Archived Evaluation Reports: Water
For each report below, you will find the title, the year it was commissioned, the office it is affiliated with, a short description of the content and for some, a fact sheet (i.e., a condensed version of the report).
| Year | Office | Report & Fact sheet | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Office of Water |
Evaluation of the National Water Program Climate Change Adaptation Strategy |
The evaluation identified potential metrics for measuring outcomes related to the 2012 Climate Change Strategy (including a baseline against which to measure progress) and examined lessons learned from implementing the 2008 Strategy to inform implementation of the 2012 Strategy. These results will be used to inform the development of Climate Change Adaptation plans by other EPA media programs and regional offices in support of the Agency wide Adaptation Plan. |
| 2011 | Office of Water | The evaluation documented the kinds of issues and challenges faced by municipalities and communities in Region 1 and other states as they grapple with decisions and come to consensus on whether or not to adopt a stormwater funding mechanism. | |
| 2011 | Office of Water |
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Ocean Dumping Management Program |
The evaluation assesses the environmental benefits of the Ocean Dumping Management Program and the effectiveness of program implementation to determine if available resources are used optimally. EPA is responsible for designating ocean disposal sites (both for dredged and non-dredged material), establishing and managing Site Management and Monitoring Plans for all ocean disposal sites, and establishing environmental criteria for the evaluation of permit applications. Specifically, the evaluation answered four questions: 1) What is the program's theory of change?; 2) What are emerging issues, challenges and opportunities for improving national and Regional implementation of the program?; 3) Given stable or reduced program resources, what are the opportunities for improving the alignment between resource deployment and the program's intended or desired outcomes?; and 4) How can OD measure its success? |
| 2009 | Office of Water |
Evaluation of the Drinking Water and Clean Water Infrastructure Tribal Set-Aside Grant Programs |
Through this program evaluation, EPA sought to determine the extent to which the EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG-TSA) Program and the EPA Clean Water Indian Set-Aside (CWISA) Program have increased access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in Indian country. EPA also sought to better understand and explain how these programs are implemented and which factors influenced program performance. |
| 2009 | Office of Water | The evaluation assessed the state BEACH notification programs. Specifically, the evaluation explored how grantees are using BEACH Act funding to notify the public of beach conditions; which notification methods are the most effective in reaching the public; and how beachgoers' awareness of beach advisories and closures, water quality risks and beach visitation behavior has changed in response to notifications. Evaluation results helped EPA guide states on effective ways to meet communication needs and mandates. | |
| 2008 | Office of Water |
Process Evaluation of Total Coliform Rule Implementation in Minnesota and Texas |
This evaluation assessed the implementation of the TCR by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The evaluation helped provide EPA and each state with a comprehensive assessment of current TCR programs and identify ways to operate more effectively and efficiently to improve water system compliance with TCR. |
| 2006 | Office of Water | EPA Water Quality Trading Evaluation | This evaluation identified lessons learned from successful voluntary water quality trading programs, potential barriers to trading, and opportunities for improving EPA's policies, guidance, and outreach/education efforts to promote water quality trading. The evaluation results will be used to determine how OW can improve its Government Performance and Results Act measure and better assess whether EPA's efforts to support water quality trading programs are effective. |
| 2006 | Office of Water; Region 8 | Wetland Program Development Grants: Assessing Their Role in State/Tribal Wetland Programs | The evaluation assessed how effective and efficient the grant program is in building comprehensive state and tribal wetland programs. The results provided performance information on the strengths and weaknesses of the grant program that can be used in preparation for internal and external reviews (e.g., PART, budgetary) and to ensure that Government Performance and Results Act and National Program Guidance goals are met. |
| 2006 | Region 1 | Evaluation of the Region 1 EPA New England Marina Initiative | This evaluation determined the extent to which the program achieved its intended objectives specifically, why the outcomes were achieved, whether the right performance measures were selected and if the approach can be replicated. It also provides insight and lessons learned about efficient (including cost-efficiency) measurement and integrating evaluation into program design. |
| 2004 | Office of Water; American Indian Environmental Office | The evaluation determined how effective the GAP program has been at increasing the capability (i.e., the administrative, legal, technical and enforcement) of Tribes to implement and develop environmental programs. | |
| 2004 | Office of Water; Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, Total Maximum Daily Loads Innovations Workgroup (Participants from Regions 1, 4, 5, 8, and 10) | Developing Effective Nonpoint Source Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs): An Evaluation of the TMDL Development Process | The TMDL are calculations that are used to determine the maximum amount of pollutants that can go into a body of water. This evaluation assessed how TMDLs can be developed and established to make it easier for relevant parties to implement. This evaluation also helped determine what progress has been made in improving the water quality of watersheds. |
| 2003 | Office of Water | An Evaluation of the Office of Water's Analytical Methods Review and Approval Program | This project assessed the effectiveness of EPA's program for the review of alternative test procedures (ATPs) for use by the regulated community to comply with water quality monitoring requirements. |
| 2002 | Office of Water | Evaluation of State and Regional Water Quality Monitoring Councils | This evaluation examined how effective existing state/regional water quality monitoring councils are. The results were used to inform other entities as they create monitoring councils. |
| 2001 | Office of Water | This evaluation identified the successes, barriers, and opportunities for improving the state-wide watershed management approach. | |
| 1999 | Region 10 | Region 10 Nonpoint Source Program Evaluation | This outcome evaluation examined the success of State non-point source programs. The project was designed to gain an understanding of the effectiveness of State programs in Region 10 and develop recommendations for program improvement. |
| 1999 | Office of Water | An Assessment of the Water Quality Standards Development and Review Process | This evaluation identified ways to reduce the backlog of water quality standards and improve the standards' development, review, and approval process. |