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Divisions > Water Division > Programs/Bureaus/Units > Water Quality Standard Advisory Committee >

Wetland Water Quality Standards Subcommittee

Since 1990, EPA has encouraged states to begin developing water quality standards for wetlands to ensure the provisions of the Clean Water Act are being applied to all surface waters of the United States. The degradation of wetlands and subsequent loss of their functions, such as water quality maintenance and improvement, can be as significant as the loss of those wetlands to impacts from the permitted placement of fill.

The Wetlands Water Quality Standards Advisory Subcommittee was established to advise DES on research, preparation and review of a draft plan for developing New Hampshire water quality standards for wetlands.

The draft plan for developing New Hampshire water quality standards for wetlands will include the following:

• Reviewing other states’ approaches and options given New Hampshire laws, regulations and data.

• Identifying potential indicators of wetland condition

• Identifying potential parameters, including appropriate numeric thresholds, necessary to assess wetland condition for aquatic life, wildlife and human health, such as fish consumption and swimming.

• Recommendations for implementation of water quality standards for wetlands in New Hampshire.

Once indicators are selected, monitoring data can be used to assess wetland condition and identify where certain uses, such as aquatic life, are not being met. At such time, appropriate steps can be taken to address impairments (degraded conditions).

Meetings

• March 14, 2013 Agenda | Related Materials
• October 18, 2012 Agenda | Minutes | Neils Presentation | DiFranco Presentation | Related Materials
• May 24, 2012 Agenda | Minutes| Related Materials [10MB]
• April 12, 2012 Agenda | Minutes | Related materials

Resources/Links

• Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment
  • Wetland Assessment – Mid Atlantic Wetlands WorkGroup
  • California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM)
  • Maine's Biomonitoring Program
  • Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Reports – Maine
  • Wetland Functional Assessment/MnRAM – Minnesota
  • Floristic Quality Assessment for Minnesota Wetlands
  • Wetlands: Monitoring Aquatic Invertebrates
  • Minnesota Comprehensive Wetland Assessment Monitoring & Mapping Strategy
  • Biological Monitoring Wetlands: Monitoring Plants – Minnesota
  • Water Quality Condition Monitoring – Wetland Monitoring in the Major Watershed Approach
  • Water Quality Condition Monitoring – Long-term Wetland Monitoring
  • Missouri DNR – Water Resources Center – Wetlands
  • NC Wetland Assessment Method – North Carolina
  • Wetland Monitoring and Assessment – Oregon
  • Assessing Biological Integrity of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
  • Method for Inventorying and Evaluating Freshwater Wetlands in NH
  • EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment
• Wetland Water Quality Standards
  • EPA Water Quality Standards for Wetlands
  • ASWM Water Quality Standards for Wetlands
  • Report from the WQSAC Classification Subcommittee [Classification and Designated Uses] (June 6, 2011)
  • EPA National Guidance Water Quality Standards for Wetlands
  • EPA Wetland Modules
  • Title 117 – Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards
  • Wetland Narrative Criteria & Use Designation – Ohio Document Repository
  • Wetland Water Quality Standards – Wisconsin

Related Programs

• Merrimack River Watershed Wetland Restoration Strategy
• Surface Water Quality Assessment Program
• Total Maximum Daily Load Program
• New Hampshire Wetland Program Plan

Contact Us

• Sandy Crystall, PWS
  DES Watershed Management Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-2471
  sandra.crystall@des.nh.gov

 

 

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NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm