Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
INACTIVE
This program entry was replaced by a new entry in April 2024, so this previous entry was marked inactive.
Administering Entity: Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) - Water Quality Division
Entity Type(s): State
Water Resource: Lakes and Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams
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, Pollution Source Assessment, Problem identification, Trends, WQ Standards Attainment
Subbasins: Statewide
Aquatic Invasive Species Type:
Counties: Statewide
Volunteers: yes
Contact Name: Darrin Kron
Summary of Monitoring Objectives:
Primary objectives of DEQ’s Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment program include: 1) assess water quality in streams, lakes, and watersheds and identify waters that are impaired (do not meet water quality standards) and waters that are in good condition, 2) conduct inventories of pollution sources and support total maximum daily load (TMDL) development and watershed restoration planning; track progress toward restoration, 3) monitor surface water quality trends statewide, and 4) communicate pertinent and reliable information to stakeholders and the public.