118.01.22 Ark. Code R. 002
Pursuant to the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act, (Ark. Code Ann. § 8-4-101 et seq.), and in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., (hereinafter "Clean Water Act"), the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (hereinafter "Commission") hereby promulgates this rule establishing water quality standards for all surface waters, interstate and intrastate, of the State of Arkansas.
The water quality standards herein set forth are based upon present, future and potential uses of the surface waters of the State and criteria developed from statistical evaluations of past water quality conditions and a comprehensive study of least-disturbed, ecoregion reference streams. The standards are designed to enhance the quality, value, and beneficial uses of the water resources of the State of Arkansas, to aid in the prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, to provide for the protection and propagation of fish and wildlife and to provide for recreation in and on the water. In establishing these standards, the Commission has taken into consideration the use and value of the streams for public water supplies, commercial, industrial and agricultural uses, aesthetics, recreational purposes, propagation of fish and wildlife, other beneficial uses, and views expressed at public hearings. The State of Arkansas has an exceptionally large volume of high quality water. With few exceptions the streams and lakes of Arkansas contain waters of a quality suitable for all legitimate uses without the necessity of unreasonable water treatment. Where man-made pollution exists, substantial progress has been made in abatement. It is the purpose of these rules to preserve and protect the quality of this water so that it shall be reasonably available for all beneficial uses and thus promote the social welfare and economic well-being of the people of the State. It is further the purpose of these rules to designate the uses for which the various waters of the State shall be maintained and protected; to prescribe the water quality standards required to sustain the designated uses; and to prescribe rules necessary for implementing, achieving and maintaining the prescribed water quality.
The water quality standards herein established will be reviewed by the Commission at least once each three-year period beginning as of October 18, 1972. Revisions may be made to take into account changing technology of waste production, treatment and removal, advances in knowledge of water quality requirements, and other relevant factors.
It shall be the policy of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (hereinafter "Division") to provide, on a case-by-case basis, a reasonable time for an existing permittee to comply with new or revised water quality based effluent limits. Consequently, compliance schedules may be included in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits at the time of renewal or permit modification initiated by the Division to require compliance with new water quality standards. Compliance must occur at the earliest practicable time, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 122.47.
The Commission may, after consideration of information provided pursuant to Appendix B and Ark. Code Ann. § 8-5-901 et seq., grant temporary modifications to the General and Specific Standards or establish a subcategory(ies) of use(s) for completion of long-term Environmental Improvement Projects.
304(a) Guidance: Refers to Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1314(a), which requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency to publish and periodically update ambient water quality criteria which will be protective of human health and the environment.
Abatement: The reduction in degree or intensity of pollution.
Acute toxicity: A statistically significant difference (at the 95 percent confidence level) in mortality or immobilization between test organisms and a control measured during a specified period of time which is normally less than 96 hours.
Algae: Simple plants (without roots, stems, or leaves ) that contain chlorophyll and are capable of photosynthesis.
Aquatic biota: All those life forms which inhabit the aquatic environment.
Aquatic life: The designated use of a waterbody determined by the fish community and other associated aquatic biota.
Base flows: That portion of the stream discharge that is derived from natural storage (i.e., outflow from groundwater or swamps), or sources other than recent rainfall that creates surface runoff. Also called sustaining, normal, dry weather, ordinary, or groundwater flow.
Bioaccumulation: The process by which a compound is taken up by an aquatic organism, both from water and through food.
Chronic toxicity: A statistically significant difference (at the 95 percent confidence level) in mortality or immobilization, reduced reproduction or limited growth between test organisms and a control measured during a substantial segment of the life span of the test organism.
Commission: The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.
Conventional pollutants: Pursuant to section 304(a)(4) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1314(a)(4), includes biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (nonfilterable) (TSS), pH, fecal coliform, and oil and grease.
Criterion continuous concentration (CCC): An estimate of the highest concentration of a material in ambient water to which an aquatic community can be exposed indefinitely without resulting in an unacceptable adverse effect. This is the chronic criterion.
Criterion maximum concentration (CMC): An estimate of the highest concentration of a material in ambient water to which an aquatic community can be exposed briefly without resulting in an unacceptable adverse effect. This is the acute criterion.
Critical flows: The flow volume used as background dilution flows in calculating concentrations of pollutants from permitted discharges. These flows may be adjusted for mixing zones. The following critical flows are applicable:
For a seasonal aquatic life - 1 cubic foot per second minus the design flow of any point source discharge (may not be less than zero);
For human health - harmonic mean flow or long term average flow;
For minerals - harmonic mean flow, except as follows:
For metals and conventional pollutants - Q7-10.
Critical season: That period of the year when water temperatures exceed 22°C. This is normally the hot, dry season and after the majority of the fish spawning activities have ceased. This season occurs during a different time frame in different parts of the state, but normally exists from about mid-May to mid-September.
Cumulative: Increasing by successive additions.
Degradation: The act or process of causing any decrease in quality.
Design flow: A facility discharge flow of process wastewater that is authorized in a NPDES permit.
Designated uses: Those uses specified in the water quality standards for each waterbody or stream segment whether or not they are being attained.
Discharge: A discrete point source of waste or wastewater entering into waters of the State.
Dissolved oxygen (DO): A measure of the concentration of oxygen in solution in a liquid.
Division: The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality or its successor.
Ecoregion: A large area of landscape with relatively homogenous physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
Effluent: Water that is not reused after flowing out of any wastewater treatment facility or other works used for the purpose of treating, stabilizing, or holding wastes.
Escherichia coli: A rod shaped gram negative bacillus (0.5 - 3-5 microns) abundant in the large intestines of mammals.
Endemic: Native to and confined to a specific region.
Existing uses: Those uses listed in Section 303(c)(2) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1313(c)(2) (i.e., public water supplies, propagation of fish and wildlife, recreational uses, agricultural and industrial water supplies, and navigation), which were actually attained in the waterbody on or after November 28, 1975, whether or not they are included in the water quality standards.
Fecal coliform bacteria: Gram-negative nonspore-forming rods that ferment lactose in 24 ± 2 hours at 44.5 ± 0.2°C with the production of gas in a multiple-tube procedure or produce acidity with blue colonies in a membrane filter procedure. For the purpose of this rule, the genus Klebsiella is not included in this definition.
Fishable/swimmable: Refers to one of the national goals stated in Section 101(a)(2) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251(a)(2),"...provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water."
Groundwater: Water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.
Hardness: A measure of the sum of multivalent metallic cations expressed as calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Harmonic mean flow: The reciprocal of the mean of the reciprocals of daily flow measurements.
Headwater: The upper watershed area where streams generally begin; typically consists of 1st-and 2nd-order streams.
Heavy metals: A general name given to the ions of metallic elements heavier than iron, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc and chromium.
Human health criteria: Levels of toxicants in ambient water which will not manifest adverse health effects in humans.
Hypolimnion: That portion of a thermally stratified lake or reservoir below the zone in which the rate of temperature change is greatest. An area of minimal circulation and mixing.
Impairment: Exceedances of the water quality standards by a frequency and/or magnitude which results in any designated use of a waterbody to fail to be met as a result of physical, chemical or biological conditions.
Indicator species: Species of fish which may not be dominant within a species group and may not be limited to one area of the state, but which, because of their presence, are readily associated with a specific ecoregion. All indicator species need not be present to establish a normal or representative fishery.
Indigenous: Produced, growing or living naturally in a particular region or environment.
Interstate: Of, connecting, or existing between two or more states.
Intrastate: Existing or occurring within a state.
Ionizing radiation: Gamma rays and x-rays; alpha and beta particles, high speed electrons, neutrons, protons and other nuclear particles; but not sound or radio waves, or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.
Key species: Fishes which are normally the dominant species (except for some ubiquitous species) within the important groups such as fish families or trophic feeding levels. All specified key species need not be present to establish a normal or representative fishery.
Long term average flow: An average annual stream flow based on a period of record which reflects the typical annual variability.
Milligrams per liter (mg/L): The concentration at which one milligram is contained in a volume of one liter; one milligram per liter is equivalent to one part per million (ppm) at unit density.
Mixing zone: An area where an effluent discharge undergoes mixing with the receiving waterbody. For toxic discharges a zone of initial dilution may be allowed within the mixing zone.
Mouth: The point of confluence where a stream enters a larger body of water.
Natural background: Ambient conditions or concentrations of a parameter due to non-anthropogenic sources; natural background does not typically interfere with support of designated uses nor the level of aquatic biota expected to occur naturally at the site.
Naturally occurring excursions: Temporary deviation from natural background due to natural events such as severe storm events, drought, temperature extremes, etc.
Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU): A measure of turbidity based upon a comparison of the intensity of light scattered by a sample of water under defined conditions with the intensity of light scattered by a standard reference suspension; NTU are considered comparable to the previously reported Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU). May also be reported as Formazin Turbidity Units (FTU) in equivalent units.
Nonpoint source: A contributing factor to water pollution that is not confined to an end-of-the-pipe discharge, i.e., stormwater runoff not regulated under Clean Water Act § 402(p)(1), 33 U.S.C. § 1342(p), agricultural or silvicultural runoff, irrigation return flows, etc.
Nuisance species: Those organisms capable of interfering with the beneficial use of water.
Nutrient: Any substance assimilated by an organism which promotes growth and replacement of cellular constituents. The usual nutrient components of water pollution are nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon.
Objectionable algal densities: Numbers of total algae which would interfere with a beneficial use.
Persistent: Degraded only slowly by the environment.
pH: The negative logarithm of the effective hydrogen-ion concentration in gram equivalents per liter.
Picocurie: One trillionth (10 -13) of a curie which is a unit of quantity of any radioactive nuclide in which 3.7 X 1010 disintegrations occur per second.
Point source: A discharge from a discrete point.
Primary season: That period of the year when water temperatures are 22°C or below. This includes the major part of the year from fall through spring, including the spawning season of most fishes. It normally occurs from about mid-September to mid-May.
Q7-10: A flow volume equal to or less than the lowest mean discharge during 7 consecutive days of a year which, on the average, occurs once every 10 years.
Regulated-flow stream: Those streams restricted by structures which have the ability to control stream flow.
Seasonal aquatic life: The designated aquatic life use that occurs in some waterbodies only during the period when stream flows increase substantially and water temperatures are cooler. This is normally during the months of December through May.
State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process: A document setting forth the principal procedures of the State's water quality management programs, developed pursuant to Section 303(e) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1313(e), and 40 C.F.R. § 130.5. The CPP is not a rule.
Storm flows: Takes into account all flows and data collected throughout the year, including elevated flows due to rainfall events.
Surface water: That water contained on the exterior or upper portion of the earth's surface as opposed to groundwater.
Synergism: Cooperative action of discrete agents such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the effects taken independently.
Total dissolved solids (TDS): The total soluble organic and inorganic material contained in water; includes those materials, both liquid and solid, in solution and otherwise, which pass through a standard glass fiber filter disk and are not volatilized during drying at 180°C.
Trout fishery: Water that is suitable for the growth and survival of trout, usually characterized as high quality water having a maximum summer temperature of 68°F or less.
Use attainability analysis: A structured scientific assessment of the factors affecting the attainment of the fishable/swimmable use which may include physical, chemical, biological and economic factors.
Waterbodies, waterways, waters: In this document, refers to surface waters of the State as described in Act 472.
Water effects ratio (WER): A specific pollutant's acute or chronic value measured from a specific site ambient water, divided by the respective acute or chronic toxicity of the same pollutant in laboratory water.
Zone of initial dilution (ZID): An area within the mixing zone where a toxic effluent discharge initiates mixing in the receiving waterbody. This is an area where acute water quality criteria may be exceeded, but acute toxicity may not occur.
Existing instream water uses and the level of water quality necessary to protect the existing uses shall be maintained and protected.
Where the quality of the waters exceeds levels necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and recreation in and on the water, that quality shall be maintained and protected unless the State finds, after full satisfaction of the intergovernmental coordination and public participation provisions of the State of Arkansas's Continuing Planning Process, that allowing lower water quality is necessary to accommodate important economic or social development in the area in which the waters are located. In allowing such degradation or lower water quality, the State shall assure water quality adequate to protect existing uses fully. Further, the State shall assure that (1) there shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory requirements for all new and existing point sources and (2) that the provisions of the Arkansas Water Quality Management Plan be implemented with regard to nonpoint sources.
Where high quality waters constitute an outstanding state or national resource, such as those waters designated as Extraordinary Resource Waters, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies or Natural and Scenic Waterways, those uses and water quality for which the outstanding waterbody was designated shall be protected by (1) water quality controls, (2) maintenance of natural flow regime, (3) protection of instream habitat, and (4) encouragement of land management practices protective of the watershed. It is not the intent of the Extraordinary Resource Waters (ERW) designated use definition to imply that ERW status dictates regulatory authority over private land within the watershed, other than what exists under local, state, or federal law. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has responsibility for the regulation of the withdrawal of water from streams and reservoirs, and such withdrawals are not within the jurisdiction of this rule.
In those cases where potential water quality impairment associated with a thermal discharge is involved, the antidegradation policy and implementing method shall be consistent with Section 316 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1326.
Substantially all the waters of the State have been designated for specific uses as shown in Appendix A. In those instances where waters are classified for multiple uses and different criteria are specified for each use, the criteria to protect the most sensitive use shall be applicable.
The designated uses are defined as follows:
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Duskystripe, Bleeding or Cardinal shiner | Banded sculpin |
Northern hogsucker | Ozark madtom |
Slender madtom | Southern redbelly dace |
"Rock" basses | Whitetail shiner |
Rainbow and/or Orangethroat darters | Ozark minnow |
Smallmouth bass |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Bigeye shiner | Shadow bass |
Black redhorse | Wedgespot shiner |
Slender madtom | Longnose darter |
Longear sunfish | Fantail darter |
Greenside darter | |
Smallmouth bass |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Bluntnose minnow | Orangespotted sunfish |
Golden redhorse | Blackside darter |
Yellow bullhead | Madtoms |
Longear sunfish | |
Redfin darter | |
Spotted bass |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Bigeye shiner | Shadow bass |
Northern hogsucker | Gravel chub |
Freckled madtom | Northern studfish |
Longear sunfish | Striped shiner |
Orangebelly darter | |
Smallmouth bass |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Redfin shiner | Pirate perch |
Spotted sucker | Flier |
Yellow bullhead | Spotted sunfish |
Warmouth | Dusky darter |
Slough darter | Creek chubsucker |
Redfin pickerel | Banded pygmy sunfish |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Redfin shiner | Pirate perch |
Blacktail redhorse | Golden redhorse |
Freckled madtom | Spotted bass |
Longear sunfish | Scaly sand darter |
Creole darter | Striped shiner |
Redfin pickerel | Banded pygmy sunfish |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Ribbon shiner | Pugnose minnow |
Smallmouth buffalo | Mosquitofish |
Yellow bullhead | Pirate perch |
Bluegill | Tadpole madtom |
Bluntnose darter | Banded pygmy sunfish |
Largemouth bass |
Key Species | Indicator Species |
Blacktail shiner | Mosquitofish |
Drum | Gizzard shad |
Carp | Emerald shiner |
Channel catfish | |
Green sunfish | |
Spotted gar |
The scope of a use attainability analysis shall be in direct proportion to the project involved and the resource value of the receiving stream. Methods for conducting a use attainability analysis may be found in the November 1983 United States Environmental Protection Agency publication entitled Technical Support Manual: Waterbody Surveys and Assessments for Conducting Use Attainability Analyses. Other scientific methods, including the use of existing technical data, may be used for justifying the removal of a designated use, provided the methods are agreed upon prior to the study. Such other methods may include the use of information previously gathered through technical studies, use attainability analysis, or both. Use attainability analysis procedures may be found in the State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process document. Any waterbody on which a use attainability analysis is approved shall be listed in Appendix A with appropriate criteria.
Significant physical alterations of the habitat within Extraordinary Resource Waters, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies, or Natural and Scenic Waterways are not allowed. In other waters, where significant physical alterations of the habitat are proposed, the Division must be assured that no significant degradation of any existing use or water quality necessary to protect that use will occur. In order to make such determinations, the Division may require an evaluation of all practicable alternatives to the project including: an environmental assessment of the impacts of each alternative, an engineering and economic analysis, and a socio-economic evaluation of the project in the local area.
The Director may authorize, with whatever conditions deemed necessary and without public notice, short term activities which might cause a violation of the Arkansas Water Quality Standards. This authorization is subject to the provisions that such activity is essential to the protection or promotion of the public interest and that no permanent or long-term impairment of beneficial uses is likely to result from such activity. Nothing herein shall be intended to supersede existing state and federal permitting processes or requirements.
Activities eligible for authorization include, but are not limited to:
The Director shall specify the degree of variance from the standards, the time limit of activity, and restoration procedures where applicable.
Such authorization shall not be granted for activities which result in the adverse impact on any federally threatened or endangered species or on critical habitat of such species.
This procedure is applicable in those cases where the Commission chooses to establish less stringent water quality criteria without affecting a fishable/swimmable use or the designated use of Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway, or when the Commission chooses to remove a use which is not an existing use other than fishable/swimmable, Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway.
The Commission may allow a modification of the water quality criteria or the removal of a use which is not a fishable/swimmable use or designated use of Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway to accommodate important economic or social development in a local area, if existing uses are maintained and protected fully and the requirements for public participation in the State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process are met. As a minimum, the following information shall be submitted to the Director before initiation of the public participation process:
Modifications made pursuant to this section may be required to be rejustified for continued support. As community water needs change, or technological advancement, including long-term environmental improvement projects, make treatment options more practicable, the Commission may reevaluate the need for the reestablishment of the more stringent water quality criteria or the removed use.
Any waterbody on which such alterations are approved will be so listed in Appendix A with the applicable changes noted.
The Commission may adopt sub-categories of a use and set the appropriate criteria to reflect varying needs of such sub-categories of uses; for instance, to differentiate between cold and warm water fisheries or agricultural and domestic water supply.
In establishing criteria:
A water quality standards temporary variance shall be developed in accordance with and meet the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 131.14 and must be approved by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The limitation in Subsection A(1) of this section does not prohibit incidental uses of the reservoir that are consistent with the use of domestic water supply.
Unless otherwise indicated in this Chapter or in Appendix A, the general standards outlined below are applicable to all surface waters of the State at all times. They apply specifically with regard to substances attributed to discharges, nonpoint sources, or instream activities as opposed to natural phenomena. Waters may, on occasion, have natural background levels of certain substances outside the limits established by these criteria, in which case these criteria do not apply.
All waters shall be free from substances attributed to man-caused point or nonpoint source discharges in concentrations that produce undesirable aquatic biota or result in the dominance of nuisance species.
The methods of sample collection, preservation, measurements, and analyses shall be in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants ( 40 C.F.R. § 136) or other proven methods acceptable to the.
Where mixing zones are allowed, the effects of wastes on the receiving stream shall be determined after the wastes have been thoroughly mixed with the mixing zone volume. Outfall structures should be designed to minimize the extent of mixing zones to ensure rapid and complete mixing.
For aquatic life toxic substances in larger streams (those with Q7-10 flows equal to or greater than 100 cfs), the zone of mixing shall not exceed 1/4 of the cross-sectional area and/or critical flow volume of the stream. The remaining 3/4 of the stream shall be maintained as a zone of passage for swimming and drifting organisms, and shall remain of such quality that stream ecosystems are not significantly affected. In the smaller streams (Q7-10 flows less than 100 cfs) because of varying local physical and chemical conditions and biological phenomena, a sitespecific determination shall be made on the percentage of river width necessary to allow passage of critical free-swimming and drifting organisms so that negligible or no effects are produced on their populations. As a guideline, no more than 2/3 of the cross-sectional area and/or critical flow volume of smaller streams should be devoted to mixing zones thus leaving at least 1/3 of the cross-sectional area free as a zone of passage.
Mixing zones are not allowed for the parameters of bacteria or oil and grease, or where the background flow is less than the critical flow or where the background concentration of a waste parameter exceeds the specific criteria for that waste parameter.
In lakes and reservoirs the size of mixing zones shall be defined by the Division on an individual basis, and the area shall be kept at a minimum.
Mixing zones shall not prevent the free passage of fish or significantly affect aquatic ecosystems.
A mixing zone shall not include any domestic water supply intake.
For all waters with specific aquatic life use designated in Appendix A, aquatic biota should not be impacted. Aquatic biota should be representative of streams that have the ability to support the designated fishery, taking into consideration the seasonal and natural variability of the aquatic biota community under naturally varying habitat and hydrological conditions; the technical and economic feasibility of the options available to address the relevant conditions; and other factors.
An aquatic biota assessment should compare biota communities that are similar in habitat and hydrologic condition, based upon either an in-stream study including an upstream and downstream comparison, a comparison to a reference water body within the same ecoregion, or a comparison to community characteristics from a composite of reference waters. Such a comparison should consider the seasonal and natural variability of the aquatic biota community. It is the responsibility of the Division to evaluate the data for an aquatic biota assessment to protect aquatic life uses designated in Appendix A. Such data may be used to develop permit effluent limitations or conditions.
True color shall not be increased in any waters to the extent that it will interfere with present or projected future uses of these waters.
Taste and odor producing substances shall be limited in receiving waters to concentrations that will not interfere with the production of potable water by reasonable water treatment processes, impart unpalatable flavor to food or fish, result in offensive odors arising from the waters, or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of the water.
Receiving waters shall have no distinctly visible solids, scum, or foam of a persistent nature, nor shall there be any formation of slime, bottom deposits, or sludge banks.
Discharges shall not be allowed into any waterbody which, after consideration of the zone of initial dilution, the mixing zone, and critical flow conditions, will cause toxicity to human, animal, plant, or aquatic biota or interfere with normal propagation, growth, and survival of aquatic biota.
Oil, grease, or petrochemical substances shall not be present in receiving waters to the extent that they produce globules, other residue, or any visible, colored film on the surface; coat the banks and/or bottoms of the waterbody; or adversely affect any of the aquatic biota.
Unless otherwise indicated in this Chapter or in Appendix A, the following specific standards shall apply to all surface waters of the State at all times except during periods when flows are less than the applicable critical flow. Streams with regulated flow will be addressed on a case-by-case basis to maintain designated instream uses. These standards apply outside the applicable mixing zone. Waters may, on occasion, have natural background levels of certain substances outside the limits established by these criteria, in which case these criteria do not apply to the naturally occurring excursions.
Heat shall not be added to any waterbody in excess of the amount that will elevate the natural temperature, outside the mixing zone, by more than 5°F (2.8°C) based upon the monthly average of the maximum daily temperatures measured at mid-depth or three feet (whichever is less) in streams, lakes, or reservoirs.
The following criteria are applicable:
Waterbodies | Criteria °C (°F) |
Streams | |
Ozark Highlands | 29 (84.2) |
Boston Mountains | 31 (87.8) |
Arkansas River Valley | 31 (87.8) |
Ouachita Mountains | 30 (86.0) |
Springwater-influenced Gulf Coastal | 30 (86.0) |
Typical Gulf Coastal | 30 (86.0) |
Least-Altered Delta | 30 (86.0) |
Channel-Altered Delta | 32 (89.6) |
White River (Dam #1 to mouth) | 32 (89.6) |
St. Francis River | 32 (89.6) |
Mississippi River | 32 (89.6) |
Arkansas River | 32 (89.6) |
Ouachita River (L. Missouri R.to Louisiana state line) | 32 (89.6) |
Red River | 32 (89.6) |
Lakes and Reservoirs | 32 (89.6) |
Trout Waters | 20 (68.0) |
Temperature requirements shall not apply to off-stream privately-owned reservoirs constructed primarily for industrial cooling purposes and financed in whole or in part by the entity or successor entity using the lake for cooling purposes.
There shall be no distinctly visible increase in turbidity of receiving waters attributable to discharges or instream activities.
The values below should not be exceeded during base flow (June 1 through October 31) in more than 20% of samples. The values below should not be exceeded during storm flows in more than 25% of samples taken in no less than 24 monthly samples.
Waterbodies | Base Flows Values (NTU) | Storm Flows Values (NTU) |
Streams | ||
Ozark Highlands | 10 | 17 |
Boston Mountains | 10 | 19 |
Arkansas River Valley | 21 | 40 |
Ouachita Mountains | 10 | 18 |
Springwater-influenced Gulf Coastal | 21 | 32 |
Typical Gulf Coastal | 21 | 32 |
Least-Altered Delta | 45 | 84 |
Channel-Altered Delta | 75 | 250 |
Arkansas River | 50 | 52 |
Mississippi River | 50 | 75 |
Red River | 50 | 150 |
St. Francis River | 75 | 100 |
Trout Waters | 10 | 15 |
Lakes and Reservoirs | 25 | 45 |
pH between 6.0 and 9.0 standard units are the applicable criteria for rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. As a result of waste discharges, the pH of water in streams or lakes must not fluctuate in excess of 1.0 standard unit over a period of 24 hours.
Rivers and Streams
The following dissolved oxygen criteria are applicable:
Waterbodies Streams | Criteria (mg/L) | |
Primary | Critical | |
Ozark Highlands <10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 2 |
10 to 100 mi2 | 6 | 5 |
>100 mi2 watershed | 6 | 6 |
Boston Mountains <10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 2 |
>10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 6 |
Arkansas River Valley <10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 |
10 mi2 to 150 mi2 | 5 | 3 |
151 mi2 to 400 mi2 | 5 | 4 |
>400 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 |
Ouachita Mountains <10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 2 |
>10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 6 |
Typical Gulf Coastal <10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 |
10 mi2 to 500 mi2 | 5 | 3 |
>500 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 |
Springwater-influenced Gulf Coastal All size watersheds | 6 | 5 |
Delta (least-altered and channel altered) <10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 |
10 mi2 to 100 mi2 | 5 | 3 |
>100 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 |
Trout Waters All size watersheds | 6 | 6 |
In streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2, it is assumed that insufficient water exists to support aquatic life during the critical season. During this time, a dissolved oxygen criteria of 2 mg/L will apply to prevent nuisance conditions. However, field verification is required in areas suspected of having significant groundwater flows or enduring pools that may support unique aquatic biota. In such waters the critical season criteria for the next size category of stream shall apply.
All streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 are expected to support aquatic life during the primary season when stream flows, including discharges, equal or exceed 1 cubic foot per second (cfs). However, when site verification indicates that aquatic life exists at flows below 1 cfs, such aquatic biota will be protected by the primary standard (refer to the State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process for field verification requirements).
Also in streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2, where waste discharges are 1 cfs or more, streams are assumed to provide sufficient water to support aquatic life and, therefore, must meet the dissolved oxygen criteria of the next size category of streams.
For purposes of determining effluent discharge limits, the following conditions shall apply:
Lakes and Reservoirs
Specific dissolved oxygen criteria for lakes and reservoirs shall be 5 mg/L.
Effluent limits for oxygen-demanding discharges into impounded waters are promulgated in Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Rule 6, Rules for State Administration of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
However, the Commission may, after full satisfaction of the intergovernmental coordination and public participation provisions of the State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process, establish alternative limits for dissolved oxygen in lakes and reservoirs where studies and other relevant information can demonstrate that predominant ecosystem conditions may be more accurately reflected by such alternate limits; provided that these limits shall be compatible with all designated beneficial uses of named lakes and reservoirs.
The Rules and Regulations for the Control of Sources of Ionizing Radiation of the Division of Radiological Health, Arkansas Department of Health, limits the maximum permissible levels of radiation that may be present in effluents to surface waters in uncontrollable areas. These limits shall apply for the purposes of these standards, except that in no case shall the levels of dissolved radium-226 and strontium-90 exceed 3 and 10 picocuries/liter, respectively, in the receiving water after mixing, nor shall the gross beta concentration exceed 1000 picocuries/liter.
For the purposes of this rule, all streams with watersheds less than 10 mi2 shall not be designated for primary contact unless and until site verification indicates that such use is attainable. Secondary contact use is assumed in all watershed sizes. No mixing zones are allowed for discharges of bacteria.
For assessment of ambient waters as impaired by bacteria, the below listed applicable criteria for E. coli shall not be exceeded in more than 25% of individual samples in no less than eight (8) samples taken during the primary contact season or during the secondary contact season.
The following criteria are applicable:
Contact Recreation Seasons Primary Contact1 | Criteria (col/100mL) | |||
E. coli | Fecal Coliform | |||
IS3 | GM4 | IS3 | GM4 | |
ERW, ESW, NSW, Reservoirs, Lakes | 298 | 126 | 400 | 200 |
All Other Waters Secondary Contact5 | 410 | - | 400 | 200 |
ERW, ESW, NSW, Reservoirs, Lakes | 1490 | 630 | 2000 | 1000 |
All Other Waters | 2050 | - | 2000 | 1000 |
1 May 1 to September 30
2 (RESERVED)
3 For assessment of Individual Sample Criteria- at least eight (8) data points
4 For calculation and assessment of Geometric Mean - calculated on a minimum of five (5) samples spaced evenly and within a thirty (30)-day period.
5 Year-round.
The Arkansas Department of Health has the responsibility of approving or disapproving surface waters for public water supply and of approving or disapproving the suitability of specifically delineated outdoor bathing places for body contact recreation, and it has issued rules pertaining to such uses.
Toxic substances shall not be present in receiving waters, after mixing, in such quantities as to be toxic to human, animal, plant or aquatic life or to interfere with the normal propagation, growth and survival of the indigenous aquatic biota. Acute toxicity standards apply outside the zone of initial dilution. Within the zone of initial dilution acute toxicity standards may be exceeded but acute toxicity may not occur. Chronic toxicity and chronic numeric toxicity standards apply at, or beyond, the edge of the mixing zone. Permitting of all toxic substances shall be in accordance with the toxic implementation strategy found in the State of Arkansas Continuing Planning Process. For non-permit issues and as a guideline for evaluating toxic substances not listed in the following tables, the Division may consider No Observed Effect Concentrations or other literature values as appropriate. For the substances listed below, the following standards shall apply:
ALL WATERBODIES - AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA | ||
Substance | Acute Values (µg/L) | Chronic Values (µg/L)(24-hr Average) |
PCBs | 0.0140 | |
Aldrin | 3.0 | |
Dieldrin | 2.5 | 0.0019 |
DDT (& metabolites) | 1.1 | 0.0010 |
Endrin* | 0.18 | 0.0023 |
Toxaphene | 0.73 | 0.0002 |
Chlordane | 2.4 | 0.0043 |
Endosulfan* | 0.22 | 0.056 |
Heptachlor | 0.52 | 0.0038 |
Hexachlorocyclohexane* | 2.0 | 0.080 |
Pentachlorophenol | e[1.005(pH)-4.869] | e[1.005(pH)-5.134] |
Chlorpyrifos | 0.083 | 0.041 |
* Total of all isomers | ||
DISSOLVED METALS *
Acute Criteria (CMC) - µg/L(ppb) | Chronic Criteria (CCC) - ug/L(ppb) | |||
Substance | Formula X Conversion | Formula X Conversion | ||
Cadmium | e[1.128(lnhardness)]-3.828 | (a) | e[0.7852(lnhardness)]-3.490 | (c) |
Chromium(III) | e[0.819(lnhardness)]+3.688 | 0.316 | e[0.8190(lnhardness)]+1.561 | 0.860 |
Chromium (VI) | 16 | 0.982 | 11 | 0.962 |
Copper | e[0.9422(lnhardness)]-1.464 | 0.960 | e[0.8545(lnhardness)]-1.465 | 0.960 |
Lead | e[1.273(lnhardness)]-1.460 | (b) | e[1.273(lnhardness)]-4.705 | (b) |
Mercury[DOUBLE DAGGER] | 2.4 | 0.85 | 0.012** | NONE |
Nickel | e[0.8460(lnhardness)]+3.3612 | 0.998 | e[0.8460(lnhardness)]+1.1645 | 0.997 |
Selenium** | 20 | NONE | 5 | NONE |
Silver | e[1.72(lnhardness)]-6.52 | 0.85 | ------------- | NONE |
Zinc | e[0.8473(lnhardness)]+0.8604 | 0.978 | e[0.8473(lnhardness)]+0.7614 | 0.986 |
Cyanide** | 22.36 | NONE | 5.2 | NONE |
*These values may be adjusted by a site specific Water Effects Ratio (WER) as defined in 40 C.F.R. § 131.36(c).
**Expressed as total recoverable.
[DOUBLE DAGGER]Mercury based on bioaccumulation of residues in aquatic organisms.
ALL WATERBODIES - HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA
Substance | Criteria (ng/L)* |
Dioxin (2,3,7,8 TCDD) | 0.001 |
Chlordane | 5.0 |
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) | 0.4 |
alpha Hexachlorocyclohexane | 37.3 |
Beryllium | 4000** |
Dieldrin | 1.2 |
Toxaphene | 6.3 |
* Criteria based on a lifetime risk factor of 10-5.
** 4000 ng/L is also represented as 4.0 ug/L, which is the maximum contaminant level under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.§ 300fet seq.
The permittee shall have the option to develop site-specific numerical standards for toxic substances using United States Environmental Protection Agency approved bioassay methodology and guidance. Such guidance may include but may not be limited to Water Quality Standards Handbook; Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses (August, 1994); Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents to Freshwater and Marine Organisms (EPA 600/4-90/027F. 5th ed. December 2002); Short Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms (EPA/600/4-91/002. 4th ed. October 2002) or most recent update thereof.
Only ambient water quality data for dissolved metals generated or approved by the Division after March 1, 1993 will be considered in the documentation of background concentrations for the purpose of developing permit limitations.
Lake | Chlorophyll a (ug/L)** | Secchi Transparency (m)*** |
Beaver Lake* | 8 | 1.1 |
*These criteria are for measurement at the Hickory Creek site over the old thalweg, below the confluence of War Eagle Creek and the White River in Beaver Lake.
**Growing season geometric mean (May - October)
***Annual Average
All point source discharges into the watershed of waters officially listed on Arkansas's impaired waterbody list (303(d)) with phosphorus as the major cause shall have monthly average discharge permit limits no greater than those listed below. Additionally, waters in nutrient surplus watersheds as determined as set forth in Ark. Code Ann. § 15-20-1104, and subsequently designated nutrient surplus watersheds may be included under this Rule if point source discharges are shown to provide a significant phosphorus contribution to waters within the listed nutrient surplus watersheds.
Facility Design Flow - mgd | Total Phosphorus discharge limit - mg/L |
= or > 15 | Case by case |
3 to <15 | 1.0 |
1 to <3 | 2.0 |
0.5 to <1.0 | 5.0 |
<0.5 | Case by Case |
For discharges from point sources which are greater than 15 mgd, reduction of phosphorus below 1 mg/L may be required based on the magnitude of the phosphorus load (mass) and the type of downstream waterbodies (e.g., reservoirs, Extraordinary Resource Waters). Additionally, any discharge limits listed above may be further reduced if it is determined that these values are causing impairments to special waters such as domestic water supplies, lakes or reservoirs , or Extraordinary Resource Waters.
Oil, grease, or petrochemical substances shall not be present in receiving waters to the extent that they produce globules, other residue, or any visible, colored film on the surface; coat the banks and/or bottoms of the waterbodies; or adversely affect any of the aquatic biota. Oil and grease shall be an average of no more than 10 mg/L or a maximum of no more than 15 mg/L. No mixing zones are allowed for discharges of oil and grease.
Mineral quality shall not be altered by municipal, industrial, other waste discharges or instream activities so as to interfere with designated uses.
The following criteria apply to the streams indicated.
Stream | Concentration-mg/L | ||
Chlorides (Cl¯) | Sulfates (SO42-) | TDS | |
Arkansas River Basin | |||
Arkansas River (Mouth to Murray Lock and Dam [L&D #7]) | 250 | 100 | 500 |
Bayou Meto (Rocky Branch to Pulaski/Lonoke county line) | 64* | ER | ER |
Bayou Meto (Pulaski/Lonoke county line to mouth) | 95** | 45** | ER |
Bayou Two Prairie (Pulaski/Lonoke county line to Northern boundary of Smoke Hole Natural Area) | 95** | 45** | ER |
Bayou Two Prairie (Southern boundary of Smoke Hole Natural Area to Mouth) | 95** | 45** | ER |
Rocky Branch Creek | 64* | ER | ER |
Little Fourche Creek (Willow Springs Branch to Fourche Creek) | E R | ER | 179 |
Willow Springs Branch (McGeorge Creek to Little Fourche Creek) | ER | 112 | 247 |
McGeorge Creek (headwaters to Willow Springs Branch) | ER | 250 | 432 |
Arkansas River (Murray Lock and Dam [L&D #7] to Dardanelle Lock and Dam [L&D #10]) | 250 | 100 | 500 |
Cadron Creek | 20 | 20 | 100 |
Arkansas River (Dardanelle Lock and Dam [L&D #10] to Oklahoma state line, including Dardanelle Reservoir) | 250 | 120 | 500 |
James Fork | 20 | 100 | 275 |
Illinois River | 20 | 20 | 300 |
Poteau River from Scott County Road 59 to Oklahoma state line | 120 | 60 | 500 |
Poteau River from confluence of Unnamed trib to | 185 | 200 | 786 |
Scott County Road 59 Unnamed trib from Tyson-Waldron Outfall 001 to confluence with the Poteau River | 180 | 200 | 870 |
White River Basin | |||
White River (Mouth to Dam #3) | 20 | 60 | 430 |
Big Creek | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Unnamed trib from Frit Ind. | ER | 48* | ER |
Cache River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Bayou DeView (from Mouth to AR Hwy 14) | 48 | 37.3 | 411.3 |
Bayou DeView (from AR Hwy 14 to Whistle Ditch) | 48 | 38 | 411.3 |
Big Creek (from Whistle Ditch to mouth of Unnamed trib) | 58 | 49 | ER |
Unnamed trib to Big Creek | 71 | 60 | 453 |
Lost Creek Ditch | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Little Red River (including Greers Ferry Reservoir) | 20 | 30 | 100 |
Black River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Strawberry River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Spring River | 20 | 30 | 290 |
Eleven Point River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Stennitt Creek from Brushy Creek to Spring River | ER | 43.3 | 456* |
Brushy Creek from Unnamed Tributary to | ER | 126 | 549 |
Stennitt Creek | |||
Unnamed Tributary from Vulcan Outfall | ER | 260 | 725 |
001 to Brushy Creek | |||
South Fork Spring River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Myatt Creek | 20 | 30 | 270 |
Current River | 20 | 30 | 270 |
White River (Dam #3 to Missouri state line, including Bull | |||
Shoals Reservoir) | 20 | 20 | 180 |
Buffalo River | 20 | 20 | 200 |
Crooked Creek (Harrison WWTP outfall to Monitoring | 22.6 | 24.4 | 269 |
Station WHI0193) | |||
Crooked Creek (Monitoring Station WHI0193 to the | 20 | 20 | 238 |
mouth) | |||
White River (WHI0052 to Missouri state line, including | 20 | 20 | 160 |
Beaver Reservoir) | |||
Kings River | 20 | 20 | 150 |
Holman Creek from the confluence with Town | 180 | 48 | 621 |
Branch downstream to the confluence with War | |||
Eagle Creek | |||
Town Branch from point of discharge of the City | 223 | 61 | 779 |
of Huntsville WWTP downstream to the | |||
confluence with Holman Creek | |||
White River from WR-02 to WHI0052 | 30 | 40 | 237 |
White River from Noland WWTP to 0.4 miles downstream | 44 | 79 | 362 |
(WR-02) | |||
White River headwaters to Noland WWTP | 20 | 20 | 160 |
West Fork White River | 20 | 20 | 150 |
St. Francis River Basin | |||
St. Francis River (Mouth to 36° N. Lat.) | 10 | 30 | 330 |
L'Anguille River | 20 | 30 | 235 |
Tyronza River (headwaters to Ditch No. 6 confluence) | 20 | 30 | 350 |
Ditch No. 27 | ER | 480 | 1200 |
Ditch No. 6 (mouth to Ditch No. 27 confluence) | ER | 210 | 630 |
Tyronza River (mouth to Ditch No. 6 confluence) | 20 | 60 | 350 |
Little River | 20 | 30 | 365 |
Pemiscot Bayou | 20 | 30 | 380 |
St. Francis River (36° N. Lat. to 36° 30' N. Lat.) | 10 | 20 | 180 |
Ouachita River Basin | |||
Bayou Bartholomew | 30 | 30 | 220 |
Chemin-A-Haut Creek | 50 | 20 | 500 |
Overflow Creek | 20 | 30 | 170 |
Bayou Macon | 30 | 40 | 330 |
Boeuf River | 90 | 30 | 460 |
Big Cornie Creek | 230 | 30 | 500 |
Little Cornie Creek | 200 | 10 | 400 |
Three Creeks | 250 | 10 | 500 |
Little Cornie Bayou | 200 | 20 | 500 |
Walker Branch | 180 | ER | 970 |
Gum Creek | 104* | ER | 311* |
Bayou de L'Outre above Gum Creek | 250 | 90 | 500 |
Bayou de L'Outre below Gum Creek | 250 | 90 | 750 |
Ouachita River (Louisiana state line to Camden) | 160 | 40 | 350 |
Saline River | 20 | 40 | 120 |
Saline River east bifurcation at Holly Creek | ER | 250 | 500 |
Hurricane Creek above Hurricane Lake Dam | 20 | 250 | 500 |
Hurricane Creek from Hurricane Lk. Dam to Ben Ball | |||
Bridge | 125 | 730 | 1210 |
Hurricane Creek from Ben Ball Bridge to US Hwy.270 | 125 | 700 | 1200 |
Hurricane Creek from Hwy 270 to Saline River | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
Alcoa unnamed tribs to Hurricane Creek | 125 | 700 | 1100 |
Dry Lost Creek and tribs | ER | 560 | 880 |
Lost Creek to Little Lost Creek | ER | 510 | 820 |
Lost Creek below Little Lost Creek | ER | 300 | 550 |
Holly Creek | 30 | 860 | 1600 |
Moro Creek | 30 | 20 | 260 |
Smackover Creek | 250 | 30 | 500 |
Boggy Creek - from the discharge for Clean Harbors El | 631 | 63 | 1360 |
Dorado LLC to the confluence of Bayou de Loutre | |||
Ouachita River (Camden to Carpenter Dam) | 50 | 40 | 150 |
Town Creek below Acme tributary | ER | 200 | 700 |
Unnamed trib from Acme | ER | 330 | 830 |
Little Missouri River | 10 | 90 | 180 |
Muddy Fork Little Missouri | ER | 250 | 500 |
Bluff Creek and unnamed trib. | ER | 651* | 1033* |
Garland Creek | 250 | 250 | 500 |
South Fork Caddo | ER | 60 | 128 |
Back Valley Creek | ER | 250 | 500 |
Cove Creek from the confluence with Chamberlain | |||
Creek to the Ouachita River | 250*** | 500*** | |
Chamberlain from headwaters to confluence | |||
with Cove Creek | 68*** | 1,384*** | 2,261*** |
Lucinda from the confluence of Rusher Creek | |||
to the confluence with Cove Creek | 250*** | 500*** | |
Rusher Creek from the confluence of the East and West Forks to confluence with | |||
Lucinda Creek | 250*** | 500*** | |
Reyburn Creek from headwaters to confluence of | |||
Francois Creek | 250*** | 500*** | |
Scull Creek from a point approximately 350 feet upstream of Clearwater Lake to Clearwater Lake (including Clearwater Lake) and from Clearwater Lake dam to confluence Reyburn | |||
Creek | 250*** | 500*** | |
Wilson Creek from its mouth upstream approx. | |||
1.7 miles at the UMETCO property line | 56 | 250 | 500 |
Ouachita River (Carpenter Dam to Headwaters, | |||
including Lake Ouachita tributaries) | 10 | 10 | 100 |
Red River Basin | |||
Bayou Dorcheat | 100 | 16* | 250 |
Albemarle unnamed trib (AUT) to Horsehead Creek | 137* | ER | 383* |
Horsehead Creek from AUT to mouth | 85* | ER | 260* |
Cypress Creek | 250 | 70 | 500 |
Crooked Creek | 250 | 10 | 500 |
Dismukes Creek | 26* | ER | 157* |
Big Creek from Dismukes to Bayou Dorcheat | 20* | ER | 200* |
Bois d'Arc Creek from Caney Creek to Red River | 113* | 283* | 420* |
Caney Creek | 113* | 283* | 420* |
Bodcau Creek | 250 | 70 | 500 |
Poston Bayou | 120 | 40 | 500 |
Kelley Bayou | 90 | 40 | 500 |
Red River from Arkansas/Oklahoma state line to mouth of | |||
the Little River | 250 | 200 | 850 |
Red River from mouth of the Little River to the | 250 | 200 | 780 |
Arkansas/Louisiana State Line | |||
Sulphur River | 120 | 100 | 500 |
Days Creek | 250 | 250 | 500 |
McKinney Bayou | 180 | 60 | 480 |
Little River from Oklahoma State line to Millwood | 20 | 20 | 100 |
Lake | |||
Little River from Millwood Lake to the Red River | 20 | 20 | 138[DOUBLE DAGGER] |
Saline River | 20 | 10 | 90 |
Mine Creek from Hwy 27 to Millwood Lake | 90 | 65 | 700 |
Cossatot River | 10 | 15 | 70 |
Upper Rolling Fork | 20 | 20 | 100 |
Rolling Fork from unnamed trib A to DeQueen Lake | 130 | 70 | 670 |
Unnamed tribs A and A1 at Grannis | 135 | 70 | 700 |
Mountain Fork | 20 | 20 | 110 |
Mississippi River (Louisiana state line to Arkansas River) | 60 | 150 | 425 |
Mississippi River (Arkansas River to Missouri state line) | 60 | 175 | 450 |
ER - ecoregion value
* developed using background flow of 4 cfs
** These criteria shall apply to all tributaries of Bayou Meto and Bayou Two Prairie listed in Appendix A Any modification of these values must be made in accordance with Rule 2.306.
[DAGGER] Not applicable for Clean Water Act purposes until approved by EPA.
***These temporary standards variations are effective for 148 months from EPA's approval of the EIP on January 7, 2020.
The following values were determined from Arkansas's least-disturbed ecoregion reference streams and are considered to be the maximum naturally occurring levels. For waterbodies not listed above, any discharge that results in instream concentrations more than 1/3 higher than these values for chlorides (Cl-) and sulfates (SO42-) or more than 15 mg/L, whichever is greater, is considered to be a significant modification of the maximum naturally occurring values. These waterbodies should be considered as candidates for site specific criteria development in accordance with Rules 2.306 and 2.308. Similarly, site specific criteria development should be considered if the following TDS values are exceeded after being increased by the sum of the increases to Cl- and SO42-. Such criteria may be developed only in accordance with Rules 2.306 and 2.308. The values listed in the table below are not intended to be used by the Division to evaluate attainment of water quality standards for assessment purposes.
ECOREGION REFERENCE STREAM VALUES (mg/L)
Ecoregion | Chlorides (Cl-) | Sulfates (SO42-) | TDS |
Ozark Highlands | 13 | 17 | 240 |
Boston Mountains | 13 | 9 | 85 |
Arkansas River Valley | 10 | 13 | 103 |
Ouachita Mountains | 6 | 15 | 128 |
Gulf Coastal Plains | 14 | 31 | 123 |
Delta | 36 | 28 | 390 |
In no case shall discharges cause concentrations in any waterbody to exceed 250, 250, and 500 mg/L of chlorides, sulfates, and total dissolved solids, respectively, or cause concentrations to exceed the applicable criteria, except in accordance with Rules 2.306 and 2.308.
The total ammonia nitrogen (N) criteria and the frequency of occurrence are as follows:
pH-Dependent Values of the CMC (Acute Criterion)- mg/L
pH | Salmonids* Present | Salmonids Absent |
6.5 | 32.6 | 48.8 |
6.6 | 31.3 | 46.8 |
6.7 | 29.8 | 44.6 |
6.8 | 28.1 | 42.0 |
6.9 | 26.2 | 39.1 |
7.0 | 24.1 | 36.1 |
7.1 | 22.0 | 32.8 |
7.2 | 19.7 | 29.5 |
7.3 | 17.5 | 26.2 |
7.4 | 15.4 | 23.0 |
7.5 | 13.3 | 19.9 |
7.6 | 11.4 | 17.0 |
7.7 | 9.65 | 14.4 |
7.8 | 8.11 | 12.1 |
7.9 | 6.77 | 10.1 |
8.0 | 5.62 | 8.40 |
8.1 | 4.64 | 6.95 |
8.2 | 3.83 | 5.72 |
8.3 | 3.15 | 4.71 |
8.4 | 2.59 | 3.88 |
8.5 | 2.14 | 3.20 |
8.6 | 1.77 | 2.65 |
8.7 | 1.47 | 2.20 |
8.8 | 1.23 | 1.84 |
8.9 | 1.04 | 1.56 |
9.0 | 0.885 | 1.32 |
* Family of fishes that includes trout
Temperature and pH-Dependent Values of the CCC (Chronic Criterion) for Fish Early Life Stages Present - mg/L
Temperature °C | ||||||||||
pH | 0 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
6.5 | 6.67 | 6.67 | 6.06 | 5.33 | 4.68 | 4.12 | 3.62 | 3.18 | 2.80 | 2.46 |
6.6 | 6.57 | 6.57 | 5.97 | 5.25 | 4.61 | 4.05 | 3.56 | 3.13 | 2.75 | 2.42 |
6.7 | 6.44 | 6.44 | 5.86 | 5.15 | 4.52 | 3.98 | 3.50 | 3.07 | 2.70 | 2.37 |
6.8 | 6.29 | 6.29 | 5.72 | 5.03 | 4.42 | 3.89 | 3.42 | 3.00 | 2.64 | 2.32 |
6.9 | 6.12 | 6.12 | 5.56 | 4.89 | 4.30 | 3.78 | 3.32 | 2.92 | 2.57 | 2.25 |
7.0 | 5.91 | 5.91 | 5.37 | 4.72 | 4.15 | 3.65 | 3.21 | 2.82 | 2.48 | 2.18 |
7.1 | 5.67 | 5.67 | 5.15 | 4.53 | 3.98 | 3.50 | 3.08 | 2.70 | 2.38 | 2.09 |
7.2 | 5.39 | 5.39 | 4.90 | 4.31 | 3.78 | 3.33 | 2.92 | 2.57 | 2.26 | 1.99 |
7.3 | 5.08 | 5.08 | 4.61 | 4.06 | 3.57 | 3.13 | 2.76 | 2.42 | 2.13 | 1.87 |
7.4 | 4.73 | 4.73 | 4.30 | 3.78 | 3.32 | 2.92 | 2.57 | 2.26 | 1.98 | 1.74 |
7.5 | 4.36 | 4.36 | 3.97 | 3.49 | 3.06 | 2.69 | 2.37 | 2.08 | 1.83 | 1.61 |
7.6 | 3.98 | 3.98 | 3.61 | 3.18 | 2.79 | 2.45 | 2.16 | 1.90 | 1.67 | 1.47 |
7.7 | 3.58 | 3.58 | 3.25 | 2.86 | 2.51 | 2.21 | 1.94 | 1.71 | 1.50 | 1.32 |
7.8 | 3.18 | 3.18 | 2.89 | 2.54 | 2.23 | 1.96 | 1.73 | 1.52 | 1.33 | 1.17 |
7.9 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 2.54 | 2.24 | 1.96 | 1.73 | 1.52 | 1.33 | 1.17 | 1.03 |
8.0 | 2.43 | 2.43 | 2.21 | 1.94 | 1.71 | 1.50 | 1.32 | 1.16 | 1.02 | 0.897 |
8.1 | 2.10 | 2.10 | 1.91 | 1.68 | 1.47 | 1.29 | 1.14 | 1.00 | 0.879 | 0.773 |
8.2 | 1.79 | 1.79 | 1.63 | 1.43 | 1.26 | 1.11 | 0.973 | 0.855 | 0.752 | 0.661 |
8.3 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.39 | 1.22 | 1.07 | 0.941 | 0.827 | 0.727 | 0.639 | 0.562 |
8.4 | 1.29 | 1.29 | 1.17 | 1.03 | 0.906 | 0.796 | 0.700 | 0.615 | 0.541 | 0.475 |
8.5 | 1.09 | 1.09 | 0.990 | 0.870 | 0.765 | 0.672 | 0.591 | 0.520 | 0.457 | 0.401 |
8.6 | 0.920 | 0.920 | 0.836 | 0.735 | 0.646 | 0.568 | 0.499 | 0.439 | 0.386 | 0.339 |
8.7 | 0.778 | 0.778 | 0.707 | 0.622 | 0.547 | 0.480 | 0.422 | 0.371 | 0.326 | 0.287 |
8.8 | 0.661 | 0.661 | 0.601 | 0.528 | 0.464 | 0.408 | 0.359 | 0.315 | 0.277 | 0.244 |
8.9 | 0.565 | 0.565 | 0.513 | 0.451 | 0.397 | 0.349 | 0.306 | 0.269 | 0.237 | 0.208 |
9.0 | 0.486 | 0.486 | 0.442 | 0.389 | 0.342 | 0.300 | 0.264 | 0.232 | 0.204 | 0.179 |
Temperature and pH-Dependent Values of the CCC (Chronic Criterion)
for Fish Early Life Stages Absent - mg/L
Temperature °C
Temperature °C | ||||||||||
pH | 0-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15* | 16* |
6.5 | 10.8 | 10.1 | 9.51 | 8.92 | 8.36 | 7.84 | 7.35 | 6.89 | 6.46 | 6.06 |
6.6 | 10.7 | 9.99 | 9.37 | 8.79 | 8.24 | 7.72 | 7.24 | 6.79 | 6.36 | 5.97 |
6.7 | 10.5 | 9.81 | 9.20 | 8.62 | 8.08 | 7.58 | 7.11 | 6.66 | 6.25 | 5.86 |
6.8 | 10.2 | 9.58 | 8.98 | 8.42 | 7.90 | 7.40 | 6.94 | 6.51 | 6.10 | 5.72 |
6.9 | 9.93 | 9.31 | 8.73 | 8.19 | 7.68 | 7.20 | 6.75 | 6.33 | 5.93 | 5.56 |
7.0 | 9.60 | 9.00 | 8.43 | 7.91 | 7.41 | 6.95 | 6.52 | 6.11 | 5.73 | 5.37 |
7.1 | 9.20 | 8.63 | 8.09 | 7.58 | 7.11 | 6.67 | 6.25 | 5.86 | 5.49 | 5.15 |
7.2 | 8.75 | 8.20 | 7.69 | 7.21 | 6.76 | 6.34 | 5.94 | 5.57 | 5.22 | 4.90 |
7.3 | 8.24 | 7.73 | 7.25 | 6.79 | 6.37 | 5.97 | 5.60 | 5.25 | 4.92 | 4.61 |
7.4 | 7.69 | 7.21 | 6.76 | 6.33 | 5.94 | 5.57 | 5.22 | 4.89 | 4.59 | 4.30 |
7.5 | 7.09 | 6.64 | 6.23 | 5.84 | 5.48 | 5.13 | 4.81 | 4.51 | 4.23 | 3.97 |
7.6 | 6.46 | 6.05 | 5.67 | 5.32 | 4.99 | 4.68 | 4.38 | 4.11 | 3.85 | 3.61 |
7.7 | 5.81 | 5.45 | 5.11 | 4.79 | 4.49 | 4.21 | 3.95 | 3.70 | 3.47 | 3.25 |
7.8 | 5.17 | 4.84 | 4.54 | 4.26 | 3.99 | 3.74 | 3.51 | 3.29 | 3.09 | 2.89 |
7.9 | 4.54 | 4.26 | 3.99 | 3.74 | 3.51 | 3.29 | 3.09 | 2.89 | 2.71 | 2.54 |
8.0 | 3.95 | 3.70 | 3.47 | 3.26 | 3.05 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.52 | 2.36 | 2.21 |
8.1 | 3.41 | 3.19 | 2.99 | 2.81 | 2.63 | 2.47 | 2.31 | 2.17 | 2.03 | 1.91 |
8.2 | 2.91 | 2.73 | 2.56 | 2.40 | 2.25 | 2.11 | 1.98 | 1.85 | 1.74 | 1.63 |
8.3 | 2.47 | 2.32 | 2.18 | 2.04 | 1.91 | 1.79 | 1.68 | 1.58 | 1.48 | 1.39 |
8.4 | 2.09 | 1.96 | 1.84 | 1.73 | 1.62 | 1.52 | 1.42 | 1.33 | 1.25 | 1.17 |
8.5 | 1.77 | 1.66 | 1.55 | 1.46 | 1.37 | 1.28 | 1.20 | 1.13 | 1.06 | 0.990 |
8.6 | 1.49 | 1.40 | 1.31 | 1.23 | 1.15 | 1.08 | 1.01 | 0.951 | 0.892 | 0.836 |
8.7 | 1.26 | 1.18 | 1.11 | 1.04 | 0.976 | 0.915 | 0.858 | 0.805 | 0.754 | 0.707 |
8.8 | 1.07 | 1.01 | 0.944 | 0.885 | 0.829 | 0.778 | 0.729 | 0.684 | 0.641 | 0.601 |
8.9 | 0.917 | 0.860 | 0.806 | 0.756 | 0.709 | 0.664 | 0.623 | 0.584 | 0.548 | 0.513 |
9.0 | 0.790 | 0.740 | 0.694 | 0.651 | 0.610 | 0.572 | 0.536 | 0.503 | 0.471 | 0.442 |
* At 15° C and above, the criterion for fish Early Life Stage absent is the same as the criterion for fish Early Life Stage present.
This rule is effective ten (10) days after filing with the Secretary of State, The State Library, and the Bureau of Legislative Research.
APPENDIX A
Designated Uses, Specific Standards, and Maps of Waters of the State by Ecoregions
APPENDIX A: MAP OF ECOREGIONS OF ARKANSAS
DESIGNATED USES: OZARK HIGHLANDS ECOREGION
(Plates OH-1, OH-2, OH-3, OH-4)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Current River (OH-4)
Eleven Point River (OH-4)
Strawberry River (OH-3, OH-4)
Little Strawberry River (OH-3)
Spring River, including its tributaries: Field Creek, Big Creek, English Creek, Gut Creek and Myatt Creek (OH-4)
South Fork Spring River (OH-3, OH-4)
North Sylamore Creek (OH-3)
Buffalo River (OH-2, OH-3)
Kings River (OH-2)
Bull Shoals Reservoir (OH-2, OH-3)
Natural and Scenic Waterways
Strawberry River from headwaters to Sharp-Izard County Line (OH-3, OH-4)
Kings River - that segment in Madison County (OH-2)
Buffalo River (OH-2, OH-3)
North Sylamore Creek (OH-3)*
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Cave Springs Cave, Logan Cave and numerous springs and spring-fed tributaries which support southern cavefish, Ozark cavefish, Arkansas darter, least darter, Oklahoma salamander, cave snails, cave crawfish and unique invertebrates (OH-1, OH-2, OH-3)
Strawberry River - location of Strawberry River darter (OH-3, OH-4)
Little Strawberry River - location of the Strawberry River darter (OH-3)
Spring River - snuffbox and pink mucket mussels; Ozark hellbender (OH-4)
Rock Creek - snuffbox and pink mucket mussels; Ozark hellbender (OH-4)
Eleven Point River - location of Ozark hellbender (OH-4)
Current River - location of flat floater and pink mucket mussels (OH-4)
Illinois River - Neosho mucket (OH-1)
Primary Contact Recreation- all streams with watersheds of greater than 10 mi2 and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation- all waters**
Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water Supply- all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters
Bull Shoals Reservoir - lower portion (OH-2)
White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Dam #3 (OH-3)
North Fork White River (OH-3)
Spring River from Mammoth Springs to South Fork Spring River (OH-4)
Upper White River from Beaver Dam to Missouri state line (OH-1)
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
Streams
Seasonal Ozark Highlands aquatic life use - all streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Ozark Highlands aquatic life use - all streams with watersheds of 10 mi2 and larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1 cfs
*As designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
Site Specific Designated Use Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis or Other Investigations
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
OH-1 | 1 | Railroad Hollow Creek | No fishable/swimmable uses |
OH-1 | 2 | Columbia Hollow Creek | Seasonal aquatic life use March-June |
OH-1 | 9 | Town Branch from point of discharge of the City of Huntsville WWTP downstream to the confluence with Holman Creek | No domestic water supply use |
OH-1 | 10 | Holman Creek from the confluence with Town Branch downstream to the confluence with War Eagle Creek | No domestic water supply use |
OH-3 | 4 | Moccasin Creek below Arkansas Highway 177 | Perennial aquatic life use |
OH-4 | 3 | Curia Creek below first waterfall | Perennial aquatic life use |
OH-4 | 6 | Stennitt Creek from Brushy Creek to Spring River | No domestic water supply use |
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: OZARK HIGHLANDS ECOREGION
(Plates OH-1, OH-2, OH-3, OH-4)
Streams | Lakes and Reservoirs | ||
Temperature °C (°F)* Trout Waters | 29 (84.2) 20 (68) | 32 (89.6) | |
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) Trout Waters | 10/17 10/15 | 25/45 | |
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | |
Dissolved Oxygen** | Pri. | Crit | see Rule 2.505 |
<10 mi2 watershed 10 to 100 mi2 >100 mi2 watershed Trout Waters | 6 6 6 6 | 2 5 6 6 | |
All other criteria (same as statewide)
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**At water temperatures <= 10°C or during March, April and May when stream flows are 15 cfs and greater, the primary season dissolved oxygen standard will be 6.5 mg/L. When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen standard may be depressed by 1 mg/L for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period.
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
OH-1 | 1 | Railroad Hollow Creek from headwaters to Spavinaw Creek | Year-round DO 2 mg/L |
OH-1 | 5 | SWEPCO Reservoir | Maximum temperature 54°C (limitation of 2.8°C above natural temperature does not apply) |
OH-1 | 7 | White River from Noland WWTP to 0.4 miles downstream (WR-02) | Chloride 44 mg/L, sulfate 79 mg/L, TDS 362 mg/L |
OH-1 | 8 | White River from WR-02 to WHI0052 | Chloride 30 mg/L, sulfate 40 mg/L, TDS 237 mg/L |
OH-1 | 9 | Town Branch from point of discharge of the City of Huntsville WWTP Downstream to the confluence with Holman Creek | Chloride 223 mg/L, sulfate 61 mg/L, TDS 779 mg/L |
OH-1 | 10 | Holman Creek from the confluence with Town Branch downstream to the confluence with War Eagle Creek | Chloride 180 mg/L, sulfate 48 mg/L, TDS 621 mg/L |
OH-2 | 7 | Crooked Creek from Harrison WWTP outfall to DEQ Monitoring Station WHI0193 | Chloride 22.6 mg/L, sulfate 24.4 mg/L, TDS 269 mg/L |
OH-3 | 4 | Moccasin Creek below Highway 177 | Critical season DO 5mg/L |
OH-3 | 8 | Crooked Creek from DEQ Monitoring Station WHI0193 to mouth | TDS 238 mg/L |
OH-4 | 3 | Curia Creek below first waterfall | Critical season DO 6 mg/L |
OH-4 | 6 | Stennitt Creek from Brushy Creek to Spring River | TDS 456 mg/L, sulfate 43.3 mg/L |
OH-4 | 11 | Brushy Creek - from Unnamed Tributary to Stennitt Creek | Sulfate 126 mg/L, TDS 549 mg/L |
OH-4 | 12 | Unnamed Tributary - from Vulcan Outfall 001 to Brushy Creek | Sulfate 260 mg/L, TDS 725 mg/L |
DESIGNATED USES: BOSTON MOUNTAINS ECOREGION
(Plates BM-1, BM-2, BM-3)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Middle and Devils Forks of the Little Red River including Beech Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Turkey Creek, Lick Creek, Raccoon Creek, and Little Raccoon Creek (BM-2, BM-3)
Archey Creek from headwaters to confluence with South Fork Little Red River (BM-2)
Illinois Bayou including North, Middle and East Forks (BM-2)
Big Piney Creek (BM-2)
Hurricane Creek (BM-2)
Mulberry River (BM-1, BM-2)
Lee Creek from state line upstream to headwaters (BM-1)
Salado Creek (BM-3)
Kings River (BM-1)
Richland Creek and Falling Water Creek (BM-2)
Buffalo River (BM-1, BM-2)
Natural and Scenic Waterways
Mulberry River (BM-1, BM-2)
Buffalo River (BM-1, BM-2)
Kings River (BM-1)
Big Piney Creek (BM-2)*
Hurricane Creek (BM-2)*
Richland Creek (BM-2)*
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Middle, South, and Devils Forks of Little Red River including Beech Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Turkey Creek, Lick Creek, Raccoon Creek, Little Raccoon Creek, and Archey Creek above Greers Ferry Reservoir - location of endemic yellowcheek darter and endangered speckled pocketbook mussel (except Devils Fork) (BM-2, BM-3)
Foshee Cave - location of aquatic cave snail (BM-3)
Upper White River - location of longnose darter (BM-1)
Primary Contact Recreation - all streams with watersheds of greater than 10 mi2 and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation - all waters**
Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water Supply - all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters
Greers Ferry Reservoir below Narrows (BM-3)
Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam (BM-3)
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
*As designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
** Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
Streams
Seasonal Boston Mountain aquatic life- all waters with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Boston Mountain aquatic life- all waters with 10 mi2 watershed or larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1 cfs
Use Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
None
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: BOSTON MOUNTAINS ECOREGION
(Plates BM-1, BM-2, BM-3)
Streams | Lakes and Reservoirs | ||
Temperature °C (°F)* | 31 (87.8) | 32 (89.6) | |
Trout Waters | 20 (68) | ||
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) | 10/19 | 25/45 | |
Trout Waters | 10/15 | ||
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | |
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) ** | Pri. | Crit | see Rule 2.505 |
<10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 2 | |
10 mi2 and greater | 6 | 6 | |
Trout Waters | 6 | 6 | |
All other criteria | (same as statewide) | ||
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
None
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**At water temperatures <= 10°C or during March, April and May when stream flows are 15 cfs and greater, the primary season dissolved oxygen criteria will be 6.5 mg/L. When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen criteria may be depressed by 1 mg/l for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period.
DESIGNATED USES: ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY ECOREGION
(Plates ARV-1, ARV-2, ARV-3)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Cadron Creek including North Fork and East Fork (ARV-2, ARV-3)
Mulberry River (ARV-1)
Big Creek adjacent to natural areas (ARV-3)
Natural and Scenic Waterway
Mulberry River (ARV-1)
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
None
Primary Contact Recreation- all streams with watersheds of greater than 10 mi2 and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation- all waters**
Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water Supply- all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters
Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam to Searcy (ARV-3)
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
Streams
Seasonal Arkansas River Valley aquatic life use - all streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Arkansas River Valley aquatic life - all streams with watersheds of 10 mi2 or larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1 cfs
Site Specific Designated Use Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
ARV-1 | 2 & 4 | Poteau River from U.S. Business Highway 71 to Oklahoma state line | No domestic water supply use |
ARV-1 | 3 | Unnamed tributary to Poteau River at Waldron | No domestic water supply use |
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY ECOREGION
(Plates ARV-1, ARV-2, ARV-3)
Streams | Reservoirs | ||
Temperature °C (°F)* | 31 (87.8) | 32 (89.6) | |
Trout Waters | 20 (68) | ||
Arkansas River | 32 (89.6) | ||
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) | 21/40 | 25/45 | |
Arkansas River | 50/52 | ||
Trout Waters | 10/15 | ||
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | |
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)** | Pri. | Crit. | see Rule 2.505 |
<10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 | |
10 to 150 mi2 | 5 | 3 | |
151 mi2 to 400 mi2 | 5 | 4 | |
>400 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 | |
Trout waters | 6 | 6 | |
All other criteria | (same as statewide) | ||
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
ARV-2 | 1 | Dardanelle Reservoir | Maximum temperature 35°C (95°F) (limitation of 2.8°C above natural temperature does not apply) |
ARV-1 | 2 | Poteau River from Scott County Road 59 to Oklahoma state line | Chlorides 120 mg/L, sulfates 60 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L |
ARV-1 | 4 | Poteau River from confluence with Unnamed tributary to Scott County Road 59 | Chlorides 185 mg/L, sulfates 200 mg/L, TDS 786 mg/L |
ARV-1 | 3 | Unnamed tributary from Tyson-Waldron Outfall 001 to confluence with the Poteau River | Chlorides 180 mg/L, sulfates 200 mg/L, TDS 870 mg/L |
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**At water temperatures <= 10°C or during March, April and May when stream flows are 15 cfs and greater, the primary season dissolved oxygen criteria will be 6.5 mg/L. When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen criteria may be depressed by 1 mg/L for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period.
DESIGNATED USES: OUACHITA MOUNTAIN ECOREGION
(Plates OM-1, OM-2)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Lake Ouachita (OM-1, OM-2)
DeGray Reservoir (OM-2)
Saline River - entire segment including North, Alum, Middle and South Forks (OM-2)
Caddo River - above DeGray Reservoir (OM-1, OM-2)
South Fork Caddo River (OM-1)
Cossatot River - above Gillham Reservoir (OM-1)
Caney Creek (OM-1)
Little Missouri River - above Lake Greeson (OM-1)
Mountain Fork River (OM-1)
Big Fork Creek - adjacent to natural area (OM-1)
Natural and Scenic Waterway
Cossatot River above Gillham Reservoir (OM-1)
Little Missouri River above Lake Greeson (OM-1)
Brushy Creek (OM-1)*
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Ouachita River above Lake Ouachita - location of Caddo madtom, longnose darter, peppered shiner and threatened
Arkansas fatmucket Mussel (OM-1)
South Fork Ouachita River - location of Arkansas fatmucket mussel and Caddo madtom (OM-1)
Caddo River and all tributaries above DeGray Reservoir - location of endemic paleback darter, Caddo madtom and threatened Arkansas fatmucket mussel (OM-1, OM-2)
Mountain Fork River - location of threatened leopard darter (OM-1)
Cossatot River above Gillham Reservoir - location of threatened leopard darter (OM-1)
Saline River including Alum, Middle, North and South Forks, and Ten Mile Creek - location of endemic Ouachita madtom and threatened Arkansas fatmucket mussel (except South fork and Ten Mile Creek) (OM-2)
Little Missouri River above Lake Greeson - location of Caddo madtom
Mayberry Creek (tributary to Hallman's Creek) - location of paleback darter (OM-2)
Robinson Creek - location of threatened leopard darter (OM-1)
Primary Contact Recreation- all streams with watersheds of greater than 10 mi2 and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation- all waters**
Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water Supply- all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters
Lake Ouachita (lower portion) (OM-2)
Ouachita River from Blakely Mt. Dam to Hwy. 270 bridge (OM-2)
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
*As designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
Aquatic Life**
Streams
Seasonal Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion aquatic life - all streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion aquatic life - all streams with watershed of 10 mi2 or larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1cfs
Site Specific Designated Use Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
OM-1 | 2 | Rolling Fork from unnamed tributary A at Grannis to DeQueen Reservoir | No domestic water supply use |
OM-1 | 3 | Unnamed tributaries A and A1 at Grannis | No domestic water supply use |
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: OUACHITA MOUNTAIN ECOREGION
(Plates OM-1, OM-2)
Streams | Reservoirs | ||
Temperature °C (°F)* | 30 (86) | 32 (89.6) | |
Trout Waters | 20 (68) | ||
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) | 10/18 | 25/45 | |
Trout Waters | 10/15 | ||
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | |
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) ** | Pri. | Crit | see Rule 2.505 |
<10 mi2 watershed | 6 | 2 | |
10 mi2 and greater | 6 | 6 | |
Trout Waters | 6 | 6 | |
All other criteria | (same as statewide) | ||
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
OM-1 | 1 | Prairie Creek: from headwaters to confluence with Briar Creek | Critical season DO 4 mg/L |
OM-1 | 2 | Rolling Fork from unnamed tributary A to DeQueen Reservoir | Chlorides 130 mg/L, sulfates 70 mg/L, TDS 670 mg/L |
OM-1 | 3 | Unnamed tributaries A and A1 at Grannis | Chlorides 135 mg/L, sulfates 70 mg/L, TDS 700 mg/L |
OM-1 | 4 | South Fork Caddo River | Sulfates 60 mg/L |
OM-1 | 5 | Back Valley Creek | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L |
OM-2 | 6 | Wilson Creek from a point approximately 0.85 mile upstream of Outfall 001 to UMETCO Outfall 001 | Chlorides 56 mg/L, sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L |
OM-2 | 7 | Wilson Creek downstream of UMETCO Outfall 001 to its mouth | Chlorides 56 mg/L, sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L |
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**At water temperatures <= 10°C or during March, April and May when stream flows are 15 cfs and greater, the primary season dissolved oxygen criteria will be 6.5 mg/L. When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen criteria may be depressed by 1 mg/L for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period.
Temporary Variations Supported by Environmental Improvement Project
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
OM-2 | 1 | Chamberlain Creek from headwaters to confluence with Cove Creek | Chlorides 68 mg/L, sulfates 1,384 mg/L, TDS 2,261 mg/L* |
OM-2 | 2 | Cove Creek from the confluence with Chamberlain Creek to the Ouachita River | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L* |
OM-2 | 3 | Lucinda Creek from the confluence of Rusher Creek to the confluence with Cove Creek | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L* |
OM-2 | 4 | Rusher Creek from the confluence of the East and West Forks to confluence with Lucinda Creek | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L* |
* These temporary standards variations are effective for 148 months from EPA's approval of the EIP on January 7, 2020.
DESIGNATED USES: GULF COASTAL ECOREGION
(Plates GC-1, GC-2, GC-3, GC-4)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Saline River (GC-3, GC-4)
Moro Creek - adjacent to natural area (GC-2)
Natural and Scenic Waterways
Saline River from the Grant-Saline County line to mouth (GC-3)
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Little River above Millwood Reservoir - location of Ouachita rock pocketbook and pink mucket mussels (GC-1)
Grassy Lake and Yellow Creek below Millwood Reservoir - unique ecosystem and biota (GC-1)
Lower Little Missouri River - location of peppered shiner and longnose darter (GC-2)
Lower Saline River - location of peppered shiner, crystal darter and goldstripe darter (GC-3)
Ouachita River near Arkadelphia - location of flat floater, Ouachita rock pocketbook and pink mucket mussels (GC-4)
Streams with Substantial Springwater Influence
L'Eau Frais (GC-4)
Cypress Creek (GC-4)
East and West Fork Tulip Creeks (GC-4)
Others to be determined
Primary Contact Recreation- all streams with watersheds greater than 10 mi² and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation- all waters**
Domestic, Industrial, and Agricultural Water Supply- all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters
Little Missouri River from Narrows Dam to confluence with Muddy Fork (GC-1)
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
Streams
Seasonal Gulf Coastal aquatic life - all streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Gulf Coastal aquatic life - all streams with watersheds of 10 mi2 or larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1 cfs
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
Site Specific Designated Use Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-1 | 7 | Lick Creek | Seasonal aquatic life use; no primary contact |
GC-1 | 9 | Red River from Oklahoma state line to confluence with Little River | No domestic water supply use |
GC-1 | 10 | Bluff Creek and unnamed tributary | No domestic water supply use |
GC-1 | 11 | Mine Creek from Highway 27 to Millwood Lake | No domestic water supply use |
GC-1 | 12 | Caney Creek | No domestic or industrial water supply use |
GC-1 | 13 | Bois d'Arc Creek from Caney Creek to Red River | No domestic or industrial water supply use |
GC-1 | 55 | Red River from the mouth of the Little River to the Arkansas/Louisiana state line | No domestic water supply use |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-2 | 1 | Loutre Creek | Perennial aquatic life use, except seasonal from railroad bridge to mouth |
GC-2 | 2 | Unnamed tributary to Smackover Creek | No fishable/swimmable uses |
GC-2 | 4 | Unnamed tributary to Flat Creek | No fishable/swimmable uses |
GC-2 | 6 | Jug Creek | Perennial aquatic life use |
GC-2 | 15 | Gum Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 16 | Bayou de Loutre from mouth of UT004 to Louisiana state line | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 17 | Walker Branch | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 18 | Little Cornie Bayou from Walker Branch to Arkansas/Louisiana state line | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 18 | Unnamed tributary to Little Cornie Bayou (UTLCB-2) | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 27 | Albemarle unnamed tributary (AUT) to Horsehead Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 27 | Horsehead Creek from AUT to mouth | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 28 | Dismukes Creek and Big Creek to Bayou Dorcheat | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 31 | Unnamed tributary 002 (UT002) | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 32 | Unnamed tributary 004 (UT004) | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 34 | Unnamed tributary 003 (UT003) | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 37 | Unnamed tributary to Flat Creek from EDCC Outfall 001 downstream to confluence with unnamed tributary A to Flat Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 38 | Unnamed tributary A to Flat Creek from mouth of EDCC 001 ditch to confluence with Flat Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 39 | Flat Creek from mouth of UTA to confluence with Haynes Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 40 | Haynes Creek from mouth of Flat Creek to confluence with Smackover Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 41 | Loutre Creek from Highway 15 S. to the confluence of Bayou de Loutre | No domestic water supply use |
GC-2 | 51 | Boggy Creek from the discharge from Clean Harbors El Dorado LCC downstream to the confluence of Bayou de Loutre | No domestic water supply use |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-3 | 8 | Coffee Creek and Mossy Lake | No fishable/swimmable or domestic water supply uses |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-4 | 5 | Dodson Creek | Perennial aquatic life use |
GC-4 | 14 | Town Creek below Acme tributary | No domestic water supply use |
GC-4 | 14 | Unnamed tributary from Acme | No domestic water supply use |
GC-4 | 19 | Alcoa unnamed tributary to Hurricane Creek and Hurricane Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-4 | 20 | Holly Creek | No domestic water supply use |
GC-4 | 21 | Dry Lost Creek and tributaries | No domestic water supply use |
GC-4 | 22 | Lost Creek | No domestic water supply use |
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: GULF COASTAL ECOREGION
(Plates GC-1, GC-2, GC-3, GC-4)
Typical Streams | Spring WaterStreams | Lakes andReservoirs | ||
Temperature °C (°F)* | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 32 (89.6) | |
Ouachita River | ||||
(state line to Little Missouri River) | 32 (89.6) | |||
Red River | 32 (89.6) | |||
Little River | ||||
(from Millwood Lake to the Red River) | 32 (89.6) | |||
Trout Waters | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | ||
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) | 21/32 | 21/32 | 25/45 | |
Red River | 50/150 | |||
Trout Waters | 10/15 | |||
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | ||
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) ** | Pri. | Crit. | see Rule 2.505 | |
<10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 | ||
10 mi2 - 500 mi2 | 5 | 3 | ||
>500 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 | ||
All sizes (springwater influenced) | 6 | 5 | ||
Trout Waters | 6 | 6 | ||
All other criteria | (same as statewide) | |||
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**At water temperatures <= 10°C or during March, April and May when stream flows are 15 cfs and greater, the primary season dissolved oxygen criteria will be 6.5 mg/L. When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen criteria may be depressed by 1 mg/L for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-1 | 7 | Lick Creek - from headwaters to Millwood Reservoir | Critical season DO 2 mg/L |
GC-1 | 9 | Red River from Oklahoma state line to confluence with Little River | TDS 850 mg/L |
GC-1 | 10 | Bluff Creek and unnamed tributary | Sulfates 651 mg/L, TDS 1033 mg/L |
GC-1 | 11 | Mine Creek from Highway 27 to Millwood Lake | Chlorides 90 mg/L, sulfates 65 mg/L, TDS 700 mg/L |
GC-1 | 12 | Caney Creek | Chlorides 113 mg/L, sulfates 283 mg/L, TDS 420 mg/L |
GC-1 | 24 | Muddy Fork Little Missouri River | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L |
GC-1 | 25 | Little Missouri River | Sulfates 90 mg/L, TDS 180 mg/L |
GC-1 | 30 | Unnamed tributary of Lake June below Entergy Couch Plant to confluence with Lake June | Maximum water temperature 95 degrees F (limitation of 5 degrees above natural temperature does not apply) |
GC-1 | 55 | Red River from mouth of the Little River to the Arkansas/Louisiana state line | TDS 780 mg/L |
GC-1 | 56 | Little River from Millwood Lake to the Red River | TDS 138mg/L; temperature 32°C/89.6°F |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-2 | 1 | Loutre Creek from headwaters to railroad bridge | Critical season DO 3 mg/L, primary season DO 5 mg/L |
GC-2 | 1 | Loutre Creek from railroad bridge to mouth | Critical season DO 2 mg/L |
GC-2 | 2 | Unnamed tributary to Smackover Creek headwaters to Smackover Creek | Year round DO 2 mg/L |
GC-2 | 4 | Unnamed tributary to Flat Creek from headwaters to Flat Creek | Year round DO2 mg/L |
GC-2 | 6 | Jug Creek - from headwaters to confluence with Moro Creek | Critical season DO 3 mg/L |
GC-2 | 15 | Gum Creek | Chlorides 104 mg/L, TDS 311 mg/L |
GC-2 | 16 | Bayou de Loutre from Gum Creek to State line | Chlorides 250 mg/L, TDS 750 mg/L |
GC-2 | 17 | Walker Branch | Chlorides 180 mg/L, TDS 970 mg/L |
GC-2 | 27 | Albemarle unnamed tributary (AUT) to Horsehead Creek | Chlorides 137 mg/L, TDS 383 mg/L |
GC-2 | 27 | Horsehead Creek from AUT to mouth | Chlorides 85 mg/L, TDS 260 mg/L |
GC-2 | 27 | Bayou Dorcheat | Sulfates 16 mg/L |
GC-2 | 28 | Dismukes Creek | Chlorides 26 mg/L, TDS 157 mg/L |
GC-2 | 28 | Big Creek from Dismukes to Bayou Dorcheat | Chlorides 20 mg/L, TDS 200 mg/L |
GC-2 | 29 | Bayou de Loutre from Chemtura outfall to Loutre Creek | Maximum water temperature 96°F |
GC-2 | 51 | Boggy Creek from the discharge from Clean Harbors El Dorado LCC downstream to the confluence of Bayou de Loutre. | Chloride 631mg/L, Sulfate 63 mg/L, TDS 1360 mg/L, Selenium 15.6 u/L |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-3 | 8 | Coffee Creek and Mossy Lake | Exempt from Rule 2.406 and Chapter Five |
GC-3 | 26 | Ouachita River from Ouachita River mile (ORM) 223 to the Arkansas-Louisiana border (ORM 221.1) | Site specific seasonal DO criteria: 3 mg/L June and July; 4.5 mg/L August; 5 mg/L September through May. These seasonal criteria may be unattainable during or following naturally occurring high flows, (i.e., river stage above 65 feet measured at the lower gauge at the Felsenthal Lock and Dam, Station No.89-o, and also for the two weeks following the recession of flood waters below 65 feet), which occurs from May through August. Naturally occurring conditions which fail to meet criteria should not be interpreted as violations of these criteria |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-4 | 5 | Dodson Creek - from headwaters to confluence with Saline River | Critical season DO 3 mg/L |
GC-4 | 14 | Town Creek below Acme tributary | Sulfates 200 mg/L, TDS 700 mg/L |
GC-4 | 14 | Unnamed tributary from Acme | Sulfates 330 mg/L, TDS 830 mg/L |
GC-4 | 19 | Alcoa unnamed tributary to Hurricane Creek and Hurricane Creek | See Rule 2.511 |
GC-4 | 20 | Holly Creek | See Rule 2.511 |
GC-4 | 23 | Saline River bifurcation | See Rule 2.511 |
GC-4 | 21 | Dry Lost Creek and tributaries | See Rule 2.511 |
GC-4 | 22 | Lost Creek | See Rule 2.511 |
GC-4 | 52 | McGeorge Creek (headwaters to Willow Springs Branch) | Sulfate 250 mg/L, TDS 432 mg/L |
GC-4 | 53 | Willow Springs Branch (McGeorge Creek to Little Fourche Creek) | Sulfate 112 mg/L, TDS 247 mg/L |
GC-4 | 54 | Little Fourche Creek (Willow Springs Branch to Fourche Creek) | TDS 179 mg/L |
Temporary Variations Supported by Environmental Improvement Project
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
GC-4 | 1 | Holly Creek | Selenium chronic criteria 17µg/L |
GC-4 | 2 | Reyburn Creek from headwaters to confluence of Francois Creek | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L* |
GC-4 | 3 | Scull Creek from a point approximately 350 feet upstream of Clearwater Lake to Clearwater Lake (including Clearwater Lake) and from Clearwater Lake dam to confluence Reyburn Creek | Sulfates 250 mg/L, TDS 500 mg/L* |
*These temporary standards variations are effective for 148 months from EPA's approval of the EIP on January 7, 2020.
DESIGNATED USES: DELTA ECOREGION
(Plates D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5)
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Second Creek (D-4)
Cache River above Cache Bayou - adjacent to natural areas (D-3)
Arkansas River below Norrell Lock and Dam (Dam #2) (D-5)
Strawberry River (D-1)
Two Prairie Bayou adjacent to natural areas (D-3)
Natural and Scenic Waterways
None
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Lower St. Francis River and lower 10 miles of Straight Slough - location of fat pocketbook mussel (D-2, D-4)
Right Hand Chute at confluence with St. Francis River - location of fat pocketbook mussel (D-2)
Departee Creek - location of flat floater mussel (D-1)
Black River at mouth of Spring River - location of pink mucket mussel (D-1)
Channel-altered Delta Ecoregion Streams - These include the majority of the streams in this ecoregion and are characterized by substantial alteration of the morphology of their main-stream channel as well as their tributary streams. Such alteration of the tributaries of these streams significantly affects the water quality and hydrology of the streams and their watersheds. Most of the upper segments of these waters have been dredged and straightened into ditches. Additionally most of the tributaries of these streams have been straightened, ditched and, in some cases, rerouted to quickly move water off the agriculture fields and into the major streams. In the lower segments of these waters, channel realignment is less expansive but most of these channels have been "snagged" to remove any instream obstructions (brush, logs, and other debris) and the stream channel and banks have been dredged to uniform depths and cleared of any obstructions. These include cache river, bayou deview, village creek, blackfish Bayou and others to be determined by the Division on a case by case basis.
Primary Contact Recreation - all streams with watersheds of greater than 10 mi2 and all lakes/reservoirs**
Secondary Contact Recreation - all waters**
Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural Water Supply - all waters**
Aquatic Life**
Trout Waters - none
Lakes and Reservoirs - all
Streams
Seasonal Delta aquatic life - all streams with watersheds of less than 10 mi2 except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.505
Perennial Delta aquatic life - all streams with watersheds 10 mi2 or larger and those waters where discharges equal or exceed 1cfs
**Except for those waters with designated use variations supported by Use Attainability Analysis or other investigations.
Site Specific Designated Use Variation Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
D-1 | 3 | Coon Creek and unnamed tributary from Frit Ind. | No domestic water supply use |
D-2 | 5 | Ditch No. 27 | No domestic water supply use |
D-2 | 6 | Ditch No. 6 | No domestic water supply use |
D-3 | 1 | Unnamed ditch to Little LaGrue Bayou | Perennial Delta aquatic life |
D-5 | 2 | Little Lake Bayou | Seasonal Delta aquatic life, no primary contact |
D-3 | 4 | Rocky Branch Creek and Bayou Meto from Rocky Branch Creek to Bayou Two Prairie | No domestic water supply use |
SPECIFIC CRITERIA: DELTA ECOREGION
(Plates D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5)
Least-AlteredStreams | Channel-AlteredStreams | Lakes andReservoirs | |||
Temperature °C (°F)* | 30 (86) | 32 (89.6) | 32 (89.6) | ||
White River | 32 (89.6) | ||||
St. Francis River | 32 (89.6) | ||||
Mississippi River | 32 (89.6) | ||||
Arkansas River | 32 (89.6) | ||||
Turbidity (NTU) (base/storm) | 45/84 | 75/250 | 25/45 | ||
Arkansas River | 50/52 | ||||
Mississippi River | 50/75 | ||||
St. Francis River | 75/100 | ||||
Minerals | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | see Rule 2.511 | ||
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)** | Pri | Crit | Pri | Crit. | see Rule 2.505 |
<10 mi2 watershed | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
10 mi2 to 100 mi2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
>100 mi2 watershed | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
All other criteria | (same as statewide) | ||||
*Increase over natural temperatures may not be more than 2.8°C (5°F).
**When water temperatures exceed 22°C, the critical season dissolved oxygen criteria may be depressed by 1 mg/L for no more than 8 hours during a 24-hour period.
Site Specific Criteria Variations Supported by Use Attainability Analysis
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
D-1 | 3 | Unnamed tributary from Frit Ind., to Coon Creek | Sulfates 48 mg/L |
D-1 | 38 | Unnamed tributary to Big Creek | Chlorides 71 mg/L, sulfates 60 mg/L, TDS 453 mg/L |
D-1 | 39 | Big Creek from Whistle Ditch to mouth of unnamed tributary | Chloride 58 mg/L, sulfates 49 mg/L |
D-1 | 40 | Bayou DeView from AR Hwy 14 to Whistle Ditch | Chloride 48 mg/L, sulfates 38 mg/L, TDS 411.3 mg/L |
D-1 | 41 | Bayou DeView from mouth to AR Hwy 14 | Chloride 48 mg/L, sulfates 37.3 mg/L, TDS 411.3 mg/L |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
D-2 | 5 | Ditch No. 27 | Sulfates 480 mg/L, TDS 1,200 mg/L, maximum water temperature 95°F |
D-2 | 6 | Ditch No. 6 from Ditch No. 27 confluence to its mouth | Sulfates 210 mg/L, TDS 630 mg/L |
D-2 | 7 | Tyronza River from Ditch No. 6 confluence to its mouth | Sulfates 60 mg/L. See Rule 2.511 |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
D-3 | 1 | Unnamed ditch to Little LaGrue Bayou - from headwaters to confluence with Little LaGrue Bayou | Critical season DO 3 mg/L |
D-3 | 4 | Rocky Branch Creek | Chlorides 64 mg/L |
D-3 | 4 | Bayou Meto (Rocky Branch to Pulaski/Lonoke county line) | Chlorides 64 mg/L |
D-3 | 4 | Bayou Meto from mouth to Pulaski/Lonoke county line | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 6 | Bakers Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 8 | Big Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 9 | Crooked Creek Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 10 | Caney Creek Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 10 | Caney Creek | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 11 | Shumaker Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 12 | Flat Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 13 | Snow Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 14 | Fish Trap Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 15 | Main Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 16 | Dennis Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 17 | Bradley Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 18 | Flynn Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 19 | Boggy Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 20 | Bear Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 21 | Bubbling Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 22 | Government Cypress Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 23 | Brushy Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 24 | Hurricane Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 25 | Newton Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 26 | Castor Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 27 | Wabbaseka Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45mg/L |
D-3 | 28 | Indian Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 29 | Salt Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 29 | Salt Bayou Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 30 | Plum Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 31 | Indian Bayou Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 32 | Buffalo Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 33 | Five Forks Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 34 | Little Bayou Meto | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 35 | Brownsville Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 36 | Tupelo Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 37 | Eagle Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 38 | Tipton Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 39 | West Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45mg/L |
D-3 | 40 | Long Pond Slough | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 41 | Cross Bayou | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 42 | Bayou Two Prairie (Pulaski/ Lonoke county line to Northern boundary of Smoke Hole Natural Area) | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 42 | Bayou Two Prairie (Southern boundary of Smoke Hole Natural Area to Mouth) | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 43 | Skinner Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 44 | White Oak Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 45 | Ricky Branch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 46 | Blue Point Ditch | Chlorides 95 mg/L, sulfates 45 mg/L |
D-3 | 47 | Bayou DeView from mouth to AR Hwy 14 | Chloride 48 mg/L, sulfates 37.3 mg/L, TDS 411.3mg/L |
Plate | Map Inset | Waterbody | Variation |
D-5 | 2 | Little Lake Bayou | Critical season DO 2 mg/L |
APPENDIX B: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
For An Act To Be Entitled
"AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Subtitle
"AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
The General Assembly hereby finds that many areas of the state would benefit from longterm environmental remediation projects that significantly improve the effects caused by industrial or extractive activities. However, commitments by private enterprise to remedy such damages are discouraged by the prospect of civil liability based upon rigid application of state water quality standards to the enterprises activities. The purpose of this act is to preserve the states approach to establishing water quality standards, while also encouraging private enterprises to make significant improvements to closed or abandoned sites that are of such magnitude that more than three (3) years will be required to complete the project.
For the purposes of this act:
At the end of the project the post project water quality standards shall be in full force and effect.
APPENDIX C: SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF AQUATIC BIOTA
Common Name | Species | Family |
Banded sculpin | Cottus carolinae | Cottidae |
Banded pygmy sunfish | Elassoma zonatum | Elassomatidae |
Bigeye shiner | Notropis boops | Cyprinidae |
Black redhorse | Moxostoma duquesnei | Catostomidae |
Blackside darter | Percina maculata | Percidae |
Blacktail redhorse | Moxostoma poecilurum | Catostomidae |
Blacktail shiner | Cyprinella venusta | Cyprinidae |
Bleeding shiner | Luxilus zonatus | Cyprinidae |
Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus | Centrarchidae |
Bluntnose minnow | Pimephales notatus | Cyprinidae |
Bluntnose darter | Etheostoma chlorosoma | Percidae |
Cardinal shiner | Luxilus cardinalus | Cyprinidae |
Carp | Cyprinus carpio | Cyprinidae |
Channel catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | Ictaluridae |
Creek chubsucker | Erimyzon oblongus | Catostomidae |
Creole darter | Etheostoma collettei | Percidae |
Current River darter | Etheostoma uniporum | Percidae |
Drum | Aplodinotus grunniens | Sciaenidae |
Dusky darter | Percina sciera | Pericidae |
Duskystripe shiner | Luxilus pilsbryi | Cyprinidae |
Emerald shiner | Notropis atherinoides | Cyprinidae |
Fantail darter | Etheostoma flabellare | Percidae |
Flier | Centrarchus macropterus | Centrarchidae |
Freckled madtom | Noturus nocturnus | Ictaluridae |
Gizzard shad | Dorosoma cepedianum | Clupeidae |
Golden redhorse | Moxostoma erythrurum | Catostomidae |
Redfin pickerel | Esox americanus | Esocidae |
Gravel chub | Erimystax x-punctatus | Cyprinidae |
Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | Centrarchidae |
Greenside darter | Etheostoma blennioides | Percidae |
Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | Centrarchidae |
Longear sunfish | Lepomis megalotis | Centrarchidae |
Longnose darter | Percina nasuta | Percidae |
Madtoms | Noturus sp. | Ictaluridae |
Mosquitofish | Gambusia affinis | Poeciliidae |
Northern hogsucker | Hypentelium nigricans | Catostomidae |
Northern studfish | Fundulus catenatus | Fundulidae |
Orangebelly darter | Etheostoma radiosum | Percidae |
Orangebelly darter | Etheostoma radiosum | Percidae |
Orangethroat darter | Etheostoma spectabile | Percidae |
Ozark madtom | Noturus albater | Ictaluridae |
Ozark minnow | Notropis nubilus | Cyprinidae |
Pirate perch | Aphredoderus sayanus | Aphredoderidae |
Pugnose minnow | Opsopoeodus emiliae | Cyprinidae |
Rainbow darter | Etheostoma caeruleum | Percidae |
Redfin darter | Etheostoma whipplei | Percidae |
Redfin shiner | Lythrurus umbratilis | Cyprinidae |
Ribbon shiner | Lythrurus fumeus | Cyprinidae |
"Rock basses" | Ambloplites sp. | Centrarchidae |
Scaly sand darter | Ammocrypta vivax | Percidae |
Shadow bass | Ambloplites ariommus | Centrarchidae |
Slender madtom | Noturus exilis | Ictaluridae |
Slough darter | Etheostoma gracile | Percidae |
Smallmouth bass | Micropterus dolomieu | Centrarchidae |
Smallmouth buffalo | Ictiobus bubalus | Catostomidae |
Southern redbelly dace | Chrosomus erythrogaster | Cyprinidae |
Spotted bass | Micropterus punctulatus | Centrarchidae |
Spotted sucker | Minytrema melanops | Catostomidae |
Spotted sunfish | Lepomis punctatus | Centrarchidae |
Spotted gar | Lepisosteus oculatus | Lepisosteidae |
Strawberry River darter | Etheostoma fragi | Percidae |
Striped shiner | Luxilus chrysocephalus | Cyprinidae |
Tadpole madtom | Noturus gyrinus | Ictaluridae |
Warmouth | Lepomis gulosus | Centrarchidae |
Wedgespot shiner | Notropis greenei | Cyprinidae |
Whitetail shiner | Cyprinella galactura | Cyprinidae |
Yellow bullhead | Ameiurus natalis | Ictaluridae |
APPENDIX D: LIST OF CURRENT EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE WATERS, ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE WATERBODIES, AND NATURAL AND SCENIC WATERWAYS
Extraordinary Resource Waters
Stream Name | Ecoregion | Plate |
Alum Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Archey Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Arkansas River | Delta | D-5 |
Beech Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Big Creek | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-3 |
Big Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Big Fork Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Big Piney Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Buffalo River | Boston Mountains | BM-1, BM-2 |
Buffalo River | Ozark Highlands | OH-2, OH-3 |
Bull Shoals Reservoir | Ozark Highlands | OH-2, OH-3 |
Cache River | Delta | D-3 |
Caddo River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1, OM-2 |
Cadron Creek | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-2, ARV-3 |
Caney Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Cossatot River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Current River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
DeGray Reservoir | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Devils Fork of Little Red River | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
East Fork Cadron Creek | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-2, ARV-3 |
East Fork Illinois Bayou | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Eleven Point River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
English Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Falling Water Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Field Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Gut Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Hurricane Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Illinois Bayou | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Kings River | Boston Mountains | BM-1 |
Kings River | Ozark Highlands | OH-2 |
Lake Ouachita | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1, OM-2 |
Lee Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-1 |
Lick Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Little Missouri River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Little Raccoon Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Little Strawberry River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3 |
Middle Fork Illinois Bayou | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Middle Fork Little Red River | Boston Mountains | BM-2, BM-3 |
Middle Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Moro Creek | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-2 |
Mountain Fork River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Mulberry River | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-1 |
Mulberry River | Boston Mountains | BM-1, BM-2 |
Myatt Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-3, OH-4 |
North Fork Cadron Creek | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-2, ARV-3 |
North Fork Illinois Bayou | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
North Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
North Sylamore Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-3 |
Raccoon Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Richland Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Salado Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Saline River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-2, GC-3 |
Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Second Creek | Delta | D-4 |
South Fork Caddo River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
South Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
South Fork Spring River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3, OH-4 |
Spring River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Strawberry River | Delta | D-1 |
Strawberry River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3, OH-4 |
Tomahawk Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Turkey Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Two Bayou Prairie | Delta | D-3 |
Natural and Scenic Waterways
Stream Name | Ecoregion | Plate |
Big Piney Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2* |
Brushy Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Buffalo River | Boston Mountains | BM-1, BM-2 |
Buffalo River | Ozark Highlands | OH-2, OH-3 |
Cossatot River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Hurricane Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2* |
Kings River | Boston Mountains | BM-1 |
Kings River | Ozark Highlands | OH-2 |
Little Missouri River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Mulberry River | Arkansas River Valley | ARV-1 |
Mulberry River | Boston Mountains | BM-1, BM-2 |
North Sylamore Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-3* |
Richland Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2* |
Saline River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-3 |
Strawberry River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3, OH-4 |
* As designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
Ecologically Sensitive Waterbodies
Stream Name | Ecoregion | Plate |
Alum Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Archey Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Beech Fork | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Black River | Delta | D-1 |
Brushy Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Caddo River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Caney Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Collier Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Cossatot River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Current River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Departee Creek | Delta | D-1 |
Devils Fork Little Red River | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Eleven Point River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Grassy Lake | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-1 |
Illinois River | Ozark Highlands | OH-1 |
Little Missouri River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Little Raccoon Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Little River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-1 |
Little Strawberry River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3 |
Lick Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Lick Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Mayberry Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Middle Fork Little Red River | Boston Mountains | BM-2, BM-3 |
Middle Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Mill Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Missouri River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-2 |
Mountain Fork River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
North Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Otter Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-3 |
Ouachita River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Ouachita River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-2, GC-4 |
Polk Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Robinson Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
St. Francis River | Delta | D-4 |
Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Saline River | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-3 |
South Fork Caddo River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
South Fork Ouachita River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
South Fork Saline River | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Ten Mile Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-2 |
Raccoon Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Right Hand Chute Little River | Delta | D-2 |
Rock Creek | Ouachita Mountains | OM-1 |
Rock Creek | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
South Fork Little Red River | Boston Mountains | BM-2 |
Spring River | Ozark Highlands | OH-4 |
Straight Slough | Delta | D-2, D-4 |
Strawberry River | Ozark Highlands | OH-3, OH-4 |
Tomahawk Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Turkey Creek | Boston Mountains | BM-3 |
Various springs & spring-fed tributaries | Ozark Highlands | OH-1, OH-2, OH-3 |
White River | Boston Mountains | BM-1 |
Yellow Creek | Gulf Coastal Plain | GC-1 |
APPENDIX E: CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE DESIGNATED USE OF EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE WATER, ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE WATERBODY, OR NATURAL AND SCENIC WATERWAY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED
The determination of whether a designated use of Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway should be maintained in a given waterbody must be made on a case by case basis. At least 180 days prior to filing any petition authorized under Rule 2.310 to initiate rulemaking with the Commission to remove the designated use of Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway from a free flowing waterbody for the purpose of constructing a reservoir to provide a domestic water supply, the petitioner shall submit to the Division information and supporting documentation which address each of the following:
APPENDIX F: FACTORS CONSIDERED IN ADDING THE DESIGNATED USE OF EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE WATER, ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE WATERBODY, OR NATURAL AND SCENIC WATERWAY TO A WATERBODY OR WATERBODY SEGMENT
The Commission shall consider the following supporting documentation in determining whether a waterbody should be designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water, Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody, or Natural and Scenic Waterway:
118.01.22 Ark. Code R. 002