The 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report and impaired streams listing shows that Pennsylvania has nearly 16,000 miles out of the 85,399 miles assessed and 38,357 acres of the 74,616 acres of lakes assessed do not meet water quality standards.

The Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting comments on the report, the list of impaired waters and the steps DEP is taking to cleanup these waterways. Comments are due May 27.

The three biggest sources of water quality impairment streams remain abandoned mine drainage, runoff from agriculture operations and urban runoff/storm sewers. 5,543 miles are impaired by abandoned mine drainage, 5,234 miles by agricultural sources and 2,137 miles from urban runoff/storm sewers.

To find impaired streams in your area, visit DEP’s MapPA webpage.

Pennsylvania has 86,000 miles of streams and 161,445 acres of lakes and reservoirs.

For more information visit the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report webpage.

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4/11/2008