South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-68 - Water Classifications and Standards › Section 61-68.F - NARRATIVE BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
1.
			 Narrative biological criteria are contained in this regulation and are
			 described throughout the sections where applicable. The following are general
			 statements regarding these narrative biological criteria.
a. Narrative biological criteria in Section
			 A.4. describe the goals of the Department to maintain and improve all surface
			 waters to a level that provides for the survival and propagation of a balanced
			 indigenous aquatic community of fauna and flora. These narrative criteria are
			 determined by the Department based on the condition of the waters of the State
			 by measurements of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the
			 waters according to their classified uses.
b. Section C.10. describes narrative
			 biological criteria relative to surface water mixing zones and specifies
			 requirements necessary for the protection and propagation of a balanced
			 indigenous aquatic community.
c.
			 Narrative biological criteria shall be consistent with the objective of
			 maintaining and improving all surface waters to a level that provides for the
			 survival and propagation of a balanced indigenous aquatic community of fauna
			 and flora attainable in waters of the State, and in all cases shall protect
			 against degradation of the highest existing or classified uses or biological
			 conditions in compliance with the antidegradation rules contained in this
			 regulation. Section D.1.a. describes narrative biological criteria relative to
			 activities in Outstanding National Resource Waters, Outstanding Resource
			 Waters, and Shellfish Harvesting Waters.
d. In order to determine the biological
			 quality of the waters of the State, it is necessary that the biological
			 component be assessed by comparison to a reference condition(s) based upon
			 similar hydrologic and watershed characteristics that represent the optimum
			 natural condition for that system. Such reference condition(s) or reaches of
			 waterbodies shall be those observed to support the greatest variety and
			 abundance of aquatic life in the region as is expected to be or would be with a
			 minimal amount of disturbance from anthropogenic sources. Impacts from
			 urbanization and agriculture should be minimal and natural vegetation should
			 dominate the land cover. There should also be an appropriate diversity of
			 substrate. Reference condition(s) shall be determined by consistent sampling
			 and reliable measures of selected indicative communities of flora and fauna as
			 established by the Department and may be used in conjunction with acceptable
			 physical, chemical, and microbial water quality measurements and records judged
			 to be appropriate for this purpose. Narrative biological criteria relative to
			 activities in all waters are described in Section E.
e. In the Class Descriptions, Designations,
			 and Specific Standards for Surface Waters Section, all water use
			 classifications protect for a balanced indigenous aquatic community of fauna
			 and flora. In addition, Trout Natural and Trout Put, Grow, and Take
			 classifications protect for reproducing trout populations and stocked trout
			 populations, respectively.