Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of Washington WAC 173-201A - November,
2006
Freshwater Aquatic Life Uses
PARAMETER
|
Char Spawning and Rearing
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Core Summer Salmonid Habitat
|
Salmonid Spawning, Rearing, and
Migration
|
Salmonid, Rearing and Migration
Only
|
Temperature 1
(Centigrade)
|
<12
|
<16
|
<17.5
|
<17.5
|
Dissolved
Oxygen
(mg/L)
|
>9.5
|
>9.5
|
>8.0
|
<6.5
|
pH
|
6.5-8.5
|
6.5-8.5
|
6.5-8.5
|
6.5-8.5
|
Dissolved
Gas Saturation
|
≤110% of saturation
|
≤110% of saturation
|
≤110% of saturation
|
≤110% of saturation
|
Turbidity 2
|
≤5 NTU over background.
No more than a 10% increase in
turbidity when the background turbidity is ≥50 NTU.*
|
≤5 NTU over background.
No more than a 10% increase in
turbidity when the background turbidity is ≥50 NTU.*
|
≤5 NTU over background.
No more than a 10% increase in
turbidity when the background turbidity is ≥50 NTU.*
|
≤10 NTU over background.
No more than a 20% increase in
turbidity when the background turbidity is ≥50 NTU.*
|
Phosphorus 3
|
.1 ug/L
|
.1 ug/L
|
.1 ug/L
|
.1 ug/L
|
Nitrates/
Nitrites 3
|
<10 mg/L
|
<10 mg/L
|
<10 mg/L
|
<10 mg/L
|
1 Criteria
is based on a 7-DADMax or 7-day average of the daily maximum temperatures.
2 Background
data should be collected upgradient of a discharge
or activity that may be causing higher turbidity. (See WAC 173-201A-200(1)(e)(i)
for more details.)
3 USEPA
Water Quality Criteria for Water, 1986
Water Body Characteristics for Aquatic Life Uses
Char spawning and rearing. The key identifying characteristics of this use
are spawning or early juvenile rearing by native char (bull trout and Dolly
Varden), or use by other aquatic species similarly dependent on such cold water.
Other common characteristic aquatic life uses for waters in this category include
summer foraging and migration of native char; and spawning, rearing, and migration
by other salmonid species.
Core summer salmonid habitat. The key identifying characteristics of this
use are summer (June 15 – September 15) salmonid spawning or emergence,
or adult holding; use as important summer rearing habitat by one or more salmonids;
or foraging by adult and sub-adult native char. Other common characteristic
aquatic life uses for waters in this category include spawning outside of the
summer season, rearing, and migration by salmonids.
Salmonid spawning, rearing, and migration. The key identifying characteristic
of this use is salmon or trout spawning and emergence that only occurs outside
of the summer season (September 16 - June 14). Other common characteristic
aquatic life uses for waters in this category include rearing and migration
by salmonids.
Salmonid rearing and migration only. The key identifying characteristic of
this use is use only for rearing or migration by salmonids (not used for spawning).
Freshwater Recreational Uses
PARAMETER
|
Extraordinary Primary Contact Recreation
|
Primary Contact Recreation
|
Secondary Contact Recreation
|
Fecal
Coliform
(#col/100mL)
|
Must not exceed 50 col/100mL
(geometric mean of samples collected)
AND
10% of samples must not exceed
100 col/100mL
|
Must not exceed 100 col/100mL
(geometric mean of samples collected)
AND
10% of samples must not exceed
200 col/100mL
|
Must not exceed 200 col/100mL
(geometric mean of samples collected)
AND
10% of samples must not exceed
400 col/100mL
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Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington
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