Wyoming Administrative Code › Agency 020 - Environmental Quality, Dept. of › Sub-Agency 0011 - Water Quality › Chapter 1 - WYOMING SURFACE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS › Section 1-4 - Surface Water Classes and Uses

Current through July 13, 2024
The following water classes are a hierarchical categorization
				  of waters according to existing and designated uses. Except for Class 1 waters,
				  each classification is protected for its specified uses plus all the uses
				  contained in each lower classification. Class 1 designations are based on value
				  determinations rather than use support and are protected for all uses in
				  existence at the time or after designation. There are four major classes of
				  surface water in Wyoming with various subcategories within each class (see
Wyoming Surface Water Classification List
for current
				  classifications).
(a) Class 1,
				Outstanding Waters. Class 1 waters are those surface waters in which no further
				water quality degradation by point source discharges other than from dams will
				be allowed. Nonpoint sources of pollution shall be controlled through
				implementation of appropriate best management practices. Pursuant to Section
				7 of
				these regulations, the water quality and physical and biological integrity
				which existed on the water at the time of designation will be maintained and
				protected. In designating Class 1 waters, the Environmental Quality Council
				(council) shall consider water quality, aesthetic, scenic, recreational,
				ecological, agricultural, botanical, zoological, municipal, industrial,
				historical, geological, cultural, archaeological, fish and wildlife, the
				presence of significant quantities of developable water and other values of
				present and future benefit to the people.
(b) Class 2, Fisheries and Drinking Water.
				Class 2 waters are waters, other than those designated as Class 1, that are
				known to support fish and/or drinking water supplies or where those uses are
				attainable. Class 2 waters may be perennial, intermittent or ephemeral and are
				protected for the uses indicated in each subcategory listed below. There are
				five subcategories of Class 2 waters.
(i)
				Class 2AB. Class 2AB waters are those known to support game fish populations or
				spawning and nursery areas at least seasonally and all their perennial
				tributaries and adjacent wetlands and where a game fishery and drinking water
				use is otherwise attainable. Class 2AB waters include all permanent and
				seasonal game fisheries and can be either "cold water" or "warm water"
				depending upon the predominance of cold water or warm water species present.
				All Class 2AB waters are designated as cold water game fisheries unless
				identified as a warm water game fishery by a "ww" notation in the
Wyoming Surface Water Classification List
. Unless it is shown
				otherwise, these waters are presumed to have sufficient water quality and
				quantity to support drinking water supplies and are protected for that use.
				Class 2AB waters are also protected for nongame fisheries, fish consumption,
				aquatic life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, industry, agriculture and
				scenic value uses.
(ii) Class 2A.
				Class 2A waters are those that are not known nor have the potential to support
				fish but are used for public or domestic drinking water supplies, including
				their perennial tributaries and adjacent wetlands. Uses designated on Class 2A
				waters include drinking water, aquatic life other than fish, recreation,
				wildlife, industry, agriculture and scenic value.
(iii) Class 2B. Class 2B waters are those
				known to support or have the potential to support game fish populations or
				spawning and nursery areas at least seasonally and all their perennial
				tributaries and adjacent wetlands and where it has been shown that drinking
				water uses are not attainable pursuant to the provisions of Section
				33. Class 2B waters include permanent and
				seasonal game fisheries and can be either "cold water" or "warm water"
				depending upon the predominance of cold water or warm water species present.
				All Class 2B waters are designated as cold water game fisheries unless
				identified as a warm water game fishery by a "ww" notation in the
Wyoming Surface Water Classification List
. Uses designated on
				Class 2B waters include game and nongame fisheries, fish consumption, aquatic
				life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, industry, agriculture and scenic
				value.
(iv) Class 2C. Class 2C
				waters are those known to support or have the potential to support only nongame
				fish populations or spawning and nursery areas at least seasonally including
				their perennial tributaries and adjacent wetlands. Class 2C waters include all
				permanent and seasonal nongame fisheries and are considered warm water. Uses
				designated on Class 2C waters include nongame fisheries, fish consumption,
				aquatic life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, industry, agriculture and
				scenic value.
(v) Class 2D.
				Effluent dependent waters which are known to support fish populations and where
				the resident fish populations would be significantly degraded in terms of
				numbers or species diversity if the effluent flows were removed or reduced.
				Class 2D waters are protected to the extent that the existing fish communities
				and other designated uses are maintained and that the water quality does not
				pose a health risk or hazard to humans, livestock or wildlife. Uses designated
				on Class 2D waters include game or nongame fisheries, fish consumption, aquatic
				life other than fish, recreation, wildlife, industry, agriculture and scenic
				value.