DNR requests our help

Read entire release at link: https://dnr.wi.gov/news/releases/article/?id=4687

DNR seeks comments and data to assess surface water quality

By Central Office January 22, 2019

Contact(s): Ashley Beranek, DNR water resources management specialist, 608-267-9603, Ashley.Beranek@Wisconsin.gov

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public assistance to improve evaluation of the state's surface water quality. Assistance is requested in two forms: guidance comments and water quality data. The submission period for both runs from January 22 to March 1, 2019.

Guidance Comments

The Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology, known as WisCALM, provides guidance to assess surface water quality and trends against standards set by the Clean Water Act. The methodology is updated for each biennial surface water assessment cycle and the current guidance is being updated for the 2020 cycle.

This year's updates include:

• An updated definition of the Impaired Waters List and creation of the Restoration Waters List and Healthy Waters List;
• Chlorophyll-a lake listing benchmark and terminology change; and
• Addition of a Quick Link section with links including Wisconsin administrative code, federal guidance documents, and monitoring strategies and protocols among others.

"Wisconsin's surface water quality is good and improving in many areas, but by updating the technical guidance and maintaining the impaired waters list, the state works to address changes through targeted improvement plans," said Ashley Beranek, DNR water resources management specialist.

A copy of the draft guidance can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: Draft 2020 WisCALM. For more about these changes, visit dnr.wi.gov and refer to the Water condition assessments & reporting page. Public comments on the latest WisCALM guidance can be submitted to: dnrimpairedwaters@wisconsin.gov or via mail to Ashley Beranek, DNR, Bureau of Water Quality, 101 S. Webster St. WQ/3 Madison, WI 53707.

Read more at link: https://dnr.wi.gov/news/releases/article/?id=4687