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Impaired Waters Categories denotes the management category of the listed water. Category Code / Description: (a) Point Source - Waters (usually waterbody segments) in which the impairment is present as a result of a current discharge from an existing point source. (b) NPS - Waters in which the impairment is present primarily as a result of nonpoint source runoff or from the destruction of habitat caused by nonpoint sources. (c) PS/NPS Blend - Water in which nonattainment or standards is substantially affected by both point source contributions and nonpoint source runoff, and in which both types of sources, each may be contributing to the failure to achieve water quality standards. (d) Contam. Sediment - Waters (usually segments of waterbodies) in which the impairment is present primarily as a result of toxic or other substances which may be affecting either the ecology or uses of the site or moving off-site and affecting other uses of the water at locations beyond the boundary of the contaminated sediment. (e) Atm. Deposition - Waters in which the impairment is primarily as a result of atmospheric deposition of toxic substanced (such as mercury) into the waterbody and sediments resulting in concentrations in fish tissue above levels safe to consume. (f) Habitat/Physical - Waters in which the impairment is primarily the result of destruction of habitat for aquatic organisms due to flow obstructions or physical barriers to the movement of water where aquatic organism populations are impacted by alterations in the natural flow of water at a particular site. (g) Other Factors - Water in this category primarily include large waters, involving basins, or multibasin areas, which may be impaired as a result of several different categories of impairment or there are uncertainties regarding the cause of impairment. (h) 303d Proposed - Waters in this group are watch list recommended for listing. |