Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.245

Current through September 30, 2024
Section NR 102.245 - Temperature criteria for limited aquatic life communities
(1) For the purposes of temperature criteria, all surface waters classified as diffused surface waters, wetlands and wastewater effluent channels, as defined in s. NR 104.02(1), shall be characterized as limited aquatic life communities.
(2) The department may, as appropriate, characterize other surface waters not identified in sub. (1) as limited aquatic life communities.
(3) The temperature in waters classified as limited aquatic life shall be restricted as follows:
(a) Temperatures at any point in waters classified as wastewater effluent channels may not exceed 120°F.
(b) Temperatures at any point in waters classified as wetlands shall not exceed the standards in ch. NR 103.
(c) Temperatures at any point in waters not identified in par. (a) or (b) may not exceed 86°F. Additionally, all conditions of ch. NR 103 shall be met.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.245

CR 07-111: cr. Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10.

The department recognizes there are legitimate concerns that not all wetlands and ephemeral streams are the biological equivalents of other limited aquatic life waters, and is in the process of re-evaluating the wetland and ephemeral stream classifications to determine if and when full fish and aquatic life conditions should be applied.