Surface Water_Content Page_Water condition lists

Water Condition Lists

Impaired Waters, Restoration Waters and Healthy Waters

Every two years, Sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to publish a list of all waters not meeting water quality standards and an overall report on surface water quality status of all waters in the state. To comply with this reporting requirement, Wisconsin produces three lists.

  1. Impaired Waters: This is the official CWA 303(d) list. It contains waters with no cleanup plan in place (TMDL, alternative restoration).
  2. Restoration Waters: These are impaired waters with a restoration plan in place. This list was created during the 2020 cycle.
  3. Healthy Waters: These are waters assessed for at least one metric and show no impairment. Waters have been identified since 2014. The list was created during the 2018 cycle.

Prior to the 2018 cycle, the only list generated was the Impaired Waters list. For the 2020 cycle and future cycles, this list is separated into two separate lists: the impaired waters list and the restoration waters list. This change is made to align our methods more closely with the listing methods of other midwest states.

2022 Water Conditions Lists

The 2022 Water Condition Lists were submitted to the U.S. EPA on April 1, 2022 through the ATTAINS database. The final submittals and a spreadsheet of the lists are available below:

2022 Public Comment Periods

The first public comment period on the 2022 draft Water Condition Lists was held from August 16 – October 1, 2022. A total of 17 entities commented on specific listings, the listing process, and issues of concern. The comments and WDNR responses are available below:

A second public comment period was open from November 29, 2021 to January 7, 2022 to gather input on 48 listings moved from the Impaired Waters list to three existing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans. These 48 listings were considered part of the Restoration Waters List for the 2022 cycle. No comments were received for the second period.

 

Restoration Prioritization

Restoration actions can only occur on a subset of Wisconsin's waters at any given time due to the large number of water resources in the state. When the impaired waters list is created a priority ranking of high, medium or low is given to a listing. This ranking, also known as TMDL Status, is based on the current prioritization framework document. For more information on this framework document and TMDL prioritization, visit Surface Water Quality Restoration.

Data Viewing Tools

The Impaired Waters Search Tool may be used to search DNR's database current and previous impaired waters, as well as listing update proposals. 

The Surface Water Data Viewer can be used to search for impaired waters listings and proposed listings in an interactive mapping application. To view impaired waters on the map, click the "Show Layers" button to expand the "Impairments and Assessments" grouping and check the "Impaired Waters Status" layer. The definitions of the listing status categories are provided in the Impaired Waters Search Help Tool.

EPA 5-Part Categorization

Assessed waters are placed in one of five categories depending on if there is an impairment and if there is a restoration plan in place.

Wisconsin further divides categories 4 and 5 into subcategories.

Categories and Descriptions

1 Attains all uses. Healthy Waters
2 Attains at least one use; no use impaired.
3 Insufficient information for an attainment decision.
4 An impairment exists and a cleanup plan (TMDL or alt.) has been approved by the EPA. Restoration Waters
5 An impairment exists but a cleanup plan (TMDL or alt.) is still needed. Impaired Waters

Category 4 (Restoration Waters) Subcategories

Subcategory Description Key Defining Factor
4A A state-developed TMDL has been approved by EPA or a TMDL has been established by EPA for any segment-pollutant combination. TMDL approved by EPA.
4B Other required control measures are expected to result in the attainment of an applicable water quality standard in a reasonable period of time. Alternative to TMDL approved by EPA.
4C The non-attainment of any applicable water quality standard for the segment is the result of pollution and is not caused by a pollutant. No pollutant.

Category 5 (Impaired Waters) Subcategories

Subcategory Description Key Defining Factor
5A Available information indicates that at least one designated use is not met or is threatened, and/or the anti-degradation policy is not supported, and one or more TMDLs are still needed. This is the default category for impaired waters. TMDL needed. Default subcategory.
5B Available information indicates that atmospheric deposition of mercury has caused the impairment and no other sources have been identified. Mercury only.
5C Available information indicates that non-attainment of water quality standards may be caused by naturally occurring or irreversible human-induced conditions. Natural or irreversible conditions.
5P Available information indicates that the applicable total phosphorus criteria are exceeded; however, biological impairment has not been demonstrated (either because bioassessment shows no impairment or because data are not available). Phosphorus only.
5W Pollutant/impairment a low priority for a TMDL because the impaired water is included in a watershed area addressed by at least one of the following DNR-approved watershed plans: adaptive management plan, adaptive management pilot project, lake management plan, or Clean Water Act Section 319-funded watershed plan (i.e., nine key elements plan). Alternative cleanup plan.
Previous Lists

The following table contains previous years' impaired water lists and related documents.

EPA Approval column: Before an impaired waters list is official, it needs approval from the U.S. EPA. These are the approval documents from the EPA to the DNR for each assessment cycle.

Public Comments and DNR Response column: Prior to sending an impaired waters list to the EPA for federal review, the list is sent out for a public comment period. These are the DNR's responses to public comment for each cycle. For additional information, visit Public Participation in Water Quality Assessments.

Year List EPA Approval [PDF] Public Comments and DNR Response [PDF] Additional Supporting Documents [PDF]
2020 Excel Cover letter;
Decision doc;		 Public comments;
DNR response
2018 PDF;
Excel		 Cover letter;
Decision doc;
Tribal consult		 Public comments;
DNR response		 Fact sheet
2016 PDF;
Excel		 Cover letter;
Decision doc;
Tribal consult		 Public comments;
DNR response		 Fact sheet
2014 PDF;
Excel		 Cover letter
Decision doc		 Public comments;
DNR response		 Public webinar slides
2012 Excel Cover letter and decision doc DNR response 1;
DNR response 2;
DNR response 3;
DNR response 4		 Justification for adding Yahara Lakes to Rock River TMDL (Category 4A justification)
2010 Excel Cover letter;
Decision doc		    
2008 Excel Partial approval letter and decision doc;
Full approval letter and decision doc		    
2006 Excel Cover letter and decision doc    
2004 Excel      
2002 PDF;
Excel		      
1998 Excel