The antidegradation rule is implemented in Chapter NR 207 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. The purpose of the rule is to address new or increased discharges to surface waters (river, lakes, drainage ways, wetlands, etc.). The way in which these…
The Clean Water Act requires states to adopt water quality standards to protect aquatic life, wildlife and recreation. Water quality standards consist of three components: antidegradation, designated uses and water quality criteria. Water quality…
Every three years, the DNR reviews Wisconsin's water quality standards or related guidance to determine which standards need development or revision, as required by the federal Clean Water Act. This comprehensive evaluation, called the…
To meet Department development standards, the SWIMS user interface has undergone a redesign. Along with meeting these development standards, the additional goals of this redesign are to update SWIMS with a modern look, create a standardize layout,…
Subscribe for updates about the SWIMS system The Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) is a DNR system that holds chemistry (water, sediment, fish tissue) data, physical data, biological (macroinvertebrate, aquatic invasives…
The DNR is conducting rulemaking on several topics related to surface water quality standards, outlined below.
The Pollutant Load Ratio Estimation Tool (PRESTO) is a statewide GIS-based tool that compares the average annual phosphorus loads originating from point and nonpoint sources within a watershed. The comparison provides a screening tool for…
The Wolf River basin lies in northern and central Wisconsin and drains 3,690 square miles. It includes all of Waupaca County and parts of Forest, Langlade, Marathon, Menominee, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago…
The Headwaters Area includes portions of the Upper Wisconsin, Upper Green Bay and Wolf River basins. Headwaters are the upper reaches of a basin or watershed and thus contain smaller streams and rivers tributary to larger waterbodies. This area…
The Upper Rock River basin lies in south-central Wisconsin's eastern ridges. At the north end of the basin, the east, south and west branches of the Rock River come together in Horicon Marsh. From the city of Horicon, on the south edge of the marsh…