
Water Quality in Georgia
Georgia 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report

Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires States to assess its water quality every two years. To develop this report, Georgia compares water quality data collected across the State against our Water Quality Standards using the State’s Listing Assessment Methodology and places each water into one of three broad assessment categories; 1) supporting their designated use; 2) not supporting their designated use; or 3) assessment pending. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires States to submit a list of all waters that are not supporting their designated uses and need to have a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) developed.
Georgia publishes the 305(b)/303(d) integrated report which is titled “Water Quality in Georgia”, the 305(b)/303(d) list of waters is found in Appendix A of this report. This list is organized by waterbody type (e.g. Rivers/Streams, Lakes/Reservoirs, etc.), provides the name, location, and assessment category. If the designated use is not being supported, causes of impairment are listed along with potential sources of pollutants.
Prioritization Framework for Georgia 303(d) Waters

In December 2013 U.S. EPA released a new Long-Term Vision for Assessment, Restoration, and Protection of waters under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program (Long-Term Vision). In accordance with this Long-Term Vision, GA EPD developed a
Priority
The timeline for the first Long-Term Vision period is coming to an end in 2022. USEPA, in consultation with States and Authorized Tribes, is developing new Long-Term Vision Guidance documents that will be completed by Fall of 2022. Under this new Long-Term Vision Document, States will develop a new Priority Framework to guide the decision process on what TMDLs, TMDL Alternatives, or Protection Plans will be prioritized. Once USEPA finishes its new Long-Term Vision Guidance documents, there will be opportunities for public involvement in development of the State’s new Priority Framework and the selection of Priority Waters. The new Long-Term Vision period will begin in 2024.
To bridge the time period from the end of the first and the start of the second Long-Term Visions, USEPA has asked States to develop a List of Priority Waters for which TMDLs, TMDL Alternatives or Protection Plans will be drafted in Federal Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. During our “bridge period”, EPD is planning to focus on bacteria TMDLs. The Board of Natural Resources adopted new bacteria criteria for waters with designated uses of “Fishing” and “Drinking Water” at its January 28, 2022 meeting. EPD plans to complete all TMDLs for waters in Category 5 for fecal coliform before 2024. These TMDLs will also address the new bacteria criteria. In addition, EPD plans to develop an addendum for each existing TMDL for fecal coliform bacteria to address the new bacteria criteria (E. coli or enterococci) and will provide the appropriate TMDL and WLAs for the new bacteria criteria.
Guidance for Submitting Data For 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report
Most data used to develop the 305(b)/303(d) list of waters is collected by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, one of our sister agencies (Wildlife Resource Division, Coastal Resources Division, Parks and Historic Sites Division) or the USGS. Third parties such as local governments, universities, environmental groups, industries, etc. also submit data for use in development of the 305(b)/303(d) list. In accordance with Chapter 391-3-6-.03(13) of the Rules and Regulations for Water Quality Control, outside parties who wish to submit data for use in the 305(b)/303(d) listing process must submit and receive approval of a Sampling Quality Assurance Plan (SQAP). The purpose of this plan is to ensure that the data collected is of sufficient quality and quantity to make sound assessment decisions. Guidance for preparing a submitting a SQAP is provided below.
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Guidance
On Submitting Water Quality Data For Use By The Georgia Environmental Protection Division In 305(b)/303(d) Listing Assessments (SQAP) [October 2002] -
Guidelines
for Using Third Party Biological Data for 305(b)/303(d) Purposes (Revised April 2019)
Deadlines for Submitting Data for Use in the 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report
A
public

Georgia's 2022 305(b)/303(d) List Documents - Approved by U.S. EPA April 22, 2022
2022 305(b)/303(d)
Water Quality in Georgia (2020-2021)
This document can also be viewed online as an interactive story map.
Appendix A – 2022 List of Waters
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2022 Rivers/Streams
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2022 Lakes/Reservoirs
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2022 Coastal
Streams -
2022 Sounds/Harbors
-
2022 Coastal
Beaches -
2022 Freshwater
Beaches
The supporting documents below provide additional information regarding the 2022 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters. A brief explanation as to how the list was developed and a description of how it is organized is provided in “Description of the 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters”. It is recommended that those not familiar with the 305b/303d List of Waters read this document.
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Description
of the 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters -
2022
Listing Assessment Methodology -
Data
Source/Code Key for Abbreviations for the 2022 list -
Highlights
of the 2022 List -
Summary
of 2022 Listing Decisions -
Table
of Changes between the 2020 and 2022 Lists -
List
of Changes between the Draft and Final 2022 List -
List
of Waters whose GIS has been updated and whose names and location information may have been changed -
2022
305(b)/303(d) List of Waters (in Excel Format) -
Response
to Comments on the Draft 2022 305(b)/303(d) List -
U.S.
EPA Approval Letter of the 2022 303(d) List – April 22, 2022
Historical 305(b)/303(d) Documents

2020 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Approved by U.S. EPA August 5, 2020
This document can also be viewed online as an interactive story map.
Appendix A – 2020 List of Waters
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2020 Rivers/Streams
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2020 Lakes/Reservoirs
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2020 Coastal
Streams -
2020 Sounds/Harbors
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2020 Coastal
Beaches -
2020 Freshwater
Beaches
Supporting Documents
-
Description
of the 2020 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters -
2020 Listing
Assessment Methodology -
Data
Source/Code Key for Abbreviations for the 2020 list -
Highlights
of the 2020 List -
Summary
of 2020 Listing Decisions -
Table
of Changes between the 2018 and 2020 Lists (Report version) -
Table
of Changes between the 2018 and 2020 Lists (Excel version with added fields) -
List
of changes between the draft and final 2020 Lists -
2020
305(b)/303(d) List of Waters (In Excel Format) -
Comments
Received on draft 2020 305b/303d List -
Response
to Comments -
U.S.
EPA Approval Letter of 2020 303(d) List – August 5, 2020
2018 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Approved by U.S. EPA June 14, 2019
Appendix A – 2018 List of Waters
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2018
Rivers/Streams -
2018
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2018
Coastal Streams -
2018
Sounds/Harbors -
2018
Coastal Beaches -
2018
Freshwater Beaches
Supporting Documents
-
Description
of the 2018 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters -
2018
Listing Assessment Methodology -
Data
Source/Code Key for Abbreviations for the 2018 list -
Highlights
of the Draft 2018 List -
Summary
of 2018 Listing Decisions -
Table
of Changes between the 2016 and 2018 Lists -
U.S.
EPA Approval Letter of 2018 303(d) List – June 14, 2019 -
2018
305(b)/303(d) List of Waters (In Excel Format)
2016 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Approved by USEPA October 4, 2018
Appendix
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2016
Rivers/Streams -
2016
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2016
Coastal Streams -
2016
Sounds/Harbors -
2016
Coastal Beaches
Supporting Documents
-
Description
of the 2016 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters -
2016
Listing Assessment Methodology -
Data
Source/Code Key for Abbreviations for the 2016 list -
Highlights
of the draft 2016 List -
Summary
of 2016 Listing Decisions -
Table
of Changes Between the Draft and Final 2016 Lists -
Table
of Changes between the Final 2014 and Final 2016 Lists -
Response
to Comments -
U.S.
EPA Approval Letter of 2016 303(d) List - October 4, 2018 -
2016
305(b)/303(d) List of Waters (In Excel format)
2014 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Appendix
-
2014
Rivers/Streams -
2014
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2014
Coastal Streams -
2014
Sounds/Harbors -
2014
Coastal Beaches
2012 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Appendix
-
2012
Rivers/Streams -
2012
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2012
Coastal Streams -
2012
Sounds/Harbors -
2012
Coastal Beaches
2010 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Appendix
-
2010
Rivers/Streams -
2010
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2010
Coastal Streams -
2010
Sounds/Harbors -
2010
Coastal Beaches
2008 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Appendix
-
2008
Rivers/Streams -
2008
Lakes/Reservoirs -
2008
Coastal Streams -
2008
Sounds/Harbors -
2008
Coastal Beaches
Appendix
2006 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
Appendix
-
2006
Rivers/Streams Supporting Designated Uses -
2006
Rivers/Streams Not Fully Supporting Designated Uses -
2006
Lakes/Reservoirs Supporting Designated Uses -
2006
Lakes/Reservoirs Not Fully Supporting Designated Uses -
2006
Estuarine Waters Not Fully Supporting Designated Uses -
Table
of Beaches of Concern
Appendix
Appendix
2004 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
2002 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report (
Water
305(b)/303(d) GIS Data Sets
GIS Data Sets (state-wide version) for Georgia's Integrated 305(b)/303(d) Reports can be found here. Also on this page are coverages of river basins, groundwater recharge areas, hydrologic unit codes (HUCs), landfills, RiverCare 2000, and the Georgia GIS Clearinghouse.