Soil & Water - Impaired & Impacted Streams Initiative

The Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative (IISI) initially began as the Agricultural Sediment Initiative in 1999 when several districts worked together to survey waters impaired by agricultural sediment on the 1998 303(d) list. Information collected through the survey process was used for an EPA 319 grant that funded several projects to address agricultural nonpoint source pollution in assessed waters.

The IISI has since grown statewide and the initiative's intention remains the same: to encourage Districts to survey waters with documented impaired or deteriorating water quality from agricultural activity and identify opportunities for targeted projects and Best Management Practice (BMP) installation. Since 2007, based on an adopted resolution, a portion of Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) funds called Impaired and Impacted (II) funds are annually directed to the IISI to fund projects identified through the survey process. To date, over half of districts statewide participate in the program and millions of dollars in funding have been requested to complete projects.

Steps to Participate in the IISI and request Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) Impaired and Impacted (II) Funds:

1. Identify up to three HUC 12 watersheds containing waterbodies that are impaired or impacted by agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Participating districts must prioritize ACSP practice implementation in selected watersheds in the upcoming program year.
2. Check if your district has an active and approved survey for the watershed(s) identified in Step #1 (approved list linked here). Approved surveys last 5 years . 
3.  Complete the online FY2026 Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey by April 11, 2025 for each watershed without an approved survey.
4.  Update the district's FY26 ACSP ranking form to prioritize contracting/practice implementation in watersheds identified in Step #1. Include watershed names and 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) and assign points.
5. Determine funding needs for expected practice implementation in watersheds identified in Step #1 in the upcoming fiscal year. If funding needs are unknown by June 1, 2025, districts are not eligible for ACSP II funds in FY26.
6. Determine if at least 85% of the District's FY24 and FY25 II allocations were encumbered or voluntarily returned mid-year for re-allocations. If the District only received one II allocation in the last two fiscal years (June 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025), determine if at least 70% of the District's II allocation was encumbered or voluntarily returned mid-year for re-allocations. Districts that did not encumber or return mid-year enough II funds to meet the minimum percentages listed above are not eligible for II funds in FY26.
7.  Request ACSP II funds by completing the FY2026 Cost Share Programs Strategic Plan by June 1, 2025. Funds may only be used in watersheds identified in Step #1.

        IISI Participation and Funding Request Flowchart

        District Eligibility Requirements Webinar (Previous Fiscal Year)        

Important Considerations:

• Approved IISI survey submittals may remain active for 5 years. Complete new survey submissions if there has been significant changes in resource concerns, water quality, or expected projects from original submittals.
• Surveys can be completed for watersheds with impaired AND/OR impacted waterbodies. 
  • Impaired waters are those exceeding state water quality standards for one or more parameters based on state approved water quality monitoring data. Segments of waterbodies determined to be impaired are listed on the state’s biannual 303(d) list. 
  • Impacted waters are those identified by districts as having degrading water quality as a result of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Districts consider agricultural activity, monitoring data (or lack thereof), water quality classification drops from state records, recommendations from watershed plans, and field-observed resource concerns when making an 'impacted' determination. Reasoning and data is shared in survey submissions. 
• Many resources are available to assist districts in completing all necessary steps to participate in the IISI and successfully request ACSP II funds for the upcoming fiscal year. Review uploaded items and resource links in the following tabs for assistance.

 Contact the NPS Planning Coordinator with any questions regarding IISI resources, survey submissions, and ACSP ranking form updates.

Tutorial videos linked below were originally created to provide additional guidance for the accurate completion of the FY25 IISI survey. The FY26 IISI survey includes the same questions. Contact the NPS Planning Coordinator if you have additional questions about filling out the FY26 IISI survey.

Tutorial Video #1 - available for viewing to help you complete water quality concerns questions

Tutorial Video #2 - available for viewing to help you complete resource needs and district activity questions

The following materials were prepared to assist Districts in completing the online survey and all necessary steps to successfully request Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative funds for the upcoming program year.

• DSWC IISI Survey Webmap – FY26
  • Web map available to view to help districts with completing the IISI Streams and Watershed Survey which displays county boundaries, HUC 12 watersheds with active DSWC approved IISI surveys, 2022 Integrated Report Data, and HUC 12 subwatershed boundaries ***Please note: Users should zoom into the map for 2022 IR and HUC 12 subwatershed boundaries to appear.***
• IISI Impact List FY2026 Webmap
  • DSWC curated web map available to view to help districts determine streams with potentially deteriorating water quality (waters with data inconclusive ratings for fecal coliform and turbidity water quality parameters from the 2022 integrated reporting cycle) ***Please note: Waters displayed in this map only include those waters that received a 'Category 3 - Data Inconclusive' primary IR rating in the 2022 cycle for turbidity or fecal coliform parameters. Some segments included on this map exceeded other water quality criteria and subsequently were included on the state's 303(d) list regardless of their 'Category 3 - Data Inconclusive' primary Integrated Report Category (IRC) rating for turbidity or fecal coliform parameters. Users should zoom into the map for NC DOT municipal boundaries and HUC 12 watershed boundaries to appear.***
• MS Word Document Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey
  • Available for download to help you prepare responses prior to completing the online form
• Impaired and Impacted Streams Initiative Funding Request Process
  • Flowchart identifying the steps to successfully participate in the IISI program
• List of FY2025 Priority Watersheds
  • Pdf list of priority watersheds in FY2025 with where IISI funds are eligible to be used (active and approved IISI survey and prioritized in District FY25 Strategic Plan submittals)
• List of Watersheds with Active and Approved IISI Survey
  • Pdf list of all watersheds with active and approved IISI surveys
• Recorded Webinar - IISI Updates (February 2023)
  • IISI Presentation powerpoint slides from February 2023 Cost Share Programs Training
• Recorded Webinar - Eligibility Requirements for FY2025 II Allocations (April 2024)
  • IISI Presentation powerpoint slides from April 2024 webinar covering eligibility items for FY25 II allocations

The following resource links may be necessary to review to successfully answer questions in the FY2025 Impaired and Impacted Streams and Watershed Survey.