W.Va. DEP Looking for Impaired Waterways Data

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is compiling water quality data on the state’s streams and lakes. The agency is accepting additional information for analysis through October.

The DEP is collecting water quality data for a report that lists impaired waters in the state. The Clean Water Act requires this water quality report be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency every two years.   

In addition to data collected by agency personnel, the DEP will also be assessing water quality statistics collected by watershed associations, and other organizations as well as other state and federal agencies. The deadline to submit data is October 27, 2017.

Currently 1,105 bodies of water in the state are listed as impaired, including 11,674 acres of lakes and 5,298 miles of streams. Areas most impaired are throughout watersheds that stretch through central and south-western regions of the state.

Water quality data collected in West Virginia from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2017 can be sent to Chris.A.Daugherty@wv.gov or Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov. A data submission form is also available for download.

Documentation that describes data collection and analysis details will help the agency assess the quality of the submitted results. If the data was subject to a quality assurance/quality control plan, that should be submitted with the water quality data. In a release, DEP noted that submitted water quality data that does not meet quality assurance/quality control guidelines won’t be considered.

Any non-electronic submissions can be sent to the Division of Water and Waste Management, Attn:  Steve Young, 601 57th St. S.E., Charleston, WV 25304.