The Monitoring, Assessment, and Standards Section of SWQB is charged with coordinating NMED’s ongoing development cycle for surface water quality management strategies that insure federal Clean Water Act requirements are met. The basic authority for water quality management in New Mexico is provided through the state’s Water Quality Act. This statute establishes the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) and specifies its duties and powers. The WQCC delegates the responsibilities for water quality management activities involving surface waters to SWQB. SWQB is responsible for the development of most elements of the WQMP-CPP. The overarching goal of these planning documents is to move forward with the objectives of the federal CWA’s mandate to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the New Mexico’s waters.
Key planning documents and links
- Water Quality Management Plan/Continuing Planning Process (WQMP-CPP)
- Water Quality Standards (WQS)
- Quality Management Plan (QMP)
- Surface Water Quality Bureau Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
- Comprehensive Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM)
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- Hydrology Protocol
- 10-Year Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (2016)
- Information on Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)