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Designated Uses and Criteria for Maine River and Stream Classifications
Note : See MRSA Article 4-A § 464 Classification of Maine Waters for complete text.
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Designated Uses
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Dissolved
Oxygen Numeric Criteria
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Bacteria
( E. coli ) Numeric Criteria
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Habitat Narrative Criteria
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Aquatic Life (Biological) Narrative Criteria**
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Class AA |
Aquatic Life; Drinking Water; Fishing; Recreation |
as naturally occurs |
as naturally occurs |
Free flowing and natural |
No direct discharge of pollutants;
as naturally occurs ** |
Class A |
Aquatic Life; Drinking Water; Fishing; Recreation; Navigation, Hydropower; Industrial Discharge |
7 ppm;
75% saturation |
as naturally occurs |
Natural |
as naturally occurs ** |
Class B |
Aquatic Life; Drinking Water; Fishing; Recreation; Navigation, Hydropower; Industrial Discharge |
7 ppm;
75% saturation
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64/100 ml (g.m. * ) or
236/100 ml (inst. * )
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Unimpaired |
Discharges shall not cause adverse impact to aquatic life in that the receiving waters shall be of sufficient quality to support all aquatic species indigenous to the receiving water without detrimental changes to the resident biological community. ** |
Class C |
Aquatic Life; Drinking Water; Fishing; Recreation; Navigation, Hydropower; Industrial Discharge |
5 ppm;
60% saturation 6.5 ppm (monthly average) at 22 ° and 24°F |
126/100 ml (g.m. * ) or
236/100 ml (inst. * ) |
Habitat for fish and other aquatic life |
Discharges may cause some changes to aquatic life, provided that the receiving waters shall be of sufficient quality to support all species of fish indigenous to the receiving waters and maintain the structure and function of the resident biological community. ** |
* "g.m." means geometric mean and "inst." means instantaneous level
**Numeric biocriteria in Maine rule Chapter 579, Classification Attainment Evaluation Using Biological Criteria for Rivers and Streams
Designated Uses and Criteria for Maine Marine Classifications
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Class
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Designated Use
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Dissolved Oxygen
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Bacteria
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Aquatic Life
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SA |
Habitat for fish and estuarine and marine life
Recreation in and on the water
Fishing
Aquaculture (not finfish)
Propagation and harvesting shellfish
Navigation |
As naturally occurs |
As naturally occurs |
As naturally occurs
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SB |
Habitat for fish and estuarine and marine life
Recreation in and on the water
Fishing
Aquaculture
Propagation and harvesting shellfish
Navigation
Industrial process and cooling water supply
Hydroelectric power generation |
Not less than 85% of saturation |
Enterococcus not higher than geometric mean 8/100ml or instantaneous of 54/100ml from 5/15 to 9/30
Not exceed criteria of National Shellfish Sanitation Program for shellfish harvesting |
Support all indigenous estuarine and marine species
Discharge not to cause closure of shellfish beds |
SC |
Habitat for fish and estuarine and marine life
Recreation in and on the water
Fishing
Aquaculture
Propagation and restricted shellfish harvesting
Navigation
Industrial process and cooling water supply
Hydroelectric power generation |
Not less than 70% of saturation |
Enterococcus not higher than geometric mean 14/100ml or instantaneous of 94/100ml from 5/15 to 9/30
Not exceed criteria of National Shellfish Sanitation Program for restricted shellfish harvesting |
Maintain structure and function of the resident biological community |
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