Louisiana Criteria Development Progress
This page provides information about the progress Louisiana has made towards the development of numeric criteria and shows what statewide and site-specific criteria are currently in effect.
Note: The information on the tabs below reflects the information available on EPA’s
Water Quality Standards Repository. The criteria presented here will be updated as new water quality standards documents are posted to the Repository.
Numeric Criteria Development
The information presented below gives a summary of state progress towards the development of numeric criteria. The information comes from EPA’s “State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards (1998-2008)” report, current water quality standards, program activity measures, and nutrient criteria development plans. Links to the Louisiana’s Nutrient Criteria Plan and state water quality standards are also provided.
Existing Numeric Criteria
| Waterbody Type | N | P | Chl-a | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes & Reservoirs | ||||
| Rivers & Streams | ||||
| Estuaries | ||||
| Wetlands |
S = Statewide W = For selected waterbody N ⁄ A=Not Applicable
Note: See Statewide Criteria and Site-specific Criteria tabs for more information.
Links to Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan and Existing Nutrient Criteria
Plan:
WQS: Louisiana Water Quality Standards
Louisiana DEQ Water Permits: Water Quality Standards & Assessment Exit
Milestone Information
Milestone information updated July 2012.
Milestone |
Rivers and Streams | Lakes and Reservoirs | Estuaries and Coastal Waters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN | TP | TN | TP | TN | TP | |
| Planning for criteria development | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Collection of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Analysis of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Proposal of criteria | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Adoption of criteria (EPA-Approved) | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
TN: Total Nitrogen; TP: Total Phosphorus
Statewide Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for Louisiana’s waterbodies. The language presented below comes directly from state water quality standards and applies to all waterbodies within the state (unless a waterbody type or designated use is noted). Criteria applicable to specific waterbodies within the state can be found on the “Site-specific Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Louisiana water quality standards.
The following information reflects Louisiana’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2007).
§1113. Criteria
B. General Criteria. Except where specifically exempted elsewhere in these standards, the general criteria shall apply at all times to the surface waters of the state, including wetlands, whether they are identified in the standards or not. General criteria specifically apply to human activities; they do not apply to naturally occurring conditions.
1. Aesthetics. The waters of the state shall be maintained in an aesthetically attractive condition and shall meet the generally accepted aesthetic qualifications. All waters shall be free from such concentrations of substances attributable to wastewater or other discharges sufficient to:
c. result in objectionable color, odor, taste, or turbidity;
e. produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life.
2. Color. Water color shall not be increased to the extent that it will interfere with present usage or projected future use of the state's water bodies.
a. Waters shall be free from significant increases over natural background color levels.
c. No increases in true or apparent color shall reduce the level of light penetration below that required by desirable indigenous species of aquatic life.
4. Taste and Odor. Taste- and odor- producing substances in the waters of the state shall be limited to concentrations that will not interfere with the production of potable water by conventional water treatment methods or impart unpalatable flavor to food fish, shellfish, and wildlife, or result in offensive odors arising from the waters, or otherwise interfere with the designated water uses.
8. Nutrients. The naturally occurring range of nitrogen-phosphorus ratios shall be maintained. This range shall not apply to designated intermittent streams. To establish the appropriate range of ratios and compensate for natural seasonal fluctuations, the administrative authority will use site-specific studies to establish limits for nutrients. Nutrient concentrations that produce aquatic growth to the extent that it creates a public nuisance or interferes with designated water uses shall not be added to any surface waters.
9. Turbidity
a. Turbidity other than that of natural origin shall not cause substantial visual contrast with the natural appearance of the waters of the state or impair any designated water use. Turbidity shall not significantly exceed background; background is defined as the natural condition of the water. Determination of background will be on a case-by-case basis.
Site-specific Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for Louisiana’s waterbodies. Criteria on this page apply only to the waterbodies listed below. Criteria applicable to all waterbodies within the state are found on the “Statewide Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Louisiana water quality standards.
The following information reflects Louisiana’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2007).
None.