Search this site:

Discussion and Conclusions

Although water quality has improved since the passage of the CWA, water-quality impairment is still an important concern in the South. Several watersheds and water bodies have been identified as needing improvement and/or as being impaired for designated uses. There are too many instances of insufficient data regarding the current conditions of rivers and streams in the South. It is important to understand the difficulties in identifying causes and, in particular, sources of pollution in impaired waters. Many of the monitoring and data reporting limitations have been described in previous sections. However, USEPA and the individual States are working to develop better, more consistent methods for determining the causes and sources of impairment and describing the level of confidence in the classification.

The information included in this chapter on the status of water quality has been presented at various scales: regional, State, ecological region, and individual watershed (eight-digit HUC). The leading pollutants in rivers and streams in the South are sedimentation and pathogens (bacteria). Nonpoint-source pollution continues to degrade the overwhelming majority of rivers and streams. The primary nonpoint sources of water-quality impairment identified in the South are agriculture and urbanization. Agriculture and urbanization impact water quality by eliminating natural vegetation and replacing it with impervious surfaces or creating more readily erodible surfaces.

Therefore, preservation and restoration of forest cover are crucial to maintaining water quality in the South. Forest cover, riparian habitat, and streambank management are vital to maintaining and increasing water quality. Although the relationship is often hard to analyze statistically, loss of these habitats has had significant effects on water quality. A positive relationship between increasing forest cover and better water quality could not be identified due to problems with geographic scale and the nature of the water-quality data. In almost all instances, designation of the causes or sources of a particular water-quality impairment occurs within individual river miles. Land use, as a source of pollution, clearly plays a more significant role in degrading water quality at a local level.

Understanding land use impacts and implementation of effective management practices are the keys to maintenance and improvement of water quality in the South. Sustainable land use practices are needed to maintain and improve water quality. Assessment and management issues must be addressed at regional, State, and local levels to understand the complex and interdependent relationships among natural resources and land uses. Management at the regional level is vital since impacts from land use changes are widespread and occur in different combinations and rates in different areas. As a greater understanding of cumulative downstream effects is gained, effective implementation of regional land use and watershed management programs may aid in minimizing potential water-quality impacts (Bolstad and Swank 1997).

Progress is being made to restore degraded rivers and to protect those that are still intact. The general public is becoming increasingly aware of water-quality issues. Across the South, local communities and organizations are working with State and Federal agencies to find ways to protect our rivers without adversely impacting continued economic growth. Improved public outreach and education are needed, particularly concerning nonpoint-source pollution management, wastewater operation and maintenance, and general water quality and resource management. Future trends in water quality in the South include a variety of proactive mandates, management approaches, increased awareness and implementation of BMPs, and the use of more effective and accurate technological tools.