1.For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
a.“Base flow conditions” means the flow of a stream segment, as measured during the
time period between July 1 and September 30, that occurs during a period of time when the
watershed in which the stream segment is located receives no twenty-four-hour rainfall in
excess of one-quarter inch total rainfall and not more than one-half inch total rainfall for the
watershed in the preceding two weeks.
b.“Credible data” means the same as defined in section 455B.171 and is subject to the
same requirements as provided in section 455B.193 and may include, but not rely solely
on, data that is older than five years and that is obtained pursuant to the best professional
judgment of a professional designee or a state or federal ag
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1. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. “Base flow conditions” means the flow of a stream segment, as measured during the
time period between July 1 and September 30, that occurs during a period of time when the
watershed in which the stream segment is located receives no twenty-four-hour rainfall in
excess of one-quarter inch total rainfall and not more than one-half inch total rainfall for the
watershed in the preceding two weeks.
b. “Credible data” means the same as defined in section 455B.171 and is subject to the
same requirements as provided in section 455B.193 and may include, but not rely solely
on, data that is older than five years and that is obtained pursuant to the best professional
judgment of a professional designee or a state or federal agency.
c. “Ephemeral stream” means a stream that flows only in response to precipitation and
whose channel is primarily above the water table.
d. “Professional designee” means the same as defined in section 455B.193.
e. “Use attainability analysis” means a structured scientific assessment that includes
physical, chemical, biological, and economic factors.
2. Awaterofthestateshallbeadesignatedstreamsegmentwhenanyoneofthefollowing
is met:
a. The most recent ten-year median flow is equal to or in excess of one cubic foot
per second based on data collected and evaluated by the United States geological survey
between July 1 and September 30 of each year or in the absence of stream segment flow
data calculations of flow conducted by extrapolation methods provided by the United States
geological survey or based upon a calculation method adopted by rule.
§455B.176A, JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 44
b. The water is a critical habitat of a threatened or endangered aquatic specie as
determined by the department or the United States fish and wildlife service.
c. Credible data developed in accordance with section 455B.193 shows that water flows
that are less than set out in paragraph “a” provide a refuge for aquatic life that permits
biological recolonization of intermittently flowing segments.
3. Allwatersofthestatenotdesignatedasastreamsegmentshallbeidentifiedasageneral
stream segment and shall be subject to narrative water quality standards.
4. a. The commission shall adopt rules to define designated uses of stream segments in
accordance with the following categories:
(1) Agricultural water supply use.
(2) Aquatic life support.
(3) Domestic water supply.
(4) Food procurement use.
(5) Industrial water supply use.
(6) Recreational use, including primary, secondary, and children’s recreational use.
(7) Seasonal use. The department may allow for a seasonal use designation for streams
that would otherwise be categorized under an aquatic or recreational designation if a varying
degree of protection would be sufficient to protect the stream during a seasonal time period.
b. The commission shall include subcategories of designated uses of the categories listed
in paragraph “a”, as deemed appropriate by the commission.
c. When reviewing whether a designated use is attainable, the department shall consider
at a minimum the following:
(1) Whether the natural, ephemeral, intermittent, or low flow conditions or water levels
could inhibit recreational activities.
(2) If opposite sides of a stream segment would have different designated recreational
uses due to differences in public access, the designated use of the entire stream segment may
be the higher attainable use.
(3) ThetimeperiodfordeterminingprimarycontactrecreationshallbeMarch15through
November 15.
(4) The degree to which the public has access to the stream segment.
(5) The minimum depth of the deepest pool.
(6) StreamsegmentsshallbeprotectedforallexistingusesasdefinedbythefederalWater
Pollution Control Act.
5. The commission shall adopt rules designating water quality standards which shall be
specific to each designated use adopted pursuant to subsection 4. The standards shall take
into account the different characteristics of each designated use and shall provide for only
the appropriate level of protection based upon that particular use. The standards shall not
be identical for each designated use unless required for the appropriate level of protection.
The appropriate level of protection and standards shall be determined on a scientific basis.
In the development process for the water quality standards, input shall be received from a
water quality standards advisory committee convened by the department. The water quality
standards advisory committee shall be comprised of experts in the scientific fields relating to
water quality, such as environmental engineering, aquatic toxicology, fisheries biology, and
other life sciences and experts in the development of the appropriate levels of aquatic life
protection and standards. The water quality standards shall be reviewed and revised by the
department as new scientific data becomes available to support revision.
6. Prior to any changes in a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit
effluent limitation based upon a new use designation, the department or a designee of the
department shall conduct a use attainability analysis. The commission shall adopt rules
that establish procedures and criteria to be used in the development of a use attainability
analysis. The rules shall, at a minimum, provide all of the following:
a. A designated use, which is not an existing use as defined by the federal Water Pollution
Control Act, may be removed due to any of the following:
(1) Naturally occurring pollutant concentrations prevent the attainment of the use.
(2) Natural, ephemeral, intermittent, or low flow conditions or water levels prevent the
attainment of the use, unless these conditions may be compensated for by the discharge
45 JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, §455B.176A
of sufficient volume of effluent discharges without violating state water conservation
requirements to enable uses to be met.
(3) Human-caused conditions or sources of pollution prevent the attainment of the use
and cannot be remedied or would cause more environmental damage to correct than to leave
in place.
(4) Dams, diversions, or other types of hydrologic modifications preclude the attainment
of the use, and it is not feasible to restore the water body to its original condition or to operate
such modification in a way that would result in the attainment of the use.
(5) Physical conditions related to the natural features of the water body, such as the lack
of a proper substrate, cover, flow, depth, pools, riffles, and the like, unrelated to water quality,
preclude attainment of aquatic life protection uses.
(6) Controls more stringent than those required by sections 1311(b) and 1316 of the
federal Water Pollution Control Act would result in substantial and widespread economic
and social impact.
b. A designated use shall not be removed if any of the following occur:
(1) Thedesignateduseisanexistinguse,asdefinedbythefederalWaterPollutionControl
Act, unless a use requiring more stringent criteria is added.
(2) Such uses will be attained by implementing effluent limits required under sections
1311(b) and 1316 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act and by implementing
cost-effective and reasonable best management practices for nonpoint source control.
c. Where existing water quality standards specify designated uses less than those which
are presently being attained, the commission shall revise its standards to reflect the uses
actually being attained.
7. a. Thecommissionshalladoptrulespursuanttochapter17Atoadministerthissection.
All new or revised stream segment use designations shall be adopted by rule. Any rule that
establishes, modifies, orrepealsexistingwaterqualitystandardsinthisstateshallbeadopted
in conformance with this section.
b. (1) By December 31, 2006, the department shall publish a list of all designated
stream segments that receive a permitted discharge for which a use attainability analysis
for recreational use and aquatic life has not been completed and a list of all designated
stream segments that receive a permitted discharge for which a use attainability analysis
for recreational use and aquatic life has been completed and whether a recreational or
aquatic use has been determined to be or not to be attainable. By December 31, 2007, a
use attainability analysis shall be completed for all newly designated stream segments that
receive a permitted discharge.
(2) A use attainability analysis for a designated stream segment receiving a permitted
discharge shall be conducted by either the department or a professional designee.
(3) Thedepartmentshallmakepublicawrittendeterminationofwhetheraneworrevised
use designation is appropriate for the designated stream segment prior to adoption by rule
of the proposed changes.
c. The department shall complete, upon request, a use attainability analysis for
recreational and aquatic uses on any designated stream segment not receiving a permitted
discharge or on any previously designated stream segment in accordance with the following
provisions:
(1) Thedepartmentshallmakepublicawrittendeterminationofwhetheraneworrevised
designated use is appropriate for the designated stream segment within ninety days of
completion of the use attainability analysis prior to adoption by rule of the proposed changes.
(2) The department shall accept a use attainability analysis submitted by someone other
than a professional designee.
(a) Within thirty days after receipt of submission of a use attainability analysis, the
department shall review and provide a written determination of whether the documentation
submitted is complete.
(b) Withinninetydaysafterreceiptofsubmissionofacompleteduseattainabilityanalysis,
the department shall review and make available to the public a written determination of
whether a new or revised use designation is appropriate for the designated stream segment.
d. Any regulated entity or property owner adjacent to the accessed stream segment
§455B.176A, JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 46
aggrieved by such a determination may make a written request, within thirty days from
the date the written determination of the appropriate use designation is made available to
the public, for a meeting with the director or the director’s designee. A regulated entity or
propertyowneradjacenttotheaccessedstreamsegmentshallbeallowedtoprovideevidence
that the designation is not appropriate under the criteria as established in this subsection.
8. An operation permit issued pursuant to section 455B.173 that expires before a use
attainability analysis is performed shall remain in effect and the department shall not renew
the permit until a use attainability analysis is completed. If a use attainability analysis
demonstrates that a change in the use designation is warranted, the permit shall remain in
effect and the department shall not renew the permit until the stream use designation is
changed. In order for an expired permit to remain in effect, the permit holder must meet the
requirements for a permit renewal. This subsection does not apply if the permit applicant
and the department agree that the performance of a use attainability analysis presents no
reasonable likelihood of resulting in a change to the existing stream use designations.
9. Rules adopted to implement this section are not subject to section 17A.7, subsection 2
or 3.