Urban Aquatic Life Uses—A Regulatory Perspective

Abstract

The objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to maintain and restore the chemical, physical and biological integdty (ecological integrity) of the Nation's waters. However, in populated urban watersheds with large amounts of imperviousness, loss of riparian cover, extensive habitat modifications, altered hydrology and numerous pollutant and runoff sources, achieving the highest level of ecological integrity may no longer be feasible -attempting to do so may set unrealistic goals and be economically unachievable. Under the CWA and federal regulations, States, territories and Tribal Nations have the capability to set realistic goals for managing urban water bodies. These goals are the State and Tribal water quality standards and should be the primary yardstick by which water quality management, including storm water management is measured. Through the public water quality standards-setting process, States, territories and Tribes can make improvements in managing aquatic life by adopting more appropriate aquatic life uses for urban water bodies and setting different levels of criteria for protecting each use. Key tools in this effort are biological assessments and criteria. This paper discusses the statutory background and essential elements of water quality standards and how biological assessments and criteria can be used to define appropriate aquatic life goals for urban water bodies and better focus scarce resources on restoration efforts that are attainable.