2006 Integrated 303(d)/305(b) Water Quality Report for Montana 7 December 2006 Prepared by: Water Quality Planning Bureau Montana Department of Environmental Quality 1520 E. Sixth Avenue P.O. Box 200901 Helena, MT 59620-0901 Montana Richard Opper, Director Department of Environmental Quality Planning, Prevention Art Compton, Division Administrator and Assistance Division Water Quality George Mathieus, Bureau Chief Planning Bureau Data Management Michael Pipp, Section Manager Section Integrated Report Coordinator Staci Stolp, Environmental Scientist Contributors Chapter Authors: Jeff Blend1 (Cost-Benefit Assessment), Mark Bostrom2 (Water Quality Assessment Process), Mark Golz3 (State Drinking Water Revolving Fund), Rosie Sada4, Randy Apfelbeck5, John Camden6 (Surface Water Monitoring and Assessment), Dean Yashan7, Paul LaVigne8, Robert Ray9, Ann Harrie10, Chris Levine11, Mike Suplee12 (Water Pollution Control Program), Eric Sivers13 and Tom Patton14 (Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment) 1 Energy Planning & Technical Assistance, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 2 Data Management, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 3 Drinking Water Revolving Fund, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 4 Water Quality Monitoring Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 5 Water Quality Standards Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 6 Public Water Supply Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 7 Watershed Management Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 8 Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 9 Watershed Protection Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 10 Water Quality Standards Section, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 11 Ibid 12 Ibid 13 Source Water Protection Program, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 14 Ground-Water Assessment Program, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Acknowledgements Many people and agencies contributed information and assistance toward the development of this report, their efforts are sincerely appreciated. A special thanks to Adam Cook, Andrea Day, Jonathan Drygas, Marcus Granger, and Eric Urban for their extra efforts on various quality assurance/control, data entry, and analysis tasks which were critical for timely submission of this report. Table of Contents ACRONYMS................................................................................................................................................9 PART A. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................12 A.1 CLEAN WATER ACT REPORTING IN MONTANA...................................................................................12 Data Management Systems: 1980s to 2006..........................................................................................12 Data Management Issues for the 2006 Integrated Report....................................................................13 Data Management System: The Next Evolution...................................................................................14 PART B. BACKGROUND INFORMATION..........................................................................................15 B.1 SCOPE OF WATERS IN THE INTEGRATED REPORT................................................................................15 State Overview......................................................................................................................................15 Ecoregions............................................................................................................................................16 Descriptions of Surface Waters............................................................................................................21 B.2 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM...........................................................................................21 Water Quality Standards......................................................................................................................21 Point Source Control Programs...........................................................................................................28 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program.......................................................................................30 Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund.............................................................................................36 Total Maximum Daily Load Program..................................................................................................37 B.3 COST/BENEFIT ASSESSMENT..............................................................................................................39 Montana Point Source Costs................................................................................................................39 Costs of Montana’s Nonpoint Source Program....................................................................................40 Summary of Montana’s Clean Water Costs..........................................................................................41 Benefits of Complying with the CWA in Montana................................................................................41 PART C. SURFACE WATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT.................................................44 C.1 MONITORING PROGRAM.....................................................................................................................44 Purpose of the Monitoring Program....................................................................................................44 Coordination and Collaboration..........................................................................................................45 Laboratory Analytical Support.............................................................................................................46 Networks and Projects..........................................................................................................................47 Programmatic Evaluation....................................................................................................................63 C.2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................63 Overview...............................................................................................................................................63 Identification of Available Water Quality Data....................................................................................64 Sufficient Credible Data.......................................................................................................................64 Beneficial Use Support.........................................................................................................................65 Assessment Record...............................................................................................................................66 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program................................................................................72 C.3 ASSESSMENT RESULTS.......................................................................................................................72 Five-Part Categorization of Surface Waters........................................................................................72 Results of Probability-based Surveys...................................................................................................75 Section 303(d) List................................................................................................................................75 Designated Use Support Summaries....................................................................................................79 CWA Section 314 (Clean Lakes Program)...........................................................................................87 C.4. WETLANDS PROGRAM.......................................................................................................................87 C.5 TREND ANALYSIS FOR SURFACE WATERS..........................................................................................87 C.6 PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES......................................................................................................................87 Fish Kills..............................................................................................................................................87 Fish Consumption Advisories...............................................................................................................88 Public Water Supplies..........................................................................................................................95 Source Water Protection Program.....................................................................................................103 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund................................................................................................105 PART D. GROUNDWATER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT................................................109 D.1 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN MONTANA......................................................................................109 Groundwater Use...............................................................................................................................109 Groundwater Characterization and Monitoring................................................................................109 Groundwater Contaminants/Contamination Sources.........................................................................110 D.2 GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS........................................................................................115 Groundwater Management Strategy...................................................................................................115 Source Water Protection....................................................................................................................116 Local Water Quality Districts.............................................................................................................117 Prevention of Agriculture Chemical Pollution...................................................................................117 D.3 GROUNDWATER-SURFACE WATER INTERACTIONS...........................................................................119 PART E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION..................................................................................................120 E.1 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS......................................................................................................120 Background........................................................................................................................................120 2006 List Development Consultation..................................................................................................120 Public Comment/DEQ Response........................................................................................................121 E.2 PUBLIC COMMENTS/STATE RESPONSES............................................................................................122 GLOSSARY..............................................................................................................................................173 List of Tables TABLE 1. MONTANA SURFACE WATERS.......................................................................................................16 TABLE 2. STATE WATERS EXCLUSIVE OF TRIBAL LANDS, NATIONAL PARKS, AND WILDERNESS AREAS....16 TABLE 3. CHARACTERISTICS OF MONTANA'S ECOREGIONS..........................................................................19 TABLE 4. SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATION...............................................................................................24 TABLE 5. DESIGNATED BENEFICIAL USES BY WATERBODY CLASS................................................................24 TABLE 6. PERMIT STATUS REPORT FOR MAJOR AND MINOR FACILITIES COVERED BY GENERAL NON- STORMWATER PERMITS.........................................................................................................................28 TABLE 7. TOP FIVE IMPAIRMENT SOURCES CITED IN 2000 (BY NUMBER OF LISTINGS).................................31 TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF AVERAGE ANNUAL COSTS FOR CWA PROGRAMS (1991 – 2004)...........................41 TABLE 9. 1996 VERSUS 2006 CAUSE LISTINGS.............................................................................................53 TABLE 10. DATA COLLECTED BY THE FIXED STATION NETWORK................................................................60 TABLE 11. ASSESSMENT UNIT CHANGES DURING THE 2006 REPORTING CYCLE..........................................68 TABLE 12. SIZE OF SURFACE WATERS ASSIGNED TO REPORTING CATEGORIES...........................................73 TABLE 13. CATEGORY 2B WATERS...............................................................................................................74 TABLE 14. AU/POLLUTANT COMBINATIONS REMOVED FROM THE STATE’S YEAR 2004 SECTION 303(D) LIST ..............................................................................................................................................................76 TABLE 15. RIVERS AND STREAMS DESIGNATED USE SUPPORT SUMMARY...................................................79 TABLE 16. CAUSES OF STREAM IMPAIRMENT IN MONTANA.........................................................................79 TABLE 17. SIZE OF RIVERS AND STREAMS IMPAIRED BY SOURCES..............................................................81 TABLE 18. LAKES DESIGNATED USE SUPPORT SUMMARY...........................................................................84 TABLE 19. SIZE OF LAKES IMPAIRED BY CAUSES.........................................................................................85 TABLE 20: SIZE OF LAKES IMPAIRED BY SOURCES........................................................................................86 TABLE 21: TROPHIC STATUS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLICLY OWNED LAKES......................................................87 TABLE 22: TRENDS IN LAKE QUALITY..........................................................................................................87 TABLE 23. LABORATORY TEST RESULTS: MERCURY AND PCBS IN FISH IN MONTANA (CONCENTRATION EXPRESSED IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM OF FISH)................................................................................88 TABLE 24. VIOLATIONS OF THE PHASE 2 AND PHASE 5 RULES...................................................................100 TABLE 25. VIOLATIONS OF THE TOTAL COLIFORM RULE...........................................................................101 TABLE 26. VIOLATIONS OF THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT RULE........................................................101 TABLE 27. VIOLATIONS OF THE DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS RULE...........................................................102 TABLE 28. VIOLATIONS OF THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE..........................................................................102 TABLE 29. VIOLATIONS OF THE RADIONUCLIDE RULE...............................................................................103 TABLE 30. VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT RULE...................................................103 TABLE 31. DWSRF ANTICIPATED FUNDING LIST FOR FY2004 - 2005.......................................................106 TABLE 32. SUMMARY OF DWSRF GRANTS FROM 1997 - 2005..................................................................107 TABLE 33. DRINKING WATER REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM STATUS..........................................................107 TABLE 34. NITRATE-NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN 1,151 SAMPLES........................................................112 TABLE 35. DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLING RESULTS BASED ON MCLS ESTABLISHED FOR VARIOUS TRACE METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES........................................................113 TABLE 36. ARSENIC CONCENTRATIONS IN 978 SAMPLES............................................................................114 TABLE 37. RADON CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION BASED ON A 300 PCI/L PROPOSED MCL.....................114 TABLE 38. RADON CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION BASED ON A 4,000 PCI/L PROPOSED MCL..................114 List of Figures FIGURE 1. MONTANA'S MAJOR DRAINAGE BASINS AND MONTANA DEQ ADMINISTRATIVE BASINS...........17 FIGURE 2. ECOREGIONS OF MONTANA..........................................................................................................18 FIGURE 3. COLUMBIA BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS...............................................................................49 FIGURE 4. UPPER MISSOURI BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS......................................................................50 FIGURE 5. LOWER MISSOURI BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS....................................................................51 FIGURE 6. YELLOWSTONE BASIN-REASSESSMENT WATERS.........................................................................52 FIGURE 7. REFERENCE SITES SAMPLED IN 2004-2005..................................................................................55 FIGURE 8. EMAP SITES 2000-2004..............................................................................................................57 FIGURE 9. FIXED STATION MONITORING SITES............................................................................................59 FIGURE 10. DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SOURCES IN MONTANA...........................................98 FIGURE 11. ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLES EVALUATED FOR THIS REPORT WERE COLLECTED BY THE GROUND-WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM..........................................................................................110 FIGURE 12. ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLES EVALUATED FOR THIS REPORT CAME FROM UNCONSOLIDATED AQUIFERS..............................................................................................................111 List of Appendices Appendix A: Reassessment Waters during the 2006 Reporting Cycle A-1 Appendix B: Waters with Use Support Assessments during the 2006 Reporting Cycle B-1 Appendix C: Impairment Causes De-Listed from the 2000 303(d) Reassessment List C-1 Appendix D: Beneficial Use Designation Changes from 2004 to 2006 D-1 Appendix E: Monitoring and Assessment Schedule for 2006 to 2008 E-1 Appendix F: TMDL Priority Schedule by TPA F-1 Appendix G: Approved TMDLs G-1 Appendix H, Section 1: Category 4A Impaired Waters H1-1 Appendix H, Section 2: Category 4C Impaired Waters H2-1 Appendix H, Section 3: Category 5 Impaired Waters (303(d) List) H3-1 State of Montana 2006 Integrated 303(d)/305(b) Water Quality Report Acronyms ACR Annual Compliance Report ADB Assessment Database ALUS Aquatic Life Use Support ARM Administrative Rules of Montana BER Board of Environmental Review BMP Best Management Practice BPJ Best Professional Judgment CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations CASRN Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number CBM Coal Bed Methane CERCA Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act CW Cold Water (fisheries) CWA Clean Water Act CWAIC Clean Water Act Information Center DEQ Department of Environmental Quality DEQ-7 Circular DEQ-7, Montana Water Quality Standards DFWP Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks DNRC Department of Natural Resources DPHHS Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services DQO Data Quality Objectives DW Drinking Water DWSRF Drinking Water State Revolving Fund EA Environmental Assessment EC Electrical Conductivity EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EQC Montana Environmental Quality Council FBC Flathead Basin Commission FERC Federal Energy Regulation Commission FLBS Flathead Lake Biological Station FNF Flathead National Forest FWP Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks FY Fiscal Year GIS Geographic Information System GWAP Groundwater Assessment Program GWIC Groundwater Information Center GWUDISW Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water HA Health Advisory Page 9 of 178 State of Montana 2006 Integrated 303(d)/305(b) Water Quality Report HHS Human Health Standard HUC Hydrologic Unit Code IOC's Inorganic Chemicals IR Integrated Report ISA Intensive Site Assessment IUP Intended Use Plan LUSTs Leaking Underground Storage Tanks LWQD Local Water Quality District MBMG Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology MCA Montana Code Annotated MCL Maximum Contaminated Levels MDT Montana Department of Transportation MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPDES Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MWCB Mine Waste Clean-up Bureau NHD National Hydrography Dataset NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System NPS Non-Point Source pollution NRWQC National Recommended Water Quality Criteria NTNC Non-transient non-community systems NWIS National Water Information System PCBs Polychlorinated bi-phenyls PPL Project Priority List PS Point Source “pollution or pollutant” PWS Public Water Supply QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control QAPP Quality Assurance Project Plan QMP Quality Management Plan SAR Sodium Absorption Ratio SCD Sufficient Credible Data SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act SOC Synthetic Organic Chemicals SOP Standard Operating Procedure STORET EPA's storage and retrieval database SWDAR Source Water Delineation and Assessment Report SWM Statewide Fixed Station Monitoring SWTR Surface Water Treatment Rule TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load TNC Transient non-community systems TPA TMDL Planning Area USGS United States Geological Survey Page 10 of 178