Surface Water Standards  


Program Contact:   
Lindsay Patterson, Supervisor
307-777-7079                 
lindsay.patterson@wyo.gov
 

Current Standards

▪   Chapter 1 - Adopted - Surface Water Standards
 ▪   Implementation Policies - Adopted
▪    Wyoming Surface Water Classification List (Tables A & B) See UAA Table Below for Approved Classification Changes
 ▪    Water Quality Standards for Salinity, Colorado River System - 2005 Review, Download here

Triennial Review

May 13, 2013:  The Environmental Quality Council (EQC) will consider proposed revisions to Chapter 1 at a public hearing to be held on July 11, 2013.  The EQC is accepting comments on the proposed revisions beginning May 13, 2013.  The written comment period ends at 5:00 pm MDT on June 27, 2013.  Documents detailing the proposed changes include: Chapter 1 Draft, Implementation Policies Draft, Notice of Intent, and Statement of Principal Reasons.

February 19, 2013:  The Water and Waste Advisory Board met on March 21, 2013 to consider proposed changes to Chapter 1.  The public comment period for the proposed rule changes ended January 15, 2013.  Documents detailing the proposed changes include: Chapter 1 Draft, Implementation Policies Draft, Statement of Principal Reasons, and Responses to Comments for the Comment Period Ending January 15, 2013.

December 14, 2012:  The Water and Waste Advisory Board extended the public comment period for proposed changes to Chapter 1 until close of business January 15, 2013.

November 13, 2012:  The Water and Waste Advisory Board met on December 14, 2012 to consider proposed changes to Chapter 1. Documents detailing the proposed changes included: Chapter 1 Draft, Implementation Policies Draft, Statement of Principal Reasons, and Responses to Comments for the Comment Period Ending September 24, 2012.

August 24, 2012:   In anticipation of the fourth quarter meeting of the Water and Waste Advisory Board, WQD sought public input and comment regarding a number of revisions to Chapter 1. Written comments were accepted until September 24, 2012. Documents detailing the proposed changes included: Chapter 1 Draft, Implementation Policies Draft, Statement of Principal Reasons, and Responses to Comments for the Comment Period Ending October 21, 2011.

September 12, 2011:  The Watershed Section, Water Quality Division (WQD), initiated the revision of Chapter 1, Wyoming's Surface Water Quality Standards, on September 12, 2011 with the release of a public notice and Proposed Rule Revision Outreach Document .

Nutrient Criteria Plan

▪    Wyoming plan to develop numeric nutrient criteria.  Download pdf format.
▪    Wyoming Nutrient Criteria Sampling and Analysis Plan.  Download pdf format.

Other Information

▪    Interim Policy on Establishing Effluent Limits for Permitted Point Source Discharges to Class 1 Water Tributaries - Adopted Memorandum
▪    Link to:  U.S. EPA Water Quality Standards Website

Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs)

Surface water classifications and site specific criteria are revised in Wyoming on an ongoing basis. Many of these modifications are based upon structured studies called Use Attainability Analyses. The table that follow shows the status of any required administrative action for each UAA conducted in Wyoming beginning in July 2001. Associated documents can be viewed or downloaded by selecting the appropriate links.
UAA Proposed Change Public Notice WQD Action EQC Action EPA Action Status
Sand Creek (near Lysite Big Horn River Basin) 29MB Classification 3B to 4B 11/27/2001 Comments Approved 3/27/02 Not Appealed Approved
6/11/2002		 Final
Isolated Waters (Statewide-Categorical) Classification 4C 12/7/2001 Comments Approved 4/22/02 Withdrawn 7/11/05 N/A Pending
Coal Draw (near Thermopolis), Big Horn Basin Classification 3B to 4B (upper reaches) 4C (lower reaches) 9/6/02 Comments Approved 12/5/02 Not Appealed Partial Approval
3/5/03		 Final
Red Creek, Great Divide Basin Classification 3B to 4B 9/6/02 Comments Approved 11/7/02 Not Appealed Approved
5/8/03		 Final

Whitetail Creek, Little Powder Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B 12/6/02
Comments		 Approved
8/6/03		 Not Appealed Disapproved
2/24/05		 Final
Unnamed Trib to Whitetail Cr, Little Powder Basin Classification 3B to 4C 12/6/02
Comments		 Approved
8/6/03 		Not Appealed Disapproved
2/24/05		 Final

Gooseberry Cr, Bighorn Basin

 Classification 2AB to
2B (upper reaches)
2C (lower reaches)		 1/15/03
Comments 		Approved
8/6/03 		Not Appealed Approved
12/5/03		 Final

Rawhide Cr, Bighorn Basin

 Classification 2AB to
2B (upper reaches)
2C (lower reaches)		 1/15/03
Comments		 Approved
8/6/03 		Not Appealed Approved
12/5/03		 Final

Porter Draw,
South Platte Basin

 Classification 3B to 4C 11/17/03 Withdrawn Not Appealed N/A N/A

Wallace Creek,
Powder River Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B 11/17/03
Comments		 Approved 05/24/04
Revised
1/26/05		 Not Appealed   Final
Caballo Creek
Belle Fourche Basin		 Classification 3B to 2ABww 2/25/04
Comments		 Approved 5/24/04 Not Appealed   Final
Unnamed Trib to Foster Reservoir Bighorn Basin Classification 3B to 4B 3/9/04
Comments		 Approved 5/22/04 Not Appealed   Final
Unnamed Drainage to Sevenmile Creek
North Platte River Basin		 Classification 3B to 4C 7/12/04 Approved 8/10/04 Not Appealed   Final
Robinson Creek
Belle Fourche Basin		 Classification 3B to 4C 8/6/04
Comments		 Approved
9/27/04		 Not Appealed   Final
Anderson Draw Powder River Basin Classification 3B to 4B and 4C 8/6/04
 Comments		 Approved
9/27/04		 Not Appealed   Final
Van Houten Dr. Powder River Basin Classification 3B to 4B and 4C 8/6/04
 Comments		 Approved
9/27/04		 Not Appealed   Final

Schoonover Road Area
Powder River Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B 8/6/04
 Comments		 Approved
9/27/04		 Not Appealed Final

Canals & Ditches
Categorical
Statewide

 Classification
4A		 9/1/04
Comments		 Approved
1/03/05		 Not Appealed    

Kennedy North Area
Powder River Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B 10/22/04
Comments		 Approved
12/27/04		 Not Appealed    

Kennedy South Area
Powder River Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B and 4C 10/22/04
Comments		 Approved
12/27/04		 Partial Approval 10/29/07    

Cottonwood Creek
Big Horn Basin

 Criteria
Chloride & Selenium		 12/6/06 N/A Approved 4/25/07 Approved 9/29/08 Final

Salt Creek
Powder River Basin

 Criteria
Chloride		 12/6/06 N/A Approved 4/25/07 Approved 9/29/08 Final

Poison Spider Creek
North Platte River Basin

 Criteria
Chloride		 12/6/06 N/A Approved 4/25/07 Approved 9/29/08 Final

Unnamed Trib to Black Thunder Cr.  Cheyenne River Basin

 Classification 3B to 4B 1/10/05
 Comments		 Approved
3/22/05		 Not Appealed Disapproved
9/14/06		 Final
Unnamed Trib to Poison Spider Cr.  North Platte Basin Classification
3B to 4B		 4/25/05
 Comments		 Approved
11/18/05		 Not Appealed Disapproved
9/14/06		 Final
Unnamed, Isolated Wetland near Lamont, WY
Great Divide Basin		 Classification
3B to 4B		 4/25/05
Comments		 Approved
11/18/05		 Not Appealed Deferred Action 9/14/06 Final
Three Unnamed Tributaries of Dead Horse Creek in the Powder River Basin Classification
3B to 4B		 6/22/05
 Comments		 Approved
11/18/05		 Not Appealed Approved
9/14/06		 Final
Unnamed Trib to Lodgepole Creek in the Cheyenne River Basin Classification
3B to 4B		 9/12/05
 Comments		 Approved
11/18/05		 Not Appealed Approved
9/14/06		 Final
Three Tributaries to Crazy Woman Creek in the Powder River Basin Classification
3B to 4B		 11/16/05
Comments		 Approved
2/6/06		 Disapproved 11/30/07 Approved
9/14/06		 Final
Willow Springs Draw in the Big Horn Basin Classification
3B to 4B		 8/11/06
 Comments		 Approved
9/26/06		 Not Appealed Approved 9/26/07 Final
Bear Creek North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved
6/27/11		 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Cottonwood Creek North Platte Basin

 Classification 3B to 2C and Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved
6/27/11		 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Deer Creek North Platte Basin

 Classification 2AB to 2C 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Horse Creek North Platte Basin

 Classification 2AB to 2ABww 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Kirby Creek Big Horn Basin

 Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation          

Muskrat Creek North Platte Basin

 Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Rawhide Creek North Platte Basin

 Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation          

Red Cloud Slough North Platte Basin

 Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

Cherry Creek North Platte Basin

 Classification 2AB to 2C and Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Cherry Creek Drain North Platte Basin Classification 2AB to 2C 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Dater Creek North Platte Basin Classification 2AB to 2C and Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Fox Creek North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Jay Em Creek North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Little Cottonwood Creek North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Negro Baby North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Sage Creek North Platte Basin Primary Recreation to Secondary Recreation 10/25/10 Comments Approved 6/27/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final
Gillette Fishing Lake Belle Fourche Basin Classification 2AB to 2ABww 9/14/11 Comments Approved 9/19/11 Not Appealed Approved 12/28/2011 Final

                                              Last Update: August 23, 2012