Wisconsin Administrative Code

NR 102.25 Ambient temperatures and water quality criteria for the protection of fish and other aquatic life. (1) GENERAL. In the absence of site-specific ambient temperature data or water quality criteria as determine in s. NR 102.26 or 102.27, respectively, the applicable ambien…

NR 102.26 Site-specific ambient temperatures. (1) peratures by calculating the geometric mean of all monthly averDEVELOPMENT OF SITE-SPECIFIC AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. An ages for each given month. owner or operator of a facility with a discharge subject to regula(g) Alternative meth…

NR 102.27 Site-specific water quality criteria. (1) GENERAL. A water quality criterion developed pursuant to this subchapter may be modified by the department for a particular surface water segment or waterbody. The site-specific water quality criterion shall only be applicable t…

NR 102.28 Cold shock standard. Water temperatures of discharges shall be controlled in a manner as to protect fish and aquatic life uses from the deleterious effects of cold shock.

NR 102.29 Rate of temperature change standard. Temperature of a water of the state or a discharge to a water of the state may not be artificially raised or lowered at such a rate that it causes detrimental health or reproductive effects to fish or aquatic life of the water of the…

NR 102.30 Variances to water quality standards for temperature. The provisions of ss. 283.15 and 283.17, Stats., are applicable to the water quality standards in this subchapter. Subchapter III — Waterbody Assessments and Reporting

NR 102.50 Waterbody assessments and reporting. As required under sections 303 (d) and 305 (b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1313 (d) and 1315 (b), the department shall report to U.S. EPA on the status of the state’s waterbodies and attainment of water quality standards every two…

NR 102.51 Assessment types. The department may conduct different types of assessments to determine the status of waterbody health and attainment of water quality standards, depending on availability of data or methods used to collect the data. The department shall, at a minimum, …

NR 102.52 Assessment protocols. (1) GENERAL. The department’s protocols for assessing waterbodies shall be consistent with the state’s water quality standards and federal regulations and be based on relevant scientific information. The department’s protocols may include component…

NR 102.53 Reporting, public participation, and approvals. (1) REPORT DEVELOPMENT. For development of the biennial assessment report and section 303 (d) list, the department shall assemble, evaluate, and submit water quality-related data, information, and assessment protocols to U…

NR 102.54 Biological assessment of designated uses. Biological assessments conducted under this subchapter are used to determine attainment of designated uses by documenting the health of aquatic biological communities and any observed effects of degradation as described under s.…

NR 102.55 Narrative biological assessment thresholds for aquatic life uses. (1) GENERAL. This section establishes narrative biological assessment thresholds that characterize the biological community condition and that are used to measure attainment of aquatic life designated use…

NR 102.56 Numeric biological assessment thresholds for lakes, reservoirs and impounded flowing waters. This section contains numeric biological assessment thresholds for evaluating the biological condition of lakes, reservoirs, and impounded flowing waters and determining whether…

NR 102.60 Combined assessment procedure for phosphorus. (1) GENERAL. (a) This section establishes a combined assessment approach for making total phosphorus attainment determinations for surface waters in cases specified in par. (b). This approach is designed to account for varia…

NR 103.01 Purpose. (1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish water quality standards for wetlands. Chapters NR 102, 104 and 105 and this subchapter provide water quality standards for waters of the state pursuant to s. 281.15 (2) (b), Stats. (2) Water quality standards are …

NR 103.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Areas of special natural resource interest” means areas as listed in s. NR 103.04 recognized by the state or federal government as possessing special ecological, cultural, aesthetic, educational, recreational or scientific qualities. (…

NR 103.03 Wetland water quality standards. (1) To protect, preserve, restore and enhance the quality of waters in wetlands and other waters of the state influenced by wetlands, the following water quality related functional values or uses of wetlands, within the range of natural …

NR 103.04 Wetlands in areas of special natural resource interest. Wetlands in areas of special natural resource interest includes those wetlands both within the boundary of designated areas of special natural resource interest and those wetlands which are in proximity to or have …

NR 103.05 Purpose. (1) The purpose of this subchapter is to establish implementation procedures for application of the wetland water quality standards contained in subch. I. (2) Whenever the procedures of this subchapter are applicable to an activity, they shall supersede the reg…

NR 103.06 Applicability. The provisions of this chapter shall, subject to the provisions below, apply to all department regulatory, planning, resource management, liaison and financial aid determinations that affect wetlands. This chapter shall only apply to specific activities w…

NR 103.07 Definitions. As used in this subchapter: (1) “Expansion activities of existing cranberry operations” means expansions of existing cranberry beds, “squaring-off” of existing cranberry beds, construction of new cranberry beds adjacent to existing beds, rehabilitation of a…

NR 103.08 Department determinations. (1) The department shall review all proposed activities subject to this chapter and shall determine whether the project proponent has shown, based on the factors in sub. (3), if the activities are in conformance with the provisions of this cha…

NR 104.01 General. (1) XIt is...the goal of the state of Wisconsin that, wherever attainable, an interim goal of water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water be achieved by 1983. . …

NR 104.02 Surface water classifications and effluent limitations. (1) HYDROLOGIC CLASSIFICATION. XSurface watersY as defined in s. NR 102.03 (7), may be classified according to their hydraulic or hydrologic characteristics. For purposes of this chapter, surface waters will be cla…

NR 104.04 Provision for changes. The surface waters specified in this chapter are not intended to be an exclusive listing nor do the specified effluent criteria purport to meet the 1983 water quality goals set forth in ch. 283, Stats. Additions to or deletions from these listings…

NR 104.05 Variances and additions applicable in the southern district. Subject to the provision of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the southern district counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk shall meet the …

NR 104.06 Variances and additions applicable in the southeast district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the southeast district counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha shall meet the criteria for fi…

NR 104.07 Variances and additions applicable in the Lake Michigan district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the Lake Michigan district counties of Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marq…

NR 104.08 Variances and additions applicable in the north central district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate waters in the north central district counties of Adams, Forest, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas and Wood shall meet the cr…

NR 104.09 Variances and additions applicable in the west central district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 104.04, intrastate waters in the west central district counties of Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackso…

NR 104.10 Variances and additions applicable in the northwest district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate waters in the northwest district counties of Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn shall meet the criteria f…

NR 104.20 Wisconsin-Illinois waters. (1) The Des Plaines River, Pitscasaw Creek, Nippersink Creek and Turtle Creek upstream of the Rock-Walworth county line are used for wildlife and stock watering, waste assimilation, warm water fishery and recreation. Dutch Gap Canal and Trevor…

NR 104.21 Wisconsin-Minnesota-Iowa-Illinois waters. The Mississippi River is used for commercial and recreational fishing, industrial and cooling water supply, boating, hunting, commercial shipping and waste assimilation. Water quality shall meet the standards and requirements fo…

NR 104.22 Wisconsin-Minnesota waters. (1) The St. Croix River has high scenic and aesthetic value and is used for recreation, fishing, hydropower, commercial shipping, stock and wildlife water supply, and waste assimilation. An anticipated use involves industrial and cooling wate…

NR 104.23 Wisconsin-Minnesota-Michigan waters. Lake Superior is used for recreation, commercial and recreational fishing, shipping, municipal water supply, industrial and cooling water, and waste assimilation. Lake Superior open waters shall meet the criteria and requirements for…

NR 104.24 Wisconsin-Michigan waters. (1) The Montreal River is used for hydropower, recreation, wildlife and stock watering, waste assimilation and has aesthetic value. Its waters shall meet the standards and requirements for recreational use and fish and aquatic life. (2) Severa…

NR 104.26 Trout waters. Trout waters include the open waters of Lakes Superior and Michigan as well as those classified by the department of natural resources. They must be given special protection as required by the fish and aquatic life standards. History: Cr. Register, Septemb…

NR 104.27 Fish reproduction. Standards adequate to maintain fish reproduction shall be maintained in the open waters of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and in all other interstate waters which are designated by the department as of primary importance in the public interest for th…

NR 104.28 Revision of designated uses. Modification of the uses and designated standards established in this chapter may be initiated by the department, by petition of any interested person, or by the natural resources board, subject to the provisions of ch. 227, Stats. History: …

NR 105.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish water quality criteria, and methods for developing criteria and secondary values for toxic substances to protect public health and welfare, the present and prospective use of all surface waters for public and private …

NR 105.02 Applicability. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to surface waters of Wisconsin as specified in chs. NR 102 to 104 and in this chapter. (1) SITE SPECIFIC CRITERIA AND SECONDARY VALUES. A criterion contained within this chapter or a secondary value calculated…

NR 105.03 Definitions. (1) XAcute toxicityY means the ability of a substance to cause mortality or an adverse effect in an organism which results from a single or short-term exposure to the substance. (2) XAcute toxicity criterionY or XATCY means the maximum daily concentration o…

NR 105.04 Determination of adverse effects. (1) Substances may not be present in surface waters at concentrations which adversely affect public health or welfare, present or prospective uses of surface waters for public or private water supplies, or the protection or propagation …

NR 105.05 Acute toxicity criteria and secondary acute values for aquatic life. (1) MINIMUM DATABASE FOR ACUTE CRITERION DEVELOPMENT. (a) To derive an acute toxicity criterion for aquatic life, the minimum information required shall be the results of acceptable acute toxicity test…

NR 105.06 Chronic toxicity criteria and secondary chronic values for fish and aquatic life. (1) MINIMUM DATABASE FOR CHRONIC CRITERION DEVELOPMENT. (a) To derive a chronic toxicity criterion for aquatic life, the minimum information required shall be results of acceptable chronic…

NR 105.07 Wildlife criteria. (1) The wildlife criterion is the concentration of a substance which if not exceeded protects Wisconsin[s wildlife from adverse effects resulting from ingestion of surface waters of the state and from ingestion of aquatic organisms taken from surface …

NR 105.08 Human threshold criteria. (1) The human threshold criterion (HTC) is the maximum concentration of a substance established to protect humans from adverse effects resulting from contact with or ingestion of surface waters of the state and from ingestion of aquatic organis…

NR 105.09 Human cancer criteria. (1) The human cancer criterion (HCC) is the maximum concentration of a substance or mixture of substances established to protect humans from an unreasonable incremental risk of cancer resulting from contact with or ingestion of surface waters of t…

NR 105.10 Bioaccumulation factor. (1) The bioaccumulation factor used to derive wildlife, human threshold, human cancer and taste and odor criteria or secondary values is determined from a baseline BAF using the methodology provided in Appendix B to 40 CFR part 132. 40 CFR part 1…

NR 105.11 Final plant values. (1) A Final Plant Value (FPV) is the lowest plant value that was obtained with an important aquatic plant species in an acceptable toxicity test for which the concentrations of the test substance were measured and the adverse effect was biologically …