Michigan Criteria Development Progress
This page provides information about the progress Michigan 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 Michigan’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 | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A | N ⁄ A |
| 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
Plans:
- Revised Rule Promulgation Timeline For Nutrient criteria Development 2007
- Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Michigan 2004, 2006
WQS: Michigan Water Quality Standards
Michigan DEQ: Rule 57 Water Quality Values 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 | Complete | Complete | Complete | Complete | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Collection of information and data | Complete | Complete | Complete | Complete | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Analysis of information and data | Complete | Complete | Complete | Complete | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Proposal of criteria | No statewide criteria development intended | 38 weeks after rule-making authority restored | No statewide criteria development intended | 38 weeks after rule-making authority restored | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Adoption of criteria (EPA-Approved) | No statewide criteria development intended | 75 weeks after rule-making authority restored | No statewide criteria development intended | 75 weeks after rule-making authority restored | Not applicable | Not applicable |
TN: Total Nitrogen; TP: Total Phosphorus
Statewide Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for Michigan’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 Michigan water quality standards.
The following information reflects Michigan’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved January 2006).
R 323.1050 Physical characteristics.
Rule 50. The surface waters of the state shall not have any of the following physical properties in unnatural quantities which are or may become injurious to any designated use:
(b) Color.
R 323.1055 Taste- or odor-producing substances.
Rule 55. The surface waters of the state shall contain no taste-producing or odor-producing substances in concentrations which impair or may impair their use for a public, industrial, or agricultural water supply source or which impair the palatability of fish as measured by test procedures approved by the department.
R 323.1060 Plant nutrients.
Rule 60. (1) Consistent with Great Lakes protection, phosphorus which is or may readily become available as a plant nutrient shall be controlled from point source discharges to achieve 1 milligram per liter of total phosphorus as a maximum monthly average effluent concentration unless other limits, either higher or lower, are deemed necessary and appropriate by the department.
(2) In addition to the protection provided under subrule (1) of this rule, nutrients shall be limited to the extent necessary to prevent stimulation of growths of aquatic rooted, attached, suspended, and floating plants, fungi or bacteria which are or may become injurious to the designated uses of the surface waters of the state.
Site-specific Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for Michigan’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 Michigan water quality standards.
The following information reflects Michigan’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved January 2006).
None.