Providing comments for surface water assessment
Public comment is required on guidance that helps water management specialists evaluate the quality of the state’s surface waters. The Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM) shares information on how to assess surface water quality, using standards set by the Clean Water Act and Wisconsin state statute.
The methodology is updated for each biennial surface water assessment cycle, and the current guidance is being updated for the 2026 cycle.
This year’s updates include a small number of important clarifications, including the following.
• Only two specific PFAS compounds are used in assessments – perfluoro-n-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluoro-noctanoic acid (PFOA).
• Macrophyte Assessments of Condition (both general and phosphorus) do not apply to reservoirs.
• Rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for coli may not be used for assessment purposes.
Assessing waterbodies against water quality standards and identifying impaired waters that don’t meet standards, is part of the overarching federal Clean Water Act framework for restoring impaired waters. Under the Clean Water Act, states are required to monitor and assess their waters, to determine if they meet water quality standards and support the designated uses they are intended to provide.
The public comment period is open until April 24. A copy of the draft guidance can be downloaded online.
Public comments on the latest Wis-CALM guidance can be submitted by email, to DNRWYWaterbodyAssessments@ wisconsin.gov or by mail to: Justin Chenevert, DNR Bureau of Water Quality WQ/3, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.
