[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 236 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 88681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29440]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9956-29-OW]


National Lakes Assessment 2012 Final Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) final report on the National Lakes Assessment 
2012. The NLA describes the results of the nationwide probabilistic 
survey that was conducted in the summer of 2012 by EPA and its state, 
tribal, and federal partners. The NLA report includes information on 
how the survey was implemented, what the findings are on a national 
scale, and future actions and challenges. The NLA Web site also 
includes findings at the ecoregional scale and allows users to explore 
additional results using a new interactive dashboard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amina Pollard, Office of Wetlands, 
Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water, Washington DC. Phone: 202-566-
2360; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

    The National Lakes Assessment 2012: A Collaborative Survey of Lakes 
in the United States is the second report assessing the condition of 
the nation's lakes. The NLA is one of a series of National Aquatic 
Resource Surveys, a national-scale monitoring program designed to 
produce statistically-valid assessments that answer critical questions 
about the condition of waters in the United States. The key goals of 
the NLA report are to describe the ecological and recreational 
condition of the nation's lakes, how those conditions are changing, and 
the key stressors affecting those waters. Using a statistical survey 
design, 1,038 sites were selected at random to represent the condition 
of the larger population of lakes across the lower 48 states including 
natural lakes and manmade reservoirs.
    The NLA finds that 40% of the nation's lakes have excessive levels 
of phosphorus. Compared to other measures, nutrient pollution is the 
most widespread stressor in the NLA and can contribute to algal blooms 
and affect recreational opportunities in lakes. Using a new biological 
measure, the NLA finds that 31% of lakes have degraded benthic 
macroinvertebrate communities. The report has undergone peer, state/
tribal and EPA review.

A. How can I get copies of the NLA 2012 and other related information?

    You may view and download the final report from EPA's Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/nla.

    Dated: December 2, 2016.
Joel Beauvais,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2016-29440 Filed 12-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P