Thermal Surface Water Quality Rules Revisions

Thank you for your interest in Wisconsin’s proposed thermal surface water quality rules revisions. This webpage is intended to provide you with general updates to the proposed thermal surface water quality rules revisions, as well as several useful resources to help you better understand the proposed revisions.

The proposed revisions include all thermal surface water quality components of two rules - NR 102 and NR 106.

Green Sheet Package

A “Green Sheet Package” has been prepared for the State’s Natural Resources Board. The Green Sheet Package includes several elements, including a summary page, a background memo that provides a good overview and history of the proposed revisions, a fiscal estimate, the proposed rule language, and a legislative summary that again provides a good overview and history of the proposed revisions.

Click here to read the Green Sheet Package.

Public Comment

Public hearings for the proposed thermal surface water quality rules revisions were approved by the State’s Natural Resources Board on December 5, 2007. Public hearings were held at four locations around the state in January 2008. Written comments may be submitted via U.S. mail or email until February 28, 2008. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. You may submit written comments to:

Mike Wenholz
Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Watershed Management
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, Wisconsin 53707

Resources

The following resources are available to help you better understand the proposed revisions:

A Technical Support Document describes in detail how different components of the proposed revisions were developed, including a description of the data that was used.

Technical Support Document

“Answers to Common Questions Regarding Wisconsin’s Thermal Water Quality Rules” addresses many common questions regarding the proposed thermal surface water quality rules revisions. It is not intended to be a full implementation guide. However, an implementation guide will be developed in the future.

Answers to Common Questions Document

Limit Calculation Spreadsheets allow site-specific data to be used to calculate monthly acute and sub-lethal temperature limits, to determine if limits are expected to be necessary, and to determine expected compliance. One spreadsheet is for unidirectional flowing waterbodies; the other is for inland lakes, impoundments, and Great Lakes waters. An Introduction sheet provides necessary details and instructions for using the spreadsheets. Tables are programmed to work as data is input or changed. Output is both tabular and graphic.

Unidirectional Flowing Waterbodies Spreadsheet

Inland Lakes, Impoundments, and Great Lakes Waters Spreadsheet

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the proposed thermal surface water quality rules revisions you may contact:

Mike Wenholz
Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Watershed Management
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, Wisconsin 53707

608-266-1494

Last Revised: Monday February 04 2008