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Past Integrated Reports

Every two years, DEQ is required to assess water quality and report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the condition of Oregon's waters. DEQ prepares an Integrated Report that meets the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act for Sections 305(b) and 303(d).
 
The Integrated Report includes an assessment of each water body where data are available, and the list of waters identified under Section 303(d) as water quality limited and needing a TMDL.
 
Waters may be added to the 303(d) list based on evaluation of new data, application of new or revised water quality standards, or information showing water quality has declined.

Waters may be removed from the 303(d) list when TMDLs or other control measures have been established that are expected to improve water quality, when data show water quality has improved, and in some cases when water quality standards are revised.

The 2018/2020 Integrated Report was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 12, 2020 and is now current and in effect. The federal Clean Water Act requires Oregon to report on the quality of its surface waters every two years. Although not a written report, the Integrated Report is a reporting of the status of water quality in Oregon and a list of waters considered to be impaired. 

The Integrated Report can be accessed in four ways:
  • An interactive story map provides an overview of the water quality assessment process and displays results in terms of supporting beneficial uses.
  • An interactive web map application displays the Integrated Report by overall status of an assessment unit. For example, if an assessment unit is classified as impaired, one or more assessed pollutants do not meet the interpretation of water quality standards outlined in the methodology. The application also provides all applicable Water Quality Standards and TMDL information. 
  • An online searchable database that provides categorical assessment conclusions for all assessed parameters.
  • An ArcGIS 10.5 Assessment Geodatabase spatially displays information from Oregon's 2018/2020 Integrated Report. This database also includes a layer that spatially displays DEQ's Water Quality Standards. 

Raw data used in Oregon's 2018/2020 Integrated Report can also be accessed through DEQ's Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Portal.

More information
2018/2020 Submittal Documents
2018/2020 Approval Documents
Methodology

The public comment period for the draft methodology closed on June 28, 2018.

The call for data closed on July 25, 2018.  In all, DEQ evaluated over 6.5 million data points from 74 organizations for the draft Integrated Report.

In 2016, DEQ undertook a major effort to update and improve the Integrated Report process, addressing longstanding issues, and increasing accessibility. DEQ will be updating the assessment methodology for every cycle, which is typically every two years.  For information on its 2022 proposed methodology updates, please see the 2022 Integrated Report page coming soon.

Background

The federal Clean Water Act requires the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to assess Oregon's water quality and prepare a report every two years. The Integrated Report is a database report that combines reporting information for the Clean Water Act Section 305(b) assessment of all water bodies and the Section 303(d) list of water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. The 303(d) list represents where pollution reduction plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads are needed.
 
The 2018/2020, Integrated Report represents the state's most comprehensive evaluation of water quality data and information about Oregon's waters. DEQ assessed this data and information to determine whether Oregon's waters contain pollutants at levels that exceed protective water quality standards and do not support their beneficial uses. To complete this assessment, DEQ reviewed and assessed readily available data and information for the time period Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2017, using the Methodology for Oregon's 2018 Water Quality Report and List of Water Quality Limited Waters.
 
The 2018/2020 Integrated Report categorizes all assessed waterbodies. DEQ evaluated data on whether Oregon's waters are of a high enough quality to meet the most common beneficial uses, such as supporting aquatic life, providing drinking water or supporting recreation. Waterbodies that exceed protective water quality standards are identified as impaired and placed on the 303(d) list. Identifying a waterbody as impaired initiates the prioritization and development of a TMDL.


​​In December 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Oregon's 2012 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies that need pollution reduction plans, called Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs. DEQ uses the 303(d) list to determine requirements for water quality permits and total maximum daily loads.

EPA added 285 water bodies to the list, removed 56 water bodies from the list, and reclassified 714 stream segments affected by ongoing litigation over temperature water quality standards.

Find documents detailing EPA's review, changes, and final approval of Oregon's 2012 303(d) list at EPA's Impaired Waters and TMDL webpage.

Background

In November 2014, DEQ submitted a draft 2012 Integrated Report and 303(d) List of water quality limited waters in the Umatilla and Willamette basins. In December 2016, EPA approved most of the submitted 303(d) listings and delistings and proposed additional water bodies for Oregon’s 303(d) list. 

2012 Integrated Report submittal

Oregon’s 2012 Integrated Report Assessment Database and 303(d) List is a searchable database report with data for each water body, pollutant and location that DEQ has assessed, and the conclusion about water quality in each water body.

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​Assessment information available for the 2010 Integrated Report includes:

A searchable database report with data for each water body, pollutant and location that have been assessed, and the conclusion about water quality in each water body.
Search options to display data including:
  • All waters in the state for all pollutants and conditions
  • Waters that are Water Quality Limited (Category 4 and Category 5)
  • Waters where pollutant Total Maximum Daily Loads need to be developed (Category 5 303(d) list)
  • Waters that have been de-listed and removed from Category 5 (303(d) list) in the 2010 assessment

 

EPA action on Oregon’s 2010 303(d) List 

DEQ’s comments on EPA’s proposed 303(d) additions, April 2012
EPA approval/disapproval action, March 2012

Other Information

Methodology for Oregon’s 2010 Water Quality Report and List of Water Quality Limited Waters (May 2011)
The methodology contains the protocols and decision rules DEQ used to evaluate data and assign an assessment status category to each water body where data were reviewed.

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​​​Oregon's 2004/2006 Integrated Report consists of:
  • An assessment database with information on water quality for waters in Oregon (includes water quality limited waters and 303(d) list waters).
  • The assessment methodology used to evaluate data.
  • A schedule to develop TMDLs for waters identified in the Section 303(d) list.
  • A report titled Oregon's 2004 Water Quality Assessment Section 305(b) Report (submitted to EPA July 2004).

Assessment Process

DEQ began the biennial water quality assessment process by preparing a Draft Assessment Methodology and issuing a public call for submitting data and comments (April 1 to May 16, 2003).
DEQ evaluated water quality data for Oregon's waters using the "decision rules" in the Assessment Methodology for Oregon's 2004/2006 Integrated Report on Water Quality Status. DEQ assigned an assessment status category to each water body where data were available to evaluate. Water bodies that do not meet water quality standards are Water Quality Limited and are assigned Category 4 or Category 5. Water bodies in Category 5 need pollutant Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) developed and comprise the Section 303(d) list.
A public review and comment period on the draft list of water quality limited waters was open from September 9, 2005 to Nov. 7, 2005. The final list and Integrated Report reflect the public comments and changes made in response to comments. DEQ updated and revised Oregon's TMDL Priorities and Schedule based on the final 2004/2006 Section 303(d) list of Category 5 waters.

Water bodies assigned to Category 4 or Category 5 are Water Quality Limited. Water bodies assigned to Category 5 are water quality limited and need a TMDL developed (Section 303(d) list). DEQ has updated and revised Oregon's TMDL Priorities and Schedule based on Oregon's final 2004/2006 Section 303(d) list of Category 5 waters.

DEQ submitted Oregon's 2004/2006 Integrated Report and Section 303(d) list to EPA for review on May 23, 2006. EPA approves only the waters identified under Section 303(d) as needing TMDLs. DEQ made minor changes to the final 303(d) list during EPA's review.

2004/2006 Integrated Report

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The 2002 Integrated Report and 303(d) List Database

Listed below are several options for searching or viewing Oregon's 2002 303(d) database.
  1. If you would like to search just the 303(d) listed waterbodies, then choose an option under 2002 303(d) List.
  2. If you would like to search the entire 303(d) database, including both listed and unlisted waterbodies, then choose an option under 2002 Integrated Report.
Note: The Integrated Report contains categories other than 303(d), including: "attaining", "potential concern", "TMDL approved", "insufficient/no data", and "water quality limited/not needing a TMDL."
You can search by selecting a watershed from a map of Oregon, you can search by selecting a waterbody from a list, or you can view the entire 303(d) list for the state.
Note: The following waterbodies must be searched by waterbody name: Snake River, John Day River, Klamath River, Deschutes River, Crooked River, Willamette River, Rogue River, Columbia River, Owyhee River, Grande Ronde River, Malheur River, Multnomah Channel.

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