Each class has a set of beneficial uses assigned to it that must be protected in the water body. A use-based approach works by assigning beneficial uses to a water body independently of each other, rather than as a group. This method is more flexible, and allows Ecology to allocate the most scientifically defensible combination of beneficial uses to a particular water body without restricting one potentially high quality beneficial use because another associated beneficial use is not of as high a quality. The use-based format would allow beneficial uses to be assigned to waterbodies based on the ability of the waterbody to support the uses. This simplifies the assignment of criteria by not having different levels of criteria assigned for the same type of use.
Second draft is completed and awaiting any final rounds of public review.
Will provide options for criteria that are based on seasonal objectives as well as based on compatibility for different methods of temperature measurement. Second draft is completed and awaiting any final rounds of public review. Provides options for establishing criteria that will affect the resources needed to determine compliance and the stringency of the proposal. Second draft is completed and awaiting any final rounds of public review. The technical committee is universally uncomfortable with having three indicators, so options will be presented to allow Ecology to receive specific feedback from the public.