(1) The legislature finds that:

     (a) The proper collection and review of credible water quality data is necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the federal clean water act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.);

     (b) The state needs to assemble and evaluate all existing and readily available water quality-related data and information from sources other than the state water quality agency, such as federal agencies, tribes, universities, and volunteer monitoring groups, if the data meets the state's requirements for data quality; and

     (c) Developing and implementing water quality protection measures based on credible water quality data ensures that the financial resources of state and local governments and regulated entities are prioritized to address our state's most important water quality issues.

     (2) The legislature intends to ensure that credible water quality data is used as the basis for the assessment of the status of a water body relative to the surface water quality standards.

     (3) It is the intent of the legislature that a water body in which pollutant loadings from naturally occurring conditions are the sole cause of a violation of applicable surface water quality standards not be listed as impaired.

[2004 c 228 § 1.]