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"'.'i ;;..<,~'P~ UNIFIED WATERSHED ASSESSMENT (UWA) CATEGORIES UWA characterizes the condition of waters within a watershed and the overall health of the aquatic system in a watershed, using the following general guidance, as described in the 6/9/98 Final Unified Watershed Assessment Framework . . Category 1: Watersheds in Need of Restoration: These watersheds do not now meet, or face imminent threat of not meeting clean water and other natural resource goals. Any new funding appropriated by Congress for the Clean Water Action Plan will be targeted to restoring high priority Category I watersheds. Category 2: Watersheds Meeting Goals, Including Those Needing Action to Sustain Water Quality. These watersheds meet clean water and other natural resource coals and standards and support healthy aquatic systems. All such watersheds need the continuing implementation of core clean water and natural resource programs to maintain water quality and conserve natural resources. Category 3: Watersheds with Pristine Sensitive Aquatic System Conditions on lands Administered by Federal, State, or Tribal Governments. States/tribes work cooperatively with federal land owners to identify watersheds with exceptionally pristine water quality, other sensitive aquatic system conditions, and drinking water sources that are located on lands administered by federal. state, or tribal governments. These areas include currently designated and potential candidate Wilderness Areas, Outstanding Natural Resource Waters, and Wild and Scenic Rivers. Category 4: Watersheds with Insufficient Data to Make an Assessment. These watersheds lack significant information, critical data elements, or the data density needed to make a reasonable assessment at this time. Colorado's purpose for compl~ting the UWA was to remain eligible for the potentially significant increase in non-point source grant funds available to the State through Congressional appropriation. It is . envisioned that the UWA will be used as a first level targeting tool to focus frequently limited financial and professional resources by identifying watersheds that need attention, either in the near or long term. The completed assessment also allows Colorado to remain competitive for any other Congressional appropriations, financial assistance programs or federal grants that may be made to address issues and activities related to the Clean Water Action Plan. It may also be used as a tool to help focus future monitoring activities, and serve as a public information tool, communicating to a wide variety of audiences a snapshot of aquatic resource issues in the state. PROCESS FOR DETERMINING ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES IN COLORADO The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service jointly convened two -work sessions with a number of agencies and entities to gather surface water data related to the aquatic resources in Colorado. The participants included: U.S. Geological Survey Bureau of Land -Management . Environmental Protection Agency Colorado Division of Wildlife National Park Service Colorado State Soil Conservation Board Colorado Association of Soil Conservation Districts U.S. Forest Service In addition, the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Indian Tribes either provided data for their waters or coordinated on determining categories. The UWA at this time only considers surface water resources. In the future groundwater may be added to the assessment if deemed appropriate. . 2'