Wisconsin has developed an assessment and listing methodology (WisCALM) for Clean Water Act reporting. WisCALM is a systematic process by which water (rivers, lakes and streams) condition is assessed and management options evaluated. WisCALM provides guidance for conducting general and impaired water determinations.

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

The choice of indicators for assessing water condition is based on recommendations from a 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 the 2010 assessment period were used to further advance the use of integrated ecological, biological and chemical assessment procedures.

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