Utah TMDL - The state is responsible to set water quality standards for each of its water-bodies (creek, river, pond, lake, reservoir, etc.) by identifying the uses associated with it. Examples of designated uses are: drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming) and aquatic life support (fishing). The state then uses scientific criteria to establish water quality standards for that water-body based upon its designated use. An impaired water-body is one which has had a measured pollutant exceeding the water quality standard associated with the designated of the state’s impaired water-bodies by 2015.

Idaho DEQ's Surface Water Program routinely measures and assesses the levels of pollutants in surface waters such as rivers and streams. The program develops analytical tools, provides guidance for stream and river water quality evaluations, monitors protocols and schedules, and writes and submits federally required reports. Regional office staff perform on-the-ground water quality testing and data collection. http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water/data_reports/surface_water/tmdls/overview.cfm http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/Homepage.NSF/webpage/Idaho's+Environment?opendocumet

Tri-State Monitoring Program As a result of efforts of the Bear River Water Quality Task Force (BRWQTF), last fall Idaho, Utah and Wyoming agreed to fund and implement a joint study of the water quality along the entire Bear River. The monitoring is taking place 4 times a year over a 5 year period at 21 sites along the river, including 4 in the Bear Lake Wildlife Refuge and is providing “ snapshots” of conditions existing at the time the samples are taken. The sites at the Refuge sample Bear River water entering Mud Lake, water entering Bear Lake through the inlet structure, at Camp Lifton where water is pumped out of Bear Lake and from water as it leaves the Wildlife Refuge at the Paris Dike. Those four sites will yield data that will give us a more complete “snapshot” of the water quality entering Bear Lake.