Chapter NR 104

NR 104.02(3) (3) Variance categories.

NR 104.02(3)(a) (a) Limited forage fish communities (intermediate surface waters).

NR 104.02(3)(a)1. 1. ‘Applicability.’ This category of variance may be applied to either the continuous or noncontinuous stream hydrologic classification.

NR 104.02(3)(a)2. 2. ‘Surface water criteria.’ The following water quality criteria shall be met in all surface waters included in this variance category:

NR 104.02(3)(a)2.a. a. Dissolved oxygen shall not be less than 3 mg/L.

NR 104.02(3)(a)2.c. c. The pH shall be within the range of 6.0 to 9.0.

NR 104.02(3)(a)2.d. d. All other substances shall meet the acute and chronic toxicity criteria for limited forage fish communities specified in or developed pursuant to ss. NR 105.05 and 105.06.

NR 104.02(3)(a)3. 3. ‘Effluent criteria.’

NR 104.02(3)(a)3.a. a. The effluent limitations determined necessary to meet the surface water criteria listed above are enumerated in table 1.

NR 104.02(3)(a)3.b. b. Unless otherwise specified in table 1 above, effluent limitations for sewage treatment works shall be as adopted in ch. NR 210.

NR 104.02(3)(a)3.c. c. In addition to the effluent limitations enumerated in table 1, effluent limitations for these and any other substance necessary to protect assigned uses shall be met, including water quality based effluent limitations necessary to meet the criteria specified in or developed pursuant to ss. NR 105.05 and 105.06 for limited forage fish communities.

NR 104.02(3)(b) (b) Limited aquatic life subcategory (marginal surface waters).

NR 104.02(3)(b)1. 1. ‘Applicability.’ This variance category may be applied to the continuous or noncontinuous stream hydrologic classification, except that it shall be applied to all surface waters classified as effluent channel, wetland or diffuse surface water.

NR 104.02(3)(b)2. 2. ‘Surface water criteria.’ The following surface water quality criteria shall be met in all surface waters included in this variance category:

NR 104.02(3)(b)2.a. a. Dissolved oxygen shall not be less than 1 mg/L.

NR 104.02(3)(b)2.b. b. The pH shall be within the range of 6.0 to 9.0.

NR 104.02(3)(b)2.c. c. All other substances shall meet the acute and chronic toxicity criteria for the limited aquatic life subcategory specified in or developed pursuant to ss. NR 105.05 and 105.06.

NR 104.02(3)(b)3. 3. ‘Effluent criteria.’

NR 104.02(3)(b)3.a. a. The effluent limitations determined necessary to meet the surface water criteria listed above are enumerated in table 2.

NR 104.02(3)(b)3.b. b. Unless otherwise specified in table 2 above, effluent limitations for sewage treatment works shall be as adopted in ch. NR 210.

NR 104.02(3)(b)3.c. c. In addition to the effluent limitations enumerated in table 2, effluent limitations for these and any other substance necessary to protect assigned uses shall be met, including water quality based limitations necessary to meet the criteria for limited aquatic life surface water specified in or developed pursuant to ss. NR 105.05 and 105.06.

NR 104.02(4) (4) Other classifications and effluent criteria.

NR 104.02(4)(a) (a) Surface waters significant to the environmental integrity of the state or region. Under all hydrologic categories, the department reserves the right to require other effluent limitations, including allocation of wasteloads for organic material, toxicants and chlorine residuals if it is determined that the specified surface water is important to the overall environmental integrity of the area. In waters identified as trout streams, located in scientific areas or wild and scenic areas, providing endangered species habitat or of high recreational potential, effluent criteria will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

NR 104.02(4)(b) (b) Surface waters classified for fish and aquatic life.

NR 104.02(4)(b)1. 1. ‘Streams.’ Where flowing streams or rivers are specified to achieve fish and aquatic life criteria, wasteload allocation for organic material, toxicants and chlorine residuals shall determine effluent criteria necessary to achieve that standard.

NR 104.02(4)(b)2. 2. ‘Lakes and flowages.’ Effluent characteristics for discharges to lakes or flowages shall be based upon an evaluation of water quality necessary to protect fish and aquatic life taking into account mixing zone and nutrient removal criteria.

NR 104.02(4)(b)3. 3. ‘Minimum effluent criteria.’ If it can be reasonably demonstrated that the quality of the surface water is independent of a wastewater discharge, effluent limitations established under ss. 283.13 and 283.19, Stats., shall apply.

NR 104.02(4)(c) (c) Wastewater treatment lagoons. Effluents from fill-and-draw wastewater treatment lagoons or domestic waste stabilization ponds discharging to waters receiving a variance in this chapter may be permitted to vary from the limitations specified in table 1 or 2 provided the following conditions are met:

NR 104.02(4)(c)1. 1. The discharge occurs only during the spring and fall of the year when the flow in the receiving water is normally high, and the temperature is low. The rate of discharge shall not exceed that specified in a permit under s. 283.31, Stats., or where no rate is indicated, the allowable discharge quantities shall be determined by the department based upon current evaluation of the receiving water.

NR 104.02(4)(c)2. 2. In lieu of the previous conditions, the discharge from a fill-and-draw lagoon may occur at any time provided the rate does not exceed the assimilative capacity of the receiving water as specified in a permit under s. 283.31, Stats.

NR 104.02(4)(c)3. 3. The dissolved oxygen in the effluent is maintained at a level greater than or equal to 4 mg/L, and the permitted rate of discharge shall be such that the dissolved oxygen and ammonia nitrogen criteria necessary to sustain fish and aquatic life are maintained in the stream during the period of discharge.

NR 104.02(4)(c)4. 4. The effluent limitations do not exceed those established under ss. 283.13 and 283.19, Stats.

NR 104.02(5) (5) Changes in classification. Surface waters which exhibit changing hydrologic and quality characteristics shall be classified accordingly. Effluent criteria for upstream discharges shall be based upon the most critical downstream classification and shall be specified by the department either on the basis of justified inference or by the application of a wasteload allocation analysis. Any subsequent changes in a stream’s morphology or potential may necessitate the reevaluation of the classification.

NR 104.02 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. Tables 1 and 2, (2), (3) (a) 2a and d., (3) (b) 2a and c., (4) (c), Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; am. (3) (a) 2a, Register, June, 1978, No. 270, eff. 7-1-78; am. (1) (c), Register, June, 1984, No. 342, eff. 2-1-84; r. (3) (a) 2. b. to d., (b) 2. b. and c., renum. (3) (a) 2. e. to g. and (3) (b) 2. d. and e. to be (3) (a) 2. b. to d. and (3) (b) 2. b. and c. and am (3) (a) 2. g. and (3) (b) 2. c., am. (3) (a) 3. a. and (3) (b) 3. a., Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; am. (1) (intro.), (2) (b), (3) (a) (intro.) and 3. c., and (3) (b) 3. c., r. and recr. (3) (a) 2. d. and (3) (b) 2. c., Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; CR 03-050: r. (3) (a) 2. b., am. Table 1 Register February 2004 No. 578, eff. 3-1-04; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register September 2020 No. 777.

NR 104.04 NR 104.04 Provision for changes. The surface waters specified in this chapter are not intended to be an exclusive listing nor do the specified effluent criteria purport to meet the 1983 water quality goals set forth in ch. 283, Stats. Additions to or deletions from these listings may be made based upon the accumulation of information necessary to make such determination and in accordance with the requirements of ch. 227, Stats.

NR 104.04 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76.

NR 104.05 NR 104.05 Variances and additions applicable in the southern district. Subject to the provision of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the southern district counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows:

NR 104.05(1) (1) Addition. The public water supply standard shall be met on the Wisconsin river in section 8, township 10 north, range 7 east.

NR 104.05(2) (2) Variance. Surface waters in the southern district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 3.

NR 104.05 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. table 3, r. (3), Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; correction in Table 3 made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats.

NR 104.06 NR 104.06 Variances and additions applicable in the southeast district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the southeast district counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows.

NR 104.06(1) (1) Variance. Surface waters in the southeast district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 4.

NR 104.06(2) (2) Other variances.

NR 104.06(2)(a) (a) The following surface waters in the southeast district shall meet the standards for fish and aquatic life except that the dissolved oxygen shall not be lowered to less than 2 mg/L at any time:

NR 104.06(2)(a)1. 1. Underwood creek in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties below Juneau boulevard.

NR 104.06(2)(a)2. 2. Barnes creek in Kenosha county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)3. 3. Pike creek, a tributary of Pike river, in Kenosha county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)4. 4. Pike river in Racine county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)5. 5. Indian creek in Milwaukee county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)6. 6. Honey creek in Milwaukee county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)7. 7. Menomonee river in Milwaukee county below the confluence with Honey creek.

NR 104.06(2)(a)8. 8. Kinnickinnic river in Milwaukee county.

NR 104.06(2)(a)9. 9. Lincoln creek in Milwaukee county.

NR 104.06(2)(b) (b) The following surface waters in the southeast district shall meet the standards for fish and aquatic life except that the dissolved oxygen may not be lowered to less than 2 mg/L at any time nor may the ambient water temperature exceed 89°F at any time at the edge of the mixing zones established by the department under s. NR 102.05 (3):

NR 104.06(2)(b)1. 1. Milwaukee river in Milwaukee county downstream from the North Avenue dam.

NR 104.06(2)(b)2. 2. South Menomonee canal and Burnham canal in Milwaukee county.

NR 104.06 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. Table 4, Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; reprinted to correct error in table 4, line 11, Register, August, 1982, No. 320; am. (2) (b), Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; CR 19-014: am. (2) (a) (intro.), (b) (intro.) Regsiter April 2020 No. 772, eff. 5-1-20.

NR 104.07 NR 104.07 Variances and additions applicable in the Lake Michigan district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate surface waters in the Lake Michigan district counties of Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows:

NR 104.07(1) (1) Addition. The public water supply standard shall be met in the following surface waters:

NR 104.07(1)(a) (a) Lake Winnebago.

NR 104.07(1)(b) (b) Fox river from Lake Winnebago downstream to the upper dam in the city of Appleton.

NR 104.07(1)(c) (c) West branch Wolf river at Neopit.

NR 104.07(1)(d) (d) Rainbow lake in Waupaca county.

NR 104.07(2) (2) Variance. Surface waters in the Lake Michigan district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 5.

NR 104.07 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. Table 5, Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-76; r. entry 46, Table 5, Register, July, 1981, No. 307, eff. 8-1-81; r. and recr. (3) Register, August, 1981, No. 308, eff. 9-1-81; r. (3) (a), Register, May, 1986, No. 365, eff. 6-1-86; r. (3), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89.

NR 104.08 NR 104.08 Variances and additions applicable in the north central district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate waters in the north central district counties of Adams, Forest, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas and Wood shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows:

NR 104.08(1) (1) Addition. The public water supply standards shall be met in Lake Nepco in Wood county.

NR 104.08(2) (2) Variance. Surface waters in the north central district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 6.

NR 104.08(3) (3) Variance.

NR 104.08(3)(a) (a) The Wisconsin river from the Rhinelander dam downstream to Crescent creek shall meet the standards for fish and aquatic life and recreational use except that the dissolved oxygen shall not be lowered to less than 3.0 mg/L at any time. This variance to the 5.0 mg/L dissolved oxygen criterion provided by this subsection shall expire on June 30, 1984.

NR 104.08 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. Table 6, Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; am. Table 6, entry 10, Register, June, 1978, No. 270, eff. 7-1-78; r. and recr. (3), Register, August, 1981, No. 308, eff. 9-1-81.

NR 104.09 NR 104.09 Variances and additions applicable in the west central district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate waters in the west central district counties of Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Trempealeau and Vernon shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows:

NR 104.09(1) (1) Addition. The public water supply standard shall be met in the following surface waters:

NR 104.09(1)(a) (a) Black river at Neillsville.

NR 104.09(1)(b) (b) Town creek at Black River Falls.

NR 104.09(2) (2) Variance. Surface waters in the west central district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 7.

NR 104.09 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. table 6, Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; r. (2) table 7, entry 28, Register, September, 1981, No. 309, eff. 10-1-81.

NR 104.10 NR 104.10 Variances and additions applicable in the northwest district. Subject to the provisions of s. NR 104.04, intrastate waters in the northwest district counties of Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn shall meet the criteria for fish and aquatic life and recreational use with exceptions and additions as follows:

NR 104.10(1) (1) Addition. The public water supply standard shall be met in the following surface waters:

NR 104.10(1)(a) (a) Lake Lavina in Iron county.

NR 104.10(1)(b) (b) Little Rib lake in Taylor county.

NR 104.10(2) (2) Variance. Surface waters in the northwest district subject to a variance under s. NR 104.02 (3) are listed in table 8.

NR 104.10(3) (3) Other variances.

NR 104.10(3)(a) (a) The Flambeau river from the upper dam at Park Falls downstream to the Crowley dam shall meet the standards for fish and aquatic life and recreational use, except that the dissolved oxygen may not be lowered to less than 3.0 mg/L at any time. On June 30, 1984, this variance shall expire and after that date all portions of the Flambeau river shall meet the standards for fish and aquatic life and recreational use, including the dissolved oxygen standard of 5.0 mg/L.

NR 104.10(3)(b) (b) Newton creek in the city of Superior, from the headwaters to its mouth into Hog Island Inlet of Superior Bay shall be classified as a noncontinuous stream and shall also be classified for fish and aquatic life uses with the subcategory of limited forage fish communities. Hog Island Inlet and Superior Bay shall be classified for fish and other aquatic life uses with the subcategory of great lake communities.

NR 104.10 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. table 8, Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; cr. entry 27, table 8, Register, September, 1981, No. 309, eff. 10-1-81; am. (3) (a), Register, May, 1983, No. 329, eff. 6-1-83; am. (3) (b), Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; am. (3) (b), Register, April, 1991, No. 424, eff. 5-1-91.

subch. II of ch. NR 104 Subchapter II — Interstate Waters

NR 104.20 NR 104.20 Wisconsin-Illinois waters.

NR 104.20(1) (1) The Des Plaines River, Pitscasaw Creek, Nippersink Creek and Turtle Creek upstream of the Rock-Walworth county line are used for wildlife and stock watering, waste assimilation, warm water fishery and recreation. Dutch Gap Canal and Trevor Creek have similar uses excepting waste assimilation. The main stems of these streams shall meet the requirements for recreational use and fish and aquatic life.