106 Water Quality
What is 106 Water Quality?
Since 1987, EPA has provided technical assistance and funding under the Section 106 program to assist tribes and intertribal consortia to understand, assess, and preserve water resources on their lands. For tribes, Section 106 grants are a crucial, dedicated source of funds for developing, maintaining, and expanding water quality programs. These programs are designed to control, prevent, and eliminate water pollution as well as to educate tribal members and the general public.
What is Section 106 Water Quality used for within the Rocky Boy’s Reservation?
Developing and implementing comprehensive water quality monitoring program.
Conducting and reporting on water quality assessments.
Uploading water quality and geographic information into Ambient Water Quality Monitoring system databases to track changes in water quality and ensure consistency in data management.
Identifying nonpoint sources of pollution within Section 319.
Determining the effectiveness of nonpoint source projects or best management practices.
Coordinating water quality protection activities with state and federal agencies and community organizations.
Tribal Adopted Water Quality Standards.
106 Water Quality Program Goals:
Develop and implement water quality ordinances and tribal and EPA-approved water quality standards and gaining TAS under CWA section 303(c) and section 401.
Update Tribal Water Quality/Wetland Standards to include Head Water/Cultural Springs as a Designated use Narrative and Numeric standard.
Update the Tribal Environmental Protection Ordinance (TEPO), Tribal Water Quality Standards (WQS), Wetlands/Aquatic Lands Protection Code (WALPC) and the Tribal Watershed strategic plans.
Continue water quality monitoring, setting up rotation basin approach so that all seven drainages within the Reservation Boundaries are monitored.