Wyoming Administrative Code › Agency 020 - Environmental Quality, Dept. of › Sub-Agency 0011 - Water Quality › Chapter 1 - WYOMING SURFACE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS › Appendix A - Wyoming Surface Water Classifications

Current through July 13, 2024
All surface waters in Wyoming are classified as
				  follows:
(a) Class 1 Waters. The following waters are designated Class
				  1:
(i) All surface waters located within the boundaries of
				  national parks and congressionally designated wilderness areas as of January 1,
				  1999;
(ii) The main stem of the Snake River through its entire
				  length above the U.S. Highway 22 Bridge (Wilson Bridge);
(iii) The main stem of the Green River, including the Green
				  River Lakes from the mouth of the New Fork River upstream to the wilderness
				  boundary;
(iv) The main stem of the Wind River from the Wedding of the
				  Waters upstream to Boysen Dam;
(v) The main stem of the North Platte River from the mouth of
				  Sage Creek (approximately 15 stream miles downstream of Saratoga, Wyoming)
				  upstream to the Colorado state line;
(vi) The main stem of the North Platte River from the
				  headwaters of Pathfinder Reservoir upstream to Kortes Dam (Miracle Mile
				  segment);
(vii) The main stem of the North Platte River from the
				  Natrona County Road 309 bridge (Goose Egg bridge) upstream to Alcova
				  Reservoir;
(viii) The main stem of Sand Creek above the U.S. Highway 14
				  bridge;
(ix) The main stem of the Middle Fork of the Powder River
				  through its entire length above the mouth of Buffalo Creek;
(x) The main stem of the North Fork of the Tongue River, the
				  main stem of the South Fork of the Tongue River and the main stem of the Tongue
				  River above the U.S. Forest Service boundary;
(xi) The main stem of the Sweetwater River above the mouth of
				  Alkali Creek;
(xii) The main stem of the Encampment River from the northern
				  U.S. Forest Service boundary upstream to the Colorado state line;
(xiii) The main stem of the Clarks Fork River from the U.S.
				  Forest Service boundary upstream to the Montana state line;
(xiv) All waters within the Fish Creek (near Wilson, Wyoming)
				  drainage;
(xv) The main stem of Granite Creek (tributary of the Hoback
				  River) through its entire length;
(xvi) Fremont Lake;
(xvii) Wetlands adjacent to the above listed Class 1
				  waters.
(b) Individual water classifications for major water bodies
				  and recreational use designations are listed in the most current version of the
Wyoming Surface Water Classification List
. The list is
				  published by the department and periodically revised and updated according to
				  the provisions of Sections
				  4,
				  33,
				  34 and
				  35. In
				  addition to the listings contained in that document, the following provisions
				  apply:
(i) National Parks and Wilderness Areas. All surface waters
				  located within the boundaries of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and
				  congressionally designated wilderness areas as of January 1, 1999 are Class 1
				  waters. A Class 1 designation always takes precedence over the classification
				  given in the listing. For example, Dinwoody Creek is shown as a Class 2 water;
				  however, the upper portions are within a wilderness area and those portions are
				  Class 1. The portion below the wilderness boundary is Class 2.
(ii) Unlisted Waters. The waters contained in the
Wyoming Surface Water Classification List
are all waters which
				  are named on the USGS 1:500,000 hydrologic map of Wyoming and those otherwise
				  classified by the department. The classification list does not contain an
				  exhaustive listing of all the surface waters in the state. Waters which are not
				  listed are classified as follows:
(A) All waters shown as having any species of game fish
				  present in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's
Streams and Lakes
				  Database
as submitted to the department in June 2000 are classified as
				  2AB;
(B) All waters shown as having only nongame fish species
				  present in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's
Streams and Lakes
				  Database
as submitted to the department in June 2000 are classified as
				  2C;
(C) All other waters shall be classified as follows:
(I) Those waters supported by an approved UAA containing
				  defensible reasons for not protecting aquatic life uses shall be 4A, 4B or 4C.
				  This category includes isolated, effluent dependent waters;
(II) Effluent dependent waters that support resident fish
				  populations shall be 2D;
(III) Effluent dependent waters that do not support resident
				  fish populations shall be 3D;
(IV) The remaining waters shall be 3A, 3B or 3C.
(iii) Wetlands. All adjacent wetlands shall have the same
				  classification as the water to which they are adjacent.