Addressing Water Quality Effects from Hydrologic Alteration and Providing Resilience to Climate Change

EPA has clarified that pollution from hydrologic alteration of rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries affects water quality. CWA programs can be used to both prevent and restore these impacts and provide resiliency to climate change. In updated guidance and publications, EPA has provided an overview of the latest scientific information on the impacts of this type of pollution on aquatic life, created tools to prevent future alteration while meeting societal water needs, and developed guidance and information on how to restore hydrologically altered waters, including providing potential funding sources for such restorations.

The following resources are intended to provide states, territories, and tribes with helpful information to protect and maintain physical integrity of waterbodies, protect aquatic life, and provide resiliency in a changing climate.

• Document: Final EPA-USGS Technical Report: Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration (pdf) (2.41 MB, EPA 822–R–16–007)
• Information Concerning 2016 Clean Water Act Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Integrated Reporting and Listing Decisions
  • How to Identify Waters Impaired Due to Pollution (on pages 13-16)
• Frequently Asked Questions on Removal of Obsolete Dams (pdf)
• Best Practices to Consider When Evaluating Water Conservation and Efficiency as an Alternative for Water Supply Expansion (pdf)