Idaho 305(b) 303(d) Mercury Impaired Waterbodies (2008)

Idaho 305(b) 303(d) Mercury Impaired Waterbodies (2008)

Frequently-asked questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Idaho 305(b) 303(d) Mercury Impaired Waterbodies (2008)

Abstract: 
Idaho 2008  305(b) / 303(d) Mercury Streams represent water bodies that are impaired and fail to meet water quality standards for mercury. This information is also available in the Idaho 2008 Integrated 305(b) Report submitted to the EPA in accordance with Federal Clean Water Act.

Sources of mercury pollution in Idaho include a mixture of in-state and out-of-state human-caused and natural processes such as mining operations, petroleum combustion, coal-powered plants, various manufacturing sources, sewage treatment plants, landfills, and other sources.

Supplemental information: 
Mercury is toxic to both aquatic life and humans, but its toxicity is primarily a human health concern. Inorganic mercury occurs naturally due to its presence in rocks and soils. It is slowly released through erosion and weathering into surface waters. Most of the mercury in surface waters remains inorganic, but in favorable environments (low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and high organic matter, such as are found in the bottoms of lakes, marshes, and wetlands), some of it is converted to a much more toxic organic form—methylmercury. Methylmercury tends to accumulate in the tissue of fish, and thus is of particular interest from a human health standpoint. Read more about mercury.

In April 2005 Idaho adopted a fish tissue methylmercury criterion to protect individuals that may eat fish from Idaho surface waters. This criterion of 0.3 milligrams methylmercury per kilogram of fresh weight fish is based on protecting an adult consumer who eats on average of 17.5 grams of fish per day—about one, 8-ounce meal every other week.

http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/surface_water/monitoring/2008.cfm

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Idaho Dept of Water Quality, 20090409, Idaho 305(b) 303(d) Mercury Impaired Waterbodies (2008): Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), Boise, ID USA.

    Online links:
    Other citation details:
    http://www.deq.idaho.gov/WATER/data_reports/surface_water/monitoring/idaho_mercury_wq_guidance.pdf

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    Bounding coordinates:
    West: -117.496579
    East: -111.515435
    North: 48.546115
    South: 42.014417

  3. What does it look like?

    http://www.deq.state.id.us/water/data_reports/surface_water/monitoring/ambient_plan_first_edition.pdf

    Thumbnail image:

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning date: 20050631
    Ending date: 20071231
    Currentness reference: 
    20090501

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial data presentation form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • String (502)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Transverse Mercator.

      Projection parameters:
      Transverse Mercator
      Scale factor at central meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude of central meridian: -114.000000
      Latitude of projection origin: 42.000000
      False easting: 2500000.000000
      False northing: 1200000.000000

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair.
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000.
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000.
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

      Vertical coordinate system definition:
      Altitude system definition:
      Altitude resolution: 1.000000
      Altitude encoding method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    mercuryStreams305B2008_id_ideq
     (Source: NHD, USGS, EPA Reach Files)

    WEBLINK
    URL of ADB Support Status Report 2008 (Source: IDEQ)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    RCH_CODE
    USGS NHD Reach Code (Source: USGS)

    SCODE
    Stream Type code (Source: USGS NHD 100K)

    ATTR_VAL
    DEQ Waterbody ID (Source: DEQ, WBAG- link to Designated Uses Table)

    TYPE
    Stream Type (Source: SCODE VALUE, USGS NHD 100K)

    STREAM
    Waterbody Name (Source: USGS, GNIS)

    STRMILES
    Segment length in Miles (Source: derved)

    ENTITY_ID
    Assessment Unit Code (Source: Waterbody ID + Stream Segment Code, Links, joins to support status)

    SECTION_V
    Impaired Waters (Source: Listed as impaired on the 2008 303(d) List)

    WBID
    Waterbody ID (Source: Idaho DEQ Water quality Standards)

    WATERBODY
    Waterbody Descritption (Source: IDEQ Waterquality Standards)

    STRAHLER
    Strahler Stream Order (Source: ID305b)

    HUC4CODE
    4th Field Subbasin Code (Source: USGS)

    HUCNAME
    4th Field  Subbasin Name (Source: USGS)

    BASIN
    Basin Name (Source: USGS)

    DEQ_ADM
    IDDEQ Regional Office area of responsibility

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    STATUS
    EPA, ADB, DEQ Support Status (Source: Waterbody Monitoring Results)

    Value Definition
    Not Assessed 
    Waterbody has not been assessed
    Not Supporting 
    Waterbody has been assessed and does not meet IDEQ water quality standards
    Full Support 
    Waterbody has been assessed and meets IDEQ Waterquality standards

    RESULT
    Mercury Monitoring Results (Source: Sampling Studies)

    SOURCE
    Source of Mercury Analysis (Source: IDEQ, EPA, & Others)

    SAMPLE_DAT
    Sample Dates for Mercury (Source: IDEQ, EPA & Others)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Entity and attribute overview: 
    NHD Linear referenced Waterbodies, with DEQ Waterbody ID -- Beneficial Uses, Mercury Listed Waterbodies.
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Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

    • Idaho Dept of Water Quality

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    IDEQ

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Nicole Deinarowicz
    Idaho DEQ
    305(b) 303(d) Federal Reporting Coordinator
    1410 N Hilton
    Boise, ID 83706

    208 373 - 0591 (voice)
    Nicole.Deinarowicz@deq.idaho.gov
    Hours of Service: 8:00 - 5:00 MT
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Why was the data set created?

Water bodies In Idaho that do not meet water quality standards due to levels of mercury.  

Every two years, DEQ is required by the federal Clean Water Act to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Idaho's water bodies to determine whether they meet state water quality standards and support beneficial uses or if additional pollution controls are needed. This analysis is summarized in an "Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report" (Integrated Report), which is submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. The report serves as a guide for developing and implementing water quality improvement plans (total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs) to protect water quality and achieve federal and state water quality standards.

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How was the data set created?

  1. Where did the data come from?

    NHD (source 1 of 1)

    Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, 20090409, ADB 2006 Assessment Cycle for 2008 reporting year..

    Type of source media: NHD 1:100,000 for Idaho
    Source scale denominator: 1:100,000 NHD Lakes, Waterbodies
    Source contribution: 
    IDEQ, USGS, EPA

  2. What changes have been made?

    Date: 20090407 (change 1 of 1) 
    Waterbodies with designated uses were linear referenced to 100K NHD and attributed with
DEQ's Waterbody ID linking to Beneficial Uses.  Tabular data exported from ADB (EPA's) Assessment database was joined to to ID305B Lakes  by assessment unit, to display waterbodies failing to meet water quality standards due to mercury levels.

    Person responsible for change:
    Nicole Deinarowicz
    ID DEQ
    305B-303D Federal Reporting Coordinator
    1410 N Hilton
    Boise, ID 83706

    208 373 - 0502 (voice)
    Nicole.Deinarowicz@deq.idaho.gov
    Hours of Service: 8:00 - 5:00 MT

    Data sources used in this process:
    • ID305B Lakes (2008)

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How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Attributes derrived from the ADB 2006 cycle and USGS/EPA 100K NHD.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    1: 100,000 +- 167 ft   USGS mapping Standards for 1: 100,000.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Complete.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Topology not verified

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How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access constraints: None, Appropriate use for Scale, (100K) resolution and time period for Monitoring years (2005-2007), also contains artitical paths (center lines) connecting streams through polygon features.
Use constraints: 
None

Distributor 1 of 1

  1. Who distributes the data set?

    Bruce Godfrey
    Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
    GIS Specialist
    1000 West Hubbard Avenue, Suite 242
    Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-2277

    208.292.1407 (voice)
    bgodfrey@uidaho.edu

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

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Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20090609

Metadata author:
Jim Szpara
ID DEQ
Sr GIS Analyst
1410 N Hilton
Boise, ID 83706

208 373 -0502 (voice)
jim.szpara@deq.idaho.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata(FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:
  • http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

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