Impaired Waters Lifecycle: Identification to Restoration
Clean Water Act Requirements
Impaired Waters Timeline
Read about the Impaired Waters Listing Process and 2010 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 ("303(d) list"). A water 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 achieved. A documented methodology describes the approach used to list waters as impaired.
Wisconsin Water Quality Standards Management Approach
The identification and listing of waters as impaired is one step in a continual process of waterbody Classification, Assessment, and Management, the ultimate goal of which is to protect, restore, and maintain the full potential of each waterbody to the maximum extent possible.
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 protocols for the state's impaired waters list is described in the 2008 Impaired Waters Listing Methodology . 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: 11/05/09 Friday November 06 2009
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