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The Statewide Water Quality Management Plan and Continuing Planning Process (WQMP/CPP) provides a concise summary of the water quality management system in New Mexico and the roles of the major participants in that system. It fulfills the requirements of Sections 208 and 303 of the federal Clean Water Act and Section 74-6-4.B of the New Mexico Water Quality Act, that the State maintain a comprehensive water quality management program and develop a continuing planning process to keep the program updated.
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James Hogan
Acting SPRT Team Leader
(505) 476-3671
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(NOTE: Changes to Appendix A were adopted by the WQCC in November 2010 and are still under review by EPA.) |
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The 2011 comprehensive update was approved by the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) on May 10, 2011 and by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Region 6 Offices (EPA) on December 23, 2011. Appendix B listing approved TMDLs is updated continuously whenever new TMDLs are approved by the WQCC and the EPA. Changes between this comprehensive update and its two predecessor documents (2003 WQMP and 2004 CPP) are summarized on this crosswalk.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTS...
(Approved May 10, 2011)
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DRAFT DEVELOPMENT ARCHIVE
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What were the primary goals of the 2011 update?
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Consolidate the WQMP and CPP into one document, and establish the process for updating the consolidated document; |
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Incorporate changes and new developments that have occurred over the last several years, including water quality standards amendments, completion of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) settlement agreement requirements, update of the Nonpoint Source Management Program, development of a wetlands program, adoption of Underground Injection Control regulations, and creation of a Water Cabinet focused on water and wastewater infrastructure; |
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Add references to new regulations for Section 401 certification of NPDES and Dredge/Fill Permits; |
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Compile and update the TMDL list, and improve the process description for establishing TMDLs; |
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Add the Hydrology Protocol as an appendix and explain how it is to be used; and |
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Update program descriptions and citations to referenced documents. |
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What is the Hydrology Protocol and why was it a part of this WQMP/CPP update?
The Hydrology Protocol is a technical document that was developed to distinguish between ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams and rivers in New Mexico.
It also generates documentation of the uses supported by those waters as a result of the flow regime.
Recently approved triennial review amendments to the water quality standards allow the use of the Hydrology Protocol to expedite the approval of standards for ephemeral waters (see Section 20.6.4.15.C NMAC).
The Hydrology Protocol went through one round of public comment in 2009. SWQB made appropriate revisions, wrote a response to comments, and proposed the protocol be approved as an appendix to the WQMP/CPP. Section II.C in the draft WQMP/CPP explains how the protocol can be used to provide technical support for a use attainability analysis,
to determine the hydrology of unclassified waters,
or to identify unclassified waters within an otherwise classified segment. The Hydrology Protocol is designed solely to aid in water quality standards determination and the resulting determinations have no bearing on water rights or other non-SWQB programs. |
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