Bioassessment and Biocriteria Program Status for Michigan: Streams and Wadeable Rivers
State Program Contact
Water Quality Standards
The link to Michigan's WQS that are in effect for Clean Water Act purposes is provided. These are the WQS approved by EPA.
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Coldwater fisheries: trout, salmon, whitefish, and cisco
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Warmwater fisheries: fish species that thrive in relatively warmwater, including any of the following: bass, pike, walleye, panfish
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Other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife
Biological Criteria
_____ Narrative
_____ Numeric
__X__ No criteria
Antidegradation Policy
Michigan’s antidegradation rules are found at R 323.1098 (PDF) (62 pp, 894 K).
Biological Assessment
What biological assemblages are used in the bioassessment program?
Benthic macroinvertebrates and fish
Are bioassessments used to support 303(d) listings?
Yes. Listing methodology: Water Quality and Pollution Control in Michigan Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Integrated Report
How are assemblages used to make impairment decisions?
Independently applied
Other uses of biocriteria or bioassessment within the water quality program:
TMDL development and assessment, antidegradation, non-point source assessments, BMP evaluation, 305(b) surface water condition assessments, and evaluation of discharge permit conditions
Technical Support Information and Documents:
Reference condition:
Not applicable.
Biocriteria:
Not applicable.
Stressor identification/causal analysis approach:
Not applicable.