Wisconsin's Water Quality
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Water Quality Bureau Division of Environmental Management EGAD #: 3200-2020-13 dnr.wi.gov 101 S Webster Street, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 Wisconsin’s 2020 Water Quality Report to Congress i Governor Tony Evers Natural Resources Board Dr. Frederick Prehn, Chair Gregory Kazmierski, Vice-Chair Julie Anderson, Secretary William Bruins Terry Hilgenberg Bill Smith Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Preston D. Cole, Secretary Beth Bier, Deputy Secretary Todd Ambs, Assistant Deputy Secretary Environmental Management Division Darsi Foss, Administrator Jim Zellmer, Deputy Administrator Adrian Stocks, Director, Water Quality Steve Galarneau, Director, Office of Great Waters Steve Elmore, Director, Drinking Water & Groundwater External Services Division Dave Siebert, Division Administrator Brian Weigel, Director, Watershed Management Michael Thompson, Director, Waterways Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Division Scott Loomans, Division Administrator Justine Hasz, Director, Fisheries Management Wisconsin’s 2020 Water Quality Report to Congress ii Wisconsin’s Water Quality Report The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires all states to prepare a Water Quality Report to Congress every two years. This “Integrated Report” combines the CWA sections 305(b), 303(d), and 314. The report contains an overall summary of water quality conditions in the State and an updated Impaired Waters List. Wisconsin data are also provided electronically to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Integrated Reporting Process. Wisconsin’s 2020 Wisconsin Water Quality Report to Congress summarizes assessment progress and activities related to water quality protection during the past two years. This document is an online publication only that can be accessed at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) website: dnr.wi.gov Cover photo: Popple River in Florence County (2015). Taken by Luke Ernster. Editor: Ashley Beranek Authors and contributors of this report include: Tim Asplund, Jim Amrhein, Brian Austin, Kendra Axness, Ashley Beranek, Dave Bolha, Camille Bruhn, Heidi Bunk, Jeanne Cargill, Jacob Dickmann, Donalea Dinsmore, Mary Gansberg, Melissa Gibson, Kevin Gauthier, Shawn Giblin, Sue Graham, Ilana Haimes, Macaulay Haller, Mark Hazuga, Katie Hein, Craig Helker, Lisa Helmuth, Andy Hudak, Sally Jarosz, Ted Johnson, Kevin Kirsch, Jon Kleist, Jim Klosiewski, Jim Killian, Jim Kreitlow, Jim Lemke, Jodi Lepsch, Mary Anne Lowndes, Madeline Magee, Keith Marquardt, Aaron Marti, Kristi Minahan, Brenda Nordin, Kimberly Oldenborg, Patrick Oldenburg, Emily Punke, Kristen Rathbun, Mark Riedel, Craig Roesler, Rachel Sabre, Mike Shupryt, Paul Skawinski, Alex Smith, Mike Sorge, Pam Toshner, Jean Unmuth, and all Water Quality Biologists, Water Resources Specialists, and Water Program Managers. All photos courtesy of Wisconsin DNR unless otherwise credited. Previous reports were published in 2018, 2016, 2014 (online only), 2012 (online only), 2010, 2008 (data submittal only), 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1987, and earlier. WDNR’s earlier documents are available for review at the GEF II building, 101 S. Webster Street, Madison. Later versions are available electronically. Wisconsin’s 2020 Water Quality Report to Congress iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Wisconsin’s Water Quality .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Total Waters .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Data Used for Assessments .................................................................................................................................................... 3 WDNR Data ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Public Data ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Assessment Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 New List Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 2020 Water Condition Lists .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Impaired Waters List ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 Restoration Waters List ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Healthy Waters List .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 New Pollutant Listings .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Protection TMDLs ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Northeast Lakeshore TMDL Development .................................................................................................................. 13 Pollutant Identification ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Watershed Restoration Plans ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Chloride ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Faxon Creek Source Study ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Beaches ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Degraded Biology ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 Contaminated Sediment Sites ........................................................................................................................................... 17 Coldwater Habitat .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Pollutant Listing Removals ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Sediment Remediation Progress ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Water Quality Improvements ........................................................................................................................................... 21 List Cleanup ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Public Participation .................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Water Action Volunteers .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Citizen Lake Monitoring Network .................................................................................................................................. 28 Wisconsin’s 2020 Water Quality Report to Congress iv Aquatic Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Data Solicitation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Comment Period 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