[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 15100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06302]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9944-07-OW]
National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008/2009 Final Report
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's final report
on the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) 2008/2009. The
NRSA describes the results of the nationwide probabilistic survey that
was conducted in the summers of 2008 and 2009 by EPA and its state,
tribal, and federal partners. The NRSA 2008/2009 report includes
information on how the survey was implemented, what the findings are on
a national and ecoregional scale, and future actions and challenges.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mitchell, Office of Wetlands,
Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water, Washington, DC. Phone: 202-566-
0644; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
The National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009: A
Collaborative Survey is the first report to use a statistically-valid
random design to assess the condition of the nation's rivers and
streams. It is one of a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys
(NARS), a national-scale monitoring program designed to produce
statistically-valid assessments that answer critical questions about
the condition of waters in the United States. The key goals of the NRSA
report are to describe the ecological and recreational condition of the
nation's river and stream resources, how those conditions are changing,
and the key stressors affecting those waters. Using a statistical
survey design, 1,924 sites were selected at random to represent the
condition of the larger population of rivers and streams across the
lower 48 states, from the largest ``great rivers'' to the smallest
headwater streams.
The NRSA finds that 46% of the nation's river and stream miles do
not support healthy biological communities when compared to least
disturbed sites in similar ecological regions. Fair conditions are
found in 25% of river and stream miles, while 28% are in good condition
and support healthy aquatic communities. Of the stressors that were
examined, phosphorus and nitrogen are the most widespread. Biological
communities are at increased risk for poor condition when phosphorus
and nitrogen levels are high. The report has undergone public, peer,
state/tribal and EPA review.
A. How can I get copies of the NRSA 2008/2009 and other related
information?
You may view and download the final report from EPA's Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/nrsa.
Dated: March 11, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-06302 Filed 3-18-16; 8:45 am]
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