limited or “impaired”
water bodies)
a
Higher priority waterc
Recovery
Priority 1
Lower priority water
Recovery
Priority 2
Higher priority water = known to be any of the following: Known or planned (community) drinking water source; unique aquatic habitat (e.g., overwintering area in arctic) or habitat or a threatened or endangered species;
high value recreation site (e.g., Wild & Scenic rivers; waterbodies with existing concentrations of recreational use or developed recreational facilities for water-based recreation); waters within AMSAs that are designated
for water quality or water uses; waters with existing or planned water-dependent industrial uses, waters determined by DF&G to contain existing or potential high value fish populations or habitat; or waters where water
extraction has impaired the viability of other water-dependent uses. Lower priority water = all other waters.
b
Risk to water uses based on frequency, probability, and timing of recent or likely degradation events.
c
For waters in recovery category, value is potential value after recovery.