Monitoring and Assessment Program
Administering Entity:
Entity Type(s): Conservation District, Federal, Local Government, NGO, State, University, Watershed Groups
Water Resource: Lakes and Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands
Primary Data Type(s): Biology, Discharge, Geomorphology, Habitat-Instream, Habitat-Riparian, Instream Physical, Substrate, Water Chemistry
Primary Watershed Monitoring Objective(s): Baseline, Education and Outreach, Long Term Fixed Station, Permit Compliance, Pollution Source Assessment, Problem identification, Project Identification, Restoration Project Effectiveness, Trends, WQ Standards Attainment
Subbasins: Statewide
Aquatic Invasive Species Type:
Counties: Statewide
Volunteers: no
Contact Name: Darrin Kron
Summary of Monitoring Objectives:
DEQ’s Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Section assesses whether state waters meet water quality standards and support beneficial uses. Beneficial use assessment is one step in the water quality planning process; it requires monitoring and informs Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and water quality protection and restoration. Tracking changes in water quality may also be important to determine if conditions are improving or deteriorating over time. DEQ supports numerous professional and volunteer monitoring partnerships across Montana that align with our vision.
DEQ monitors chemical, physical, and biological properties of our state’s rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. High quality data is necessary to support decision-making. DEQ monitors water quality to:
Educate people about water quality;
Inform watershed restoration and protection plans;
Track trends in water quality;
Investigate water quality problems, threats, and improvements;
Assess whether waters meet water quality standards and support beneficial uses;
Evaluate sources of pollution;
Support studies that determine total maximum daily load (TMDL) development;
Establish baseline conditions;
Develop water quality standards.