Publications & Videos
To help tribes get started some useful publications are...
Case Studies
- Case Study: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation (PDF) (372K, 2 pages)
The Tribes have established a water quality standards program to preserve the high quality waters and restore those that have been degraded. (July 31, 2006) - Case Study: The Hoopa Valley Tribe (PDF) (740K, 2 pages)
The Hoopa's water quality standards establish 16 different designated uses for their water bodies including ceremonial and cultural water use, fish spawning, and water contact recreation. (July 31, 2006) - Case Study: The Sokaogon Chippewa Community (PDF) (430K, 2 pages)
The Tribe decided to assume greater responsibility and control of the present and future conditions of its water resources and applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to administer its own water quality standards program. (July 31, 2006) - Case Study: The Hualapai Tribe (PDF) (532K, 2 pages)
Since adopting water quality standards, the Tribe has been an equal partner with federal, state, and local authorities in discussing activities that could affect tribal waters. (July 31, 2006) - Case Study: The Fort Peck Tribes Use Biological Criteria for Their Water Quality Standards (PDF) (922K)
Biological criteria allow a tribe to set goals for waterbodies based on the type and number of aquatic species that should be present. (April 15, 2003) - Case Study: The Seminole Tribe of Florida Uses Water Quality Standards to Solve a Nutrient Problem (PDF) (774K).
The tribe determined high nutrient levels from large scale agriculture and tribal activities were disrupting aquatic ecology on the Big Cypress reservation. Five years after instituting water quality standards the tribe began to measure decreases in nutrients entering the waters. (April 15, 2003)
Other Publications
- Brochure: How Water Quality Standards Protect Tribal Waters (PDF) (2.3Mb).
A full color brochure explaining the basics of tribal participation in the tribal water quality standards program. (April 15, 2003) - Glossary of Terms Used in Case Studies (PDF) (767K) (April 15, 2003)
- Draft Strategy: Proposed Revisions to the Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses. A Guidelines Revision workgroup will be established to identify, evaluate, and revise the existing Guidelines. (February 6, 2003)
- Implementation Guidance for Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria
A draft of the Implementation Guidance for Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria has been published for public comment. When finalized, it will guide state, territory, and authorized tribal water quality programs in adopting and implementing bacteriological water quality criteria to protect waters designated for recreation. - Introduction to Water Quality Standards (PDF) (1.8Mb)
- Reference Guide to Water Quality Standards for Indian Tribes (PDF) (2.8Mb)
- Water Management Solutions, A Guide for Indian Tribes (PDF) (4.1Mb)
- Water Quality Standards Handbook: Second Edition -- August 1, 1994
- Tribal Environmental and Natural Resource Assisstance Handbook (PDF) (676K)
- Protecting Public Health and Water Resources in Indian Country - A Plan for EPA/Tribal Partnership
A complete list of Water publications is available through the Water Online Publications Database. You can find more publications at NSCEP Publications and at Wastewater Management Indian Program Publications site.
Videos
A series of videos on various aspects of the water quality standards program have been developed and are available through the Water Resource Center. The videos are available on loan for 30 days. You can order these videos on-line at the Water Resource Center.
Some videos that may be of interest are...
- Video: "Our Water Our Future: Saving Our Tribal Life Force Together" (May 16, 2003)
- Training video for developing TMDL's and Water Quality Standards
- Water Quality Standards on Indian Lands
- Development of Biological Criteria for Use in Water Quality Standards
- Development of Water Quality Criteria and Its Relationship to Water Quality Standards
- Wetlands Water Quality Standards
You can also order these publications from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and/or the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). These clearinghouses provide copies of OST publications for a fee.