Sometimes nonpoint pollution can be traced to several sources; sometimes it cannot be traced at all. Common nonpoint pollutants and their sources are:

• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;
• Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
• Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; and
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems.

• Household chemicals and soaps running off driveways, roofs and yards into streets and down storm drains directly to streams and rivers.
• Fertilizers and pesticides running off agricultural lands and urban areas such as yards, parks, golf courses and landscaped areas.
• Oil, anti-freeze, and other toxic materials running off roadways into storm drains or directly into streams.
• Soil erosion which comes from construction sites, logging activities and agricultural lands.
• Failing septic tanks that cause both surface and groundwater pollution.
• Livestock and pet waste which create bacteria.

We can all work together to reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. Some activities are federal responsibilities, such as ensuring that federal lands are properly managed to reduce soil erosion. Some are state responsibilities, such as developing legislation to protect water quality. Others are best handled locally, such as by zoning or erosion control ordinances. And each individual can play an important role by practicing conservation and by changing certain everyday habits.

• Don't pour used oil or other pollutants down the storm drain.
• Use non-toxic alternatives to fertilizers and pesticides.
• Keep use of pesticides away from rivers and streams and carefully and follow the instructions on the label. Try planting pest and disease resistant plants.
• When camping, use biodegradable soap and rinse dishes away from streams and lakes.
• Tether riding stock away from surface water bodies like lakes and streams.
• Sweep driveways and patios clean instead of hosing them down.
• Fence livestock away from streams and wetlands. Make sure wastes can be dropped away from water bodies.
• Avoid planting lawn all the way to a stream. Leave trees or vegetation along the banks as a buffer.

Link to EPA's suggestions on what you can do to prevent NPS pollution.

 Goal and Strategy

The goal of DEQ's Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program is to prevent and eliminate water pollution from nonpoint sources of water pollution in all waterbodies in the state. The program focuses predominantly on implementing water quality activities prescribed in water body improvement plans known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Activities are designed to protect and restore beneficial uses (such as swimming and fishing) and to prevent significant threats from present and future activities from degrading water quality.

DEQ recognizes that to be successful in the nonpoint source program, the process must be inclusive and driven by local wisdom and experience. DEQ's strategy is to provide support to local sponsors and partners to guide decision-making on local issues. DEQ provides support through local pass-through and sound fiscal management of the §319 grants, scientific-based technical assistance, and integration of related aspects of water management, such as surface and ground water, water quantity and quality, economic development and environmental protection.

 Nine Program Elements

In 1996, nine elements were identified by the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as necessary components for successful state nonpoint source programs. As outlined in Idaho's NPS Management Plan, the nine elements adopted by Idaho's NPS Management Program are:

1. Explicit short and long-term goals, objectives and strategies to protect surface and ground water.
2. Strong working partnerships and collaboration with appropriate state, tribal, regional, and local entities, private sector groups, citizens’ groups, and federal agencies.
3. A balanced approach that emphasizes both statewide nonpoint source programs and on-the- ground management of individual watersheds where waters are impaired or threatened.
4. State abatement of known water quality impairments resulting from nonpoint source pollution and prevention of significant threats to water quality from present and future activities.
5. Identification of waters and watersheds impaired or threatened by nonpoint source pollution and a process to progressively address these waters.
6. State review, upgrade, and implementation of all program components required by §319 of the Clean Water Act and establishment of flexible, targeted, interactive approaches to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of waters as expeditiously as practicable.
7. Identification of federal lands and objectives which are not managed consistently with state program objectives.
8. Efficient and effective management and implementation of the state’s nonpoint source program, including necessary financial management.
9. A feedback loop whereby the state reviews, evaluates, and revises its nonpoint source assessment and its management program at least every five years.

DEQ ensures these elements for planning and implementation are received and incorporated at the local level by providing continuous information, education, and technical support through the designated agencies and their partner agencies, and by insuring involvement of local Basin and Watershed Advisory Groups throughout the NPS process.

Formulation and adoption of a Nonpoint Source Management Plan started in Idaho in 1974 and has continued with periodic updating in response to changes in federal and state law. In 1999, DEQ revised Idaho's plan to meet EPA's revised Clean Water Act 319 program guidance dealing with nonpoint source pollution. The document outlines Idaho's strategy to implement these guidelines.

Link to the 1999 Idaho Nonpoint Source Management Plan on this Web site.

 Annual Reports

The Clean Water Act §319(h) requires EPA to make an annual determination of the adequacy of each state’s progress in meeting the schedule included in approved state NPS Management Plans prior to state award of grant funds. The annual report is the primary mechanism for enabling EPA to determine whether satisfactory progress has been made by the state in meeting the milestones of the NPS Management Program. Annual reports provide detailed accounts of Idaho's progress toward meeting state program goals, including statewide and sector descriptions, TMDL status and implementation tracking, and grant management.

Link to the most recent and previous years' Annual Reports on this Web site.

A large majority of funds for NPS projects are passed through to the local level for on-the-ground TMDL implementation projects. DEQ currently oversees approximately 50 active nonpoint source (NPS) regional projects in Idaho. To assure that the projects are completed in a timely manner and achieve their overarching goal of cleaning up and preventing NPS water pollution, all projects are subject to field evaluation by DEQ staff. DEQ's goal is to field evaluate at least half of the projects annually and, over a two-year cycle, to evaluate all ongoing NPS projects.

Link to the most recent and previous years' Field Evaluation Progress Reports on this Web site.

 Reports to Congress

Annual reports summarizing successful nonpoint source implementation projects and activities throughout the state are submitted to Congress. The reports include case studies demonstrating measurable benefits for designated beneficial uses associated with Idaho waterways and aquifers.

Link to the most recent and previous years' Reports to Congress on this Web site.

 Environmental Planning Tools and Techniques

Changes in land use can drive changes in local water quality. As the natural landscape is urbanized, the water cycle is shifted from its natural balance to more impervious area. (An impervious area is any surface in the urban or suburban landscape that cannot effectively absorb or infiltrate rainfall into the soil, which may include roads, streets, parking lots, rooftops, sidewalks, etc.) The most common nonpoint source pollutants from communities are derived from (1) a multitude of pollutants from activities associated with impervious surfaces, and (2) the transport of fine suspended sediment from construction site activities.

"Environmental Planning Tools and Techniques: Linking Land Use to Water Quality through Community-based Decision-making" was developed by DEQ to assist communities in preserving the integrity of their natural landscapes. The link between local land use and water quality is achieved through environmental planning that integrates development initiatives around protecting sensitive open space. The document outlines land-use planning measures that integrate alternative comprehensive design principles into site development to protect water quality.

Communities throughout Idaho are encouraged to use site and watershed planning to integrate the broader application of comprehensive design principles that preserve the integrity of natural landscapes. Comprehensive and integrative land-use planning, when combined with natural engineering techniques, helps to preserve and enhance natural processes and/or features present on a site. This combined planning and engineering approach minimizes adverse environmental impacts and maximizes economic benefits in a community. Many of these measures also can enhance local ordinances by encouraging greater flexibility in the land development process.

Link to Environmental Planning Tools and Techniques on this Web  site.

Control of polluted runoff can be a complex process. Polluted runoff may originate from more than one type of land use and from many sources, and may include a variety of contaminants, transported by different delivery mechanisms. Each of these variables complicates the search for a set of practices that will provide a cost-effective solution. The effectiveness of many management practices is determined by a variety of factors such as land use, site conditions, cost, and maintenance requirements. The strategic choice and placement of the appropriate practices or systems of practices in the watershed are critical to their success in reducing the input of individual pollutants and improving water quality.

There are many sources of information for the wide variety of management practices that can be used to protect, maintain, or enhance water quality. While much information is available, finding the best set of management practices for a particular problem can be a time-consuming and confusing process. Knowing how to select the most appropriate practices from among the many options available further complicates the process.

DEQ developed "Compendium of Best Management Practices to Control Polluted Runoff: A Source Book" to provide an overview of practices to control polluted runoff and a broad framework for selecting the appropriate practices for a specific situation. Much of the information in this document has been adapted from information developed by EPA. It addresses the following seven sectors in which polluted runoff may be originated: agriculture, silviculture, hydrologic modification, mining, urban/storm water runoff, transportation, and marinas and recreational boating. This document is designed to help watershed managers, land treatment personnel, watershed advisory groups, and others interested in water quality to identify and select best management practices appropriate for their situations. It can be used as a tool by local governments, governmental entities, nongovernmental organizations, and the general public in planning and implementing water quality programs.

Link to Compendium of BMPs to Control Polluted Runoff on this Web site.

Section 319 of the Clean Water Act established a grant program under which states, territories, and tribes may receive funds to support a wide variety of nonpoint source pollution management activities, including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects. Grants are a critical element in turning Idaho's NPS control program into water quality protection realities in watersheds throughout the state. Each year, DEQ identifies programmatic and geographic targets, solicits project proposals, assembles a proposal package for EPA's review, develops contracts and agreements for disbursement of grant funds, oversees program implementation, and evaluates program accomplishments.

To be eligible for §319 grants, a state must first develop and obtain EPA approval of an NPS pollution assessment report. The assessment report identifies waters impacted or threatened by NPS pollution and describes the categories of NPS pollution, such as agriculture, urban runoff, or forestry, that are causing water quality problems. In addition, the state must develop and obtain EPA approval of an NPS pollution management program. This program becomes the framework for controlling NPS pollution described in the assessment report.

› Link to 319 Grant Project Application

› Link to Presentation on 319 Grant Application Process (pdf 5 mb, 50 slides)

Idaho has fulfilled the requirements necessary to be eligible for §319 grants, and DEQ is the state agency responsible for administering the grant program. Grants are awarded annually on a competitive basis. A successful grant must focus primarily on improving the water quality of lakes, streams, rivers, and aquifers. Funds may be used to address a variety of NPS management and prevention activities, including:

• Agriculture (except those activities covered by a draft or final NPDES permit).
• Urban Stormwater Runoff (except instances covered by a draft or final NPDES permit).
• Transportation (except instances covered by a draft or final NPDES permit).
• Silvicultural or Forestry-related Activities.
• Mining (except those activities covered by a draft or final NPDES permit).
• Ground Water Activities (to the extent identified by the state’s NPS management program, including source water protection efforts that involve regional collaboration or have statewide application).
• Hydrologic and Habitat Modification and Related Activities (including wetlands reconstruction).

Idaho passes through the large majority of its §319 funds to the local level for on-the-ground TMDL implementation projects. Over 85% of funds were passed through in 2001, almost 80% in 2002, and 86% in 2003. Remaining funds are used to support administration and implementation of the NPS Management Program and regional office activities.