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Water Quality::
The protection of water resources within Indian country is a primary concern among tribes. As a cultural resource, tribes have worked extensively to protect the chemical, biological and aquatic integrity of water resources within their boundaries. The availability of regulatory authority delegated to tribes has opened the opportunity for tribes to actively develop strategies to manage programs for water resource protection. The development of water quality standards requires a tribe to assess all waters within their jurisdiction. To monitor and assess water resources, tribes must have the technological capability to identify baseline information associated with watersheds, groundwater, wetlands and the hydrological cycle connecting them together. While there has been considerable investment in water quality development, few tribes have achieved water quality standards. The efforts to achieve water quality standards often exceed preliminary cost estimates established by tribes.
As a result other funding sources are needed to supplement or continue ongoing water quality standard development.
USEPA has increased funding for tribes, however the availability of technical training and education are not suited to the specific needs of tribes. The broad range of technical water training available target states and emphasize programs that are already implemented. Tribes in the initial steps of program development, often do not have access to training that is conducive to their specific and unique needs.
Water quality is a high priority in the United States. USEPA is charged with establishing standards of water quality protection for all waters of the United States. To do this USEPA is considering the promulgation of national core water quality standards that tribes would have the option to adopt based on their needs. It is intended that the core standards would be on an interim basis until tribes develop and achieve their own water quality standards.
The need for self-generated technical capacity and the obligation to fulfill regulatory responsibility demonstrate the need to provide tribes with specific capabilities through technical training, education and professional development.
Contact:
ITEP, 928/523-9555, ITEP@nau.edu>
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