Nutrients

Ecoregional criteria

We publish recommended water quality criteria to reduce problems associated with excess nutrients in waterbodies in specific areas of the country. We will work with states and tribes to adopt regional-specific and locally appropriate water quality criteria for nutrients in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and wetlands in seventeen ecoregions.

Jump to criteria documents

• We finalized 9 water quality criteria documents for lakes and reservoirs, and rivers and streams. See below for documents and peer review comments.
  • Fact Sheet (PDF, 28KB)
  • Federal Register Notice (January 6, 2003)
    • Correction of significant figures for Aggregate Ecoregion I, X and XIII Nutrient Criteria Recommendations (PDF, 14KB)
  • EPA Response to Peer Review Comments for Lakes and Reservoirs (PDF, 48KB)
  • EPA Response to Peer Review Comments for Rivers and Streams (PDF, 48KB)
  • Public Comments (PDF, 47KB)
• We solicited submissions of significant scientific information on 9 nutrient water quality criteria documents for lakes and reservoirs, and rivers and streams.
  • Fact Sheet (PDF, 81KB)
  • Federal Register Notice (February 28, 2002)
• We published 17 ecoregional nutrient criteria documents for lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, and wetlands. See below for documents.
  • Fact Sheet
  • Federal Register Notice (January 9, 2001)
• External Expert Peer Review Comments (PDF, 57KB) (June, 2001)
• Public Comments (PDF, 37KB) (June, 2001)

Criteria Documents

• Criteria Documents for Lakes & Reservoirs
• Criteria Documents for Rivers & Streams
• Criteria Documents for Wetlands (PDF, 257KB)
• Summary Table for the Nutrient Criteria Documents
  (PDF, 68KB) July 2002
  These tables present the recommended criteria for each of the aggregate nutrient ecoregions for the following parameters: Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, Chlorophyll a, and Turbidity or Secchi. Criteria are presented for both Lakes & Reservoirs and Rivers & Streams.