S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-68.F

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

Section 61-68.F - NARRATIVE BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA

1. Narrative biological criteria are contained in this regulation and are described throughout the sections where applicable. The following are general statements regarding these narrative biological criteria.

a. Narrative biological criteria in Section A.4. describe the goals of the Department to maintain and improve all surface waters to a level that provides for the survival and propagation of a balanced indigenous aquatic community of fauna and flora. These narrative criteria are determined by the Department based on the condition of the waters of the State by measurements of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the waters according to their classified uses.

b. Section C.10. describes narrative biological criteria relative to surface water mixing zones and specifies requirements necessary for the protection and propagation of a balanced indigenous aquatic community.

c. Narrative biological criteria shall be consistent with the objective of maintaining and improving all surface waters to a level that provides for the survival and propagation of a balanced indigenous aquatic community of fauna and flora attainable in waters of the State, and in all cases shall protect against degradation of the highest existing or classified uses or biological conditions in compliance with the antidegradation rules contained in this regulation. Section D.1.a. describes narrative biological criteria relative to activities in Outstanding National Resource Waters, Outstanding Resource Waters, and Shellfish Harvesting Waters.

d. In order to determine the biological quality of the waters of the State, it is necessary that the biological component be assessed by comparison to a reference condition(s) based upon similar hydrologic and watershed characteristics that represent the optimum natural condition for that system. Such reference condition(s) or reaches of waterbodies shall be those observed to support the greatest variety and abundance of aquatic life in the region as is expected to be or would be with a minimal amount of disturbance from anthropogenic sources. Impacts from urbanization and agriculture should be minimal and natural vegetation should dominate the land cover. There should also be an appropriate diversity of substrate. Reference condition(s) shall be determined by consistent sampling and reliable measures of selected indicative communities of flora and fauna as established by the Department and may be used in conjunction with acceptable physical, chemical, and microbial water quality measurements and records judged to be appropriate for this purpose. Narrative biological criteria relative to activities in all waters are described in Section E.

e. In the Class Descriptions, Designations, and Specific Standards for Surface Waters Section, all water use classifications protect for a balanced indigenous aquatic community of fauna and flora. In addition, Trout Natural and Trout Put, Grow, and Take classifications protect for reproducing trout populations and stocked trout populations, respectively.

2. [Reserved].

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-68.F

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 47, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/26/2023.