
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 15100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06302]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9944-07-OW]


National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008/2009 Final Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of EPA's final report 
on the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) 2008/2009. The 
NRSA describes the results of the nationwide probabilistic survey that 
was conducted in the summers of 2008 and 2009 by EPA and its state, 
tribal, and federal partners. The NRSA 2008/2009 report includes 
information on how the survey was implemented, what the findings are on 
a national and ecoregional scale, and future actions and challenges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Mitchell, Office of Wetlands, 
Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water, Washington, DC. Phone: 202-566-
0644; email: mitchell.richard@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

    The National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009: A 
Collaborative Survey is the first report to use a statistically-valid 
random design to assess the condition of the nation's rivers and 
streams. It is one of a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys 
(NARS), a national-scale monitoring program designed to produce 
statistically-valid assessments that answer critical questions about 
the condition of waters in the United States. The key goals of the NRSA 
report are to describe the ecological and recreational condition of the 
nation's river and stream resources, how those conditions are changing, 
and the key stressors affecting those waters. Using a statistical 
survey design, 1,924 sites were selected at random to represent the 
condition of the larger population of rivers and streams across the 
lower 48 states, from the largest ``great rivers'' to the smallest 
headwater streams.
    The NRSA finds that 46% of the nation's river and stream miles do 
not support healthy biological communities when compared to least 
disturbed sites in similar ecological regions. Fair conditions are 
found in 25% of river and stream miles, while 28% are in good condition 
and support healthy aquatic communities. Of the stressors that were 
examined, phosphorus and nitrogen are the most widespread. Biological 
communities are at increased risk for poor condition when phosphorus 
and nitrogen levels are high. The report has undergone public, peer, 
state/tribal and EPA review.

A. How can I get copies of the NRSA 2008/2009 and other related 
information?

    You may view and download the final report from EPA's Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/nrsa.

    Dated: March 11, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-06302 Filed 3-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


