EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
specific water supply costs with 100 percent of the investment and
OMRR&R costs being repaid by the user.
i. Agricultural Water Supply (Irrigation). The Corps may
include irrigation storage in reservoirs outside the 17 western states
provided that non-Federal interests bear 35 percent of reservoir costs
allocated to irrigation. Non-Federal interests requesting irrigation
capacity as a project purpose should provide a firm expression of
intent to use and pay for the requisite storage, should obtain, as
necessary, water rights or their equivalent, from the state, and
possess legal power to enter into an agreement with the Federal
Government.
j. Agreement Approvals. Approval authority for water supply
storage space agreements is laid out in ER 1105-2-100, Table 4-5.
18-3.
Water Quality Enhancement and Management.
a. Water Quality Standards. The Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1948 (Public Law 845, 80th Congress), as amended in
1956, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1987, established the basic
tenet of uniform state standards for water quality. The Federal Water
Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500) strongly
affirms the Federal interest in this area. "The objective of this act
is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the Nation's waters." While the Act is to be
administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the primary
responsibility for its implementation, including the provision of
adequate water quality standards, is to remain with individual states.
However, state standards must meet EPA established guidelines, and are
subject to EPA approval or revision. Prior to 1986 (see paragraph
18-3(c)), pursuant to Subsection 102(b)(3) of Public Law 92-500, the
need for, the value of, and impact of storage for water quality was to
be determined by the Administrator of EPA and set forth in Corps
reports to Congress proposing authorization or construction of any
reservoir including such storage.
b. Completed Reservoir Projects. Although water quality
legislation does not require permits for discharges from reservoirs,
downstream water quality standards should be met whenever possible.
When releases are found to be incompatible with state standards they
should be studied to establish an appropriate course of action for
upgrading release quality, for the opportunity to improve water
quality in support of ecosystem restoration, or for otherwise meeting
their potential to best serve downstream water quality needs. Any
physical or operational modification to a project (for purposes other
than water quality) shall not degrade water quality in the reservoir
or project discharges. (EM 1110-2-1201, ER 1110-2-8154)
(1) Changes in Water Control Plans for Water Quality
Management. Authorities for allocation and regulation of reservoir
storage in projects operated by the Corps are in the acts authorizing
the projects. Proposed changes in water control plans must be
carefully reviewed to determine the extent of change which may be
undertaken consistent with the authorizing legislation. (With some
18-5
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