Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.25

Current through November 25, 2024

Section NR 102.25 - Ambient temperatures and water quality criteria for the protection of fish and other aquatic life

(1) GENERAL. In the absence of site-specific ambient temperature data or water quality criteria as determine in s. NR 102.26 or 102.27, respectively, the applicable ambient temperatures, sub-lethal water quality criteria, and acute water quality criteria shall be as specified in subs. (2) to (5). For determinations made in subs. (2) to (5), all of the following conditions shall apply:

(a) The ambient temperature, sub-lethal water quality criterion, and acute water quality criterion specified for any calendar month shall be applied simultaneously to establish the protection needed for each identified fish and other aquatic life use.

(b) Sub-lethal water quality criteria are to be applied as maximum weekly average temperatures.

(c) Acute water quality criteria are to be applied as daily maximum temperatures.

(d) Water quality criteria for temperature shall be applied in accordance with the mixing zone provisions of s. NR 102.05(3).

(e) Final acute and sub-lethal water quality criteria for temperature specified in or developed pursuant to ss. NR 102.24 to shall not 102.26 be exceeded at any point outside the mixing zone. Additionally, site-specific mixing zone studies may be required when deemed appropriate by the department.

(2) NON-SPECIFIC WATERS. The values listed in Table 2 shall be the applicable ambient temperatures, sub-lethal and acute water quality criteria for temperature for the protection of fish and aquatic life unless other values specified in subs. (3) to (5) are applicable or approved by the department pursuant to s. NR 102.26 or 102.27.

Table 2

Ambient Temperatures and Water Quality Criteria for Temperature for Non-Specific Waters

(All values are expressed as degrees Fahrenheit)

Cold⁴			Warm - Large⁵			Warm - Small⁶			LFF⁷
Month	Ta¹	SL²	A³	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A
JAN	35	47	68	33	49	76	33	49	76	37	54	78
FEB	36	47	68	33	50	76	34	50	76	39	54	79
MAR	39	51	69	36	52	76	38	52	77	43	57	80
APR	47	57	70	46	55	79	48	55	79	50	63	81
MAY	56	63	72	60	65	82	58	65	82	59	70	84
JUN	62	67	72	71	75	85	66	76	84	64	77	85
JUL	64	67	73	75	80	86	69	81	85	69	81	86
AUG	63	65	73	74	79	86	67	81	84	68	79	86
SEP	57	60	72	65	72	84	60	73	82	63	73	85
OCT	49	53	70	52	61	80	50	61	80	55	63	83
NOV	41	48	69	39	50	77	40	49	77	46	54	80
DEC	37	47	69	33	49	76	35	49	76	40	54	79

1 Ta = ambient temperature

2 SL = sub-lethal criteria

3 A = acute criteria

4 Cold = waters with a fish and aquatic life use designation of "cold water community"

5 Warm - Large = waters with a fish and aquatic life use designation of "warm water sport fish community" or "warm water forage fish community" and unidirectional 7Q10 flows 200 cfs (129 mgd)

6 Warm - Small = waters with a fish and aquatic life use designation of "warm sport fish community" or "warm water forage fish community "and uni- directional 7Q10 flows < 200 cfs (129 mgd)

7 LFF = waters with a fish and aquatic life use designation of "limited forage fish community"

(3) SPECIFIC LARGE RIVERS. The values listed in Table 3 shall be the applicable ambient temperatures, sub-lethal and acute water quality criteria for temperature for the protection of fish and aquatic life for the identified water segments unless other values are approved by the department pursuant to s. NR 102.26 or 102.27.

Table 3

Ambient Temperatures and Water Quality Criteria for Temperature for Specific Large Rivers

(All values are expressed as degrees Fahrenheit)

Mississippi River⁴			Rock River⁵			Upper Wisconsin River⁶			Lower Wisconsin River⁷			Lower Fox River⁸
Month JAN	Ta¹ 32	SL² 49	A³ 75	Ta 33	SL 49	A 76	Ta 33	SL 49	A 76	Ta 32	SL 49	A 75	Ta 35	SL 49	A 76
FEB	33	50	76	35	50	76	33	50	76	32	50	75	35	50	76
MAR	36	52	76	38	52	77	35	52	76	37	52	77	38	52	77
APR	47	55	79	49	55	79	44	55	78	48	55	79	50	55	80
MAY	60	65	82	64	65	84	60	65	82	61	65	83	62	65	83
JUN	72	75	85	71	75	85	70	75	85	71	75	85	73	76	85
JUL	76	80	86	74	79	86	75	80	86	75	80	86	77	81	87
AUG	76	79	86	73	79	85	73	79	85	74	79	86	76	80	86
SEP	67	73	84	66	72	84	65	72	84	67	72	84	68	73	85
OCT	54	61	81	54	61	81	51	61	80	53	61	80	53	61	80
NOV	40	50	77	40	50	77	39	50	77	40	50	77	42	50	78
DEC	33	49	76	34	49	76	33	49	76	33	49	76	35	49	76

1 Ta = ambient temperature

2 SL = sub-lethal criteria

3 A = acute criteria

4 Mississippi River = applies to any portion of Wisconsin's Mississippi River reach

5 Rock River = applies to waters downstream of Lake Koshkonong

6 Upper Wisconsin River = applies to waters upstream of Petenwell Dam

7 Lower Wisconsin River = applies to waters downstream of Petenwell Dam to the confluence with the Mississippi River

8 Lower Fox River = applies to waters downstream of the Lake Winnebago outlet

(4) INLAND LAKES AND IMPOUNDMENTS. The values listed in Table 4 shall be the applicable ambient temperatures, sub-lethal and acute water quality criteria for temperature for the protection of fish and aquatic life for inland lakes and impoundments unless other values are approved by the department pursuant to s. NR 102.26 or 102.27.

Table 4

Ambient Temperatures and Water Quality Criteria for Temperature for Inland Lakes and Impoundments

(All values are expressed as degrees Fahrenheit)

Month	Northern4			Southern5
Month	Ta¹	SL²	A³	Ta	SL	A
JAN	35	49	76	35	49	77
FEB	34	52	76	39	52	78
MAR	35	55	76	41	55	78
APR	41	60	78	49	60	80
MAY	55	67	81	58	68	82
JUN	67	75	85	70	75	86
JUL	72	79	86	77	80	87
AUG	71	79	86	76	80	87
SEP	63	72	84	67	73	85
OCT	52	61	80	54	61	81
NOV	43	50	78	42	50	78
DEC	35	49	76	35	49	77

1 Ta = ambient temperature

2 SL = sub-lethal criteria

3 A = acute criteria

4 Northern = applicable for those lakes and impoundments north of State Highway 10

5 Southern = applicable for those lakes and impoundments south of State Highway 10

(5) GREAT LAKES WATERS. The values listed in Table 5 shall be the applicable ambient temperatures, sub-lethal and acute water quality criteria for the protection of fish and aquatic life for Great Lakes waters identified in s. NR 102.22(5) unless other values are approved by the department pursuant to s. NR 102.26 or 102.27.

Table 5

Ambient Temperatures and Water Quality Criteria for Temperature for Great Lakes Waters of Wisconsin

(All values are expressed as degrees Fahrenheit)

Green Bay						Lake Michigan
Southern⁴			Northern⁵			Northern⁶			Southern⁷			Lake Superior⁸			Chequamegon Bay⁹
Month	Ta¹	SL²	A³	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A	Ta	SL	A
JAN	35	49	75	35	43	69	34	43	69	35	43	69	35	41	69	35	41	69
FEB	35	52	75	35	47	69	33	47	69	34	46	69	34	46	69	35	46	69
MAR	41	54	77	36	52	70	35	52	69	37	52	70	34	51	69	35	51	69
APR	47	58	79	40	57	71	39	58	70	43	59	70	35	57	69	38	57	69
MAY	56	64	81	48	63	72	44	64	71	48	65	72	41	63	70	50	63	72
JUN	66	70	83	57	68	75	48	69	72	54	70	73	49	69	72	59	69	74
JUL	70	75	83	62	71	77	53	71	73	59	71	74	55	72	73	62	72	75
AUG	70	75	83	64	71	78	56	69	73	63	70	76	57	71	73	64	71	76
SEP	65	70	83	61	66	77	53	64	73	60	64	74	57	64	73	60	66	74
OCT	54	60	80	54	58	74	48	55	72	53	57	73	50	55	72	49	57	72
NOV	39	49	76	44	49	71	42	47	70	45	49	71	43	45	70	39	48	70
DEC	37	46	75	37	44	70	36	44	69	38	44	70	38	42	69	35	43	69

1 Ta = ambient temperature

2 SL = sub-lethal criteria

3 A = acute criteria

4 Southern Green Bay = waters south of the Brown County line to the Fox River mouth

5 Northern Green Bay = waters north of the Brown County line to the northernmost point on Washington Island

6 Northern Lake Michigan = waters north of the Milwaukee River mouth (downtown Milwaukee)

7 Southern Lake Michigan = waters south of the Milwaukee River mouth (downtown Milwaukee)

8 Lake Superior = waters in Lake Superior except those in Chequamegon Bay

9 Chequamegon Bay = waters within the region enclosed by Chequamegon Point and a straight line west to the mainland

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.25

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