FIRE BAN IN EFFECT In response to the continued elevated risk of wildfires, DEM has issued a fire ban at all State Parks, campgrounds, and management areas until further notice. The ban is effective as of today (10/28/24) and includes campfires in designated campfire areas, including charcoal fires and cooking fires. This preventative measure applies to all DEM-managed lands and aims to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires. DEM will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions to determine when the ban can be lifted. Together we can protect our communities and keep first responders safe by reducing the risk of wildfires: 📞 Call 911 if you spot a fire/smoke. Timely information is critical to contain fires before they spread. 🔥 Remember, any outdoor fire is a potential source for a wildfire. Be careful with cigarettes and ashes. When disposing of wood stove ashes, put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. 🚒 Check with your local fire department for any other restrictions and permitting information. 🚨 Stay informed and find resources at dem.ri.gov/wildfirestatus.
Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Reporting Rhode Island's Section 305(b) State of the State's Waters Report and Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters Background The federal Clean Water Act under Section 305(b) requires states to assess and report on the overall quality of waters in their state. Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires each state to identify waters for which existing required pollution controls are not stringent enough to achieve the State's water quality standards. These waters are referred to as "water quality limited" or "impaired". The federal Clean Water Act requires the assessment and identification of impaired waters to be conducted by states biennially. Every even year, all readily accessible water quality data and information is evaluated by RIDEM Office of Water Resources. The methodology for this assessment process is outlined in Rhode Island's Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM). The use support status is determined by comparing readily available water quality data and information that meet data quality assurances and objectives to the water quality standards established in the Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations. The results of this comparison are then used to assess each waterbody's specific designated uses as "Fully Supporting" or "Not Supporting". If data is not available to evaluate a designated use, it is considered "Not Assessed". Each waterbody is assigned several designated uses, based on their classification in the Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations. All waterbodies are assigned and assessed for recreational, aquatic life, and fish consumption designated uses, while subsets of waters are also assigned and assessed for drinking water and shellfishing designated uses. Waterbodies that are not meeting their criteria or designated uses are placed on the state's List of Impaired Waters which is developed in accordance with Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act. This List is prioritized and schedules are set for developing Water Quality Restoration Plans, also known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Integrated Report Prior to 2008, DEM submitted the 305(b) Report and 303(d) List as separate documents. After 2008, USEPA guidance recommends that states develop and submit a single Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report) document combining the 305(b) and 303(d) information. The Integrated Report format is intended to provide a streamlined approach to assessing and reporting on water quality. The Integrated Report format provides an Integrated List consisting of 5 categories of water quality assessment information, including the 303(d) Impaired Waters List. Assessment of each designated use may result in different use support attainment status for each designated uses of an individual waterbody. For example, a waterbody may be Fully Supporting swimming use, but there may be insufficient data to develop an aquatic life use support status. Once all designated uses are assessed, each waterbody is placed into only one of the five reporting categories based on a hierarchical approach. Any waters with one or more designated uses being identified as "water quality limited" or "impaired" will be placed on the Impaired Water List, even if some designated uses are meeting water quality standards. The Integrated List is generated by placing each surface waterbody of the state into one of the following five hierarchical assessment categories, with Category 4 having 3 sub-categories: Category Integrated Report Description Meaning 1 Attaining all designated uses No use is threatened Considered "fully supporting" all designated uses 2 Attaining some designated uses No use is threatened Insufficient or no data is available to assess other designated uses Some designated uses are "fully supporting", more data is needed for other designated uses 3 Insufficient or no data is available to assess any of the designated uses More monitoring data is needed 4 Impaired or threatened for 1 or more designated uses but does not required a TMDL plan, because: Impaired of threatened but no TMDL plan development is needed A TMDL has already been completed Waterbodies will be placed in this subcategory once all TMDLs for the waterbody have been developed and approved by USEPA. B Other pollution control measures are reasonably expected to result in attainment in near future C Impairment is not caused by a pollutant (e.g. aquatic invasive species, flow) 5 Impaired of threatened for 1 or more designated uses and requires a TMDL plan Development of TMDL plan needed 303(d) Impaired Waters List 2024 Assessment Cycle Documents 2024 RIDEM 303(d) Public Comment Response Summary PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes 2024 RIDEM Consolidated and Listing Assessment Methodology PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes 2024 RIDEM Impaired Waters Report PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Presentation Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and 303d List PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2024-category-lists-with-303d PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2022 Assessment Cycle Documents Final 2022 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Final 2022 Integrated Report Lists PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Final 2022 Impaired Waters Report with 303d List PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2022 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2022 Delisting Document PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2022 303d List PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2022 RIDEM 303(d) List Response to Comments PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes 2018-2020 Assessment Cycle Documents Final 2018-2020 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Final 2018-2020 Integrated Report Lists PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Final 2018-2020 Impaired Waters Report with 303d List PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Final 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2018-2020 Delisting Document PDF file, about 5mbmegabytes Final 2018-2020 Response to Comments on 303d List PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2018-2020 303d List PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes Primary Resources 303(d) Lists of Impaired Waters Integrated Reports Water Quality Regulations (250-RICR-150-05-1) Final 2022 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2016 Impaired Waters Report with 303d List PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes 2016 Integrated Report Lists PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Final 2014 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual (amended 2015) PDF file, about 16mbmegabytes Documents Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2018-2020 303d List PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes 2016 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process & Draft 2016 303d List PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2016 Delisting Document PDF file, about 6mbmegabytes Final 2014 303(d) List of Impaired Waters PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes 2014 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment List PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes 2012 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes 2010 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes 2006 State of the State's Waters Report PDF file, about 5mbmegabytes
Final 2022 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes
Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2022 303d List PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes
Final 2018-2020 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes
Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2018-2020 303d List PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes
Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process and Draft 2018-2020 303d List PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes
2016 Integrated Water Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes
Presentation: Rhode Island's Integrated Reporting Process & Draft 2016 303d List PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes