Wisconsin has developed an assessment and listing methodology (WisCALM) for the 2010 Clean Water Act reporting period. WisCALM is a systematic process by which water (rivers, lakes and streams) condition is assessed and management options evaluated. For the 2010 reporting period, Wisconsin is publishing its first consolidated guidance for assessing both general condition and impaired waters to meet federal requirements. WisCALM provides guidance for conducting general and impaired water determinations.

Waters within targeted watersheds, or specific streams, rivers or lakes, will be assessed by analyzing monitoring data or by reviewing historical and more recent information against assessment parameters or condition evaluation metrics. This work will result in placement of the water along a condition gradient of "excellent" to "poor". Waters in "poor" condition will be further analyzed using specific evaluation techniques requiring minimum datasets and quality assurance to determine impairment.

Wisconsin is finalizing details of its 2009/2010 assessment methodology and will publish that work on this webpage when the information is complete and ready for use. Below is a summary of parameters Wisconsin is using for its 2010 Assessment and Listing Process. The WisCALM document provides details behind these metrics and more information on how these relate to water condition. Wisconsin will accept all data during the specified submittal period.

The choice of indicators for assessing water condition is based on recommendations from cross-divisional team of researchers and practioners in fisheries, watershed, and water biology, pathology, ecology and chemistry. Wisconsin has incorporated the systematic use of these new metrics into its general (305(b)) assessment process, as well as its identification of impaired waters for Recreational Use, Fish Consumption, Fish and Aquatic Life, and Public Health and Welfare. Results from this 2010 assessment period will be used to further advance the use of an integrated ecological, biological and chemical assessment procedures.

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