The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is seeking data to include in our next statewide water quality assessment (assessment). The assessment fulfills Washington state's obligation under the Clean Water Act to identify polluted waters (known as the §303(d) list) as well as report on the status of water quality in the state (called the §305(b) Report).

The assessment is developed using readily available water quality data and information to determine the status of water quality for a given waterbody segment. For more information on the assessment, view our water quality assessment web page at ecology.wa.gov/303d.

Ecology is seeking new water quality data collected between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021, during this "call for data." The call-for-data window closes on September 30, 2022. To ensure inclusion of your data in the next assessment, please submit data before this date. Ecology will only use scientifically credible data for the assessment. All data submitted must have been collected in accordance with a quality assurance project plan, or equivalent guidance document, and must be representative of ambient water quality conditions. Persons submitting data must be able to attest that quality assurance procedures were followed and must provide ecology with a copy of the plan upon request. Data previously submitted to ecology does not need to be submitted again.

Please submit numeric data to ecology's Environmental Information Management System (EIM). Submit relevant nonnumeric data, such as published research or peer-reviewed reports, directly to assessment staff at 303d@ecy.wa.gov.

Following the closure of the call for data window on September 30, 2022, ecology will begin reviewing and analyzing data for use in the 2022 assessment. We anticipate a draft will be available for public review in early 2024.

Information on submitting water quality data to EIM is available on ecology's website at ecology.wa.gov/eim. Please direct questions on EIM to Kristen Slodysko, EIM Coordinator, at eimwqp@ecy.wa.gov, or phone 360-972-5509.

If you have questions on the assessment process or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss data submittal options, please contact Jeremy Reiman, water quality assessment scientist, at 303d@ecy.wa.gov or phone 360-819-0197.