DNR Accepting Comments on Draft Watershed Plans & Impaired Waters List

The Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting comments on Wisconsin's proposed list of waters that do not meet water quality standards and a group of plans for maintaining or improving water quality in 24 of 330 watersheds across the state. An online web presentation is scheduled for January 5, and public comments will be accepted through February 20, 2012.

Background

The 1972 Clean Water Act requires states to assess whether their waters meet the national goals of supporting healthy aquatic communities, habitat for wildlife and opportunities for fishing and swimming every two years. States are to publish a statewide water quality report, develop an "Impaired Waters List" of lakes and rivers that do not meet state water quality standards, and submit plans for maintaining and improving water quality in a certain number of watersheds every cycle.

Impaired Waters List

Wisconsin’s impaired waters list, often referred to as the 303 (d) list, includes more than 700 lakes, rivers, impoundments or streams.

The DNR is proposing to remove 25 lakes, beaches and rivers from the 2012 draft impaired waters list because their water quality has improved and now meets federal standards. 32 waters are proposed to be added to the impaired waters list for the first time because of documentation that they exceeded numeric standards for phosphorus, mercury, bacterial contamination and recoverable zinc and copper. Additional pollutants are being added to 19 waters already on the list.

This is the first time the new phosphorus standard is being used in considering impairment. Waters where phosphorus was the problem pollutant also had to be showing signs of biological impairment such as excessive algal growth or lack of insects sensitive to pollution to be listed as impaired. Of the in 18 of 19 waters already on the list that are getting additional pollutants listed, those waters are found to exceed standards for total phosphorus.

For water bodies identified as impaired, DNR develops analytical models called Total Maximum Daily Loads, or TMDLs, that set pollution reduction goals, identify sources of pollutants, and recommend best management practices. When monitoring shows that the waterbody is again meeting water quality standards, the water body is removed from the Impaired Waters List.

Water Condition Information

The Impaired Waters List assessment process results in updated, detailed water condition information for 23 of Wisconsin's 330 watersheds each year. A watershed represents all of the land that drains to a particular lake or stream.

This post was authored by GLLF staff attorney Emily Kelchen.