The Piscataquis River crosses through several major ecological zones. The headwaters originate in a northern hardwood/spruce fir forest and flow south before joining at the town of Blanchard. The river continues southeast to Guilford-Sangerville through a transitional hardwood forest and then easterly through Dover-Foxcroft and Milo before joining the Penobscot River at Howland.
RIVER CLASSIFICATION
Maine measures accomplishment or “attainment” of the Federal Clean Water Act goals by determining how well our waters support their designated or beneficial uses. Water classifications, uses and characterizations are as follows.
| AA |
The highest classification, applied to waters which are outstanding natural resources and which should be preserved because of their ecological, social, scenic or recreational importance. The habitat is characterized as free flowing and natural. The aquatic life, bacteria, and dissolved oxygen content are as naturally occurs.
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| A |
These waters are suitable for drinking after disinfection; fishing and recreation; industrial process and cooling water supply; hydroelectric power generation; and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The habitat is characterized as natural. Dissolved oxygen content is greater than or equal to 7 PPM (or 75% saturation). Aquatic life and bacterial content are as naturally occurs.
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| B |
These waters are suitable for drinking after treatment; fishing and recreation; industrial process and cooling water supply; hydroelectric power generation; and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The habitat is characterized as unimpaired. Dissolved oxygen content is greater than or equal to 7 PPM (or 75% saturation) except for the period critical to spawning of indigenous fish species (Oct 1st – May 14th) when the 7 day mean dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be less than 9.5 PPM. Between May 15th- Sept 30th the number of Escherichia coli bacteria of human origin may not exceed a geometric mean of 64/100 milliliters or an instantaneous level of 427/100 milliliters. Discharges shall not cause adverse impact to aquatic life.
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| C |
These waters are suitable for drinking after treatment; fishing and recreation; industrial process and cooling water supply; hydro electric power generation; and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen content is greater than or equal to 5 PPM or 60% saturation, except in identified spawning areas. Between May 15th and Sept 30th the number of Escherichia coli bacteria of human origin may not exceed a geometric mean of 142/100 milliliters or an instantaneous level of 949/100 milliliters. Discharges may cause some changes to aquatic life; structure and function of resident biological community must be maintained.
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If a water body fully supports all of its designated uses, it is described as being in “attainment”. If a water body does not support any of its designated uses in any way or only partially supports its uses, it is said to be in “non-attainment”, and Maine law directs the DEP to take actions to improve water quality. For a complete description of each classification, please consult Water Classification Program (July 1994), an informational booklet published by the DEP Bureau of Land and Water Quality or online at http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/class.htm.
CLASSIFICATION ATTAINMENT STATUS
Confluence of the East and West Branch to Guilford attains class A
Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft attains class B
The Piscataquis River downstream of the textile mill in Guilford went from non-attainment of Class C in 1987 to attainment of Class B in 1989 following the installation of a new publicly owned wastewater facility for the town.
Dover–Foxcroft to confluence with the East branch of the Penobscot River (near Howland) attains class B
One mile of the Piscataquis River at the town of Dover–Foxcroft does not attain bacterial or oxygen standards due to combined sewer overflows and impoundments.
CONTINUE
