Impaired Waters Lifecycle: Identification to Restoration

Clean Water Act Requirements

Impaired Waters Timeline

Read about the Impaired Waters Listing Process and 2008 Timeline for the Integrated Reporting/Impaired Waters List Submittal.

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires states to develop a list of impaired waters, commonly referred to as the "303(d) list." A water body is considered impaired if a) the current water quality does not meet the numeric or narrative criteria in a water quality standard or b) the designated use that is described in Wisconsin Administrative Code is not being achieved. A documented methodology is used to articulate the approach used to list waters in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Water Quality Standards Management Approach

The identification and listing of impaired waters is simply one step in a continual process of waterbody Classification, Assessment, and Management, the ultimate goal of which is to restore and maintain the full potential of each waterbody to the maximum extent possible.

Kohlsville River Restoration

Classification: All waters are classified as full fish and aquatic life under the Clean Water Act "Fish and Aquatic Life Use". All Wisconsin waters are also classified as "full body contact" under the "Recreational Use" Category. Read NR 102. (Read More...)

Assessment: Evaluation of water condition for each Use Designation (Fish and Aquatic Life, Recreation, etc) is prescribed in procedures and guidance. The overall approach for classifying and assessing waterbodies in Wisconsin is described in the Use Designation Guidelines (2004).

Additional assessment criteria for the 2008 listing process are described in the 2008 Impaired Waters Listing Methodology Document. All waters are classified under the Clean Water Act "Fish and Aquatic Life Use" and "Recreational Use" Categories. (Read More...)

Management: Wisconsin's delegated responsibilities under the Clean Water Act include the protection, management and restoration of waterbodies as their condition indicates. In the case of "impaired waters", the management process includes the impaired waters review and listing process below.

Last Revised: 1/25/08 Monday February 18 2008