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Determining attainment of surface water quality standards is an essential component of the WDEQ’s responsibilities under the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act and fulfills the state’s obligations under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect and restore surface water quality in Wyoming. The CWA requires states to report on the condition of surface waters and identify impaired surface waters that are not meeting their applicable water quality standards. To fulfill these requirements, WDEQ assesses available surface water quality data to determine whether waterbodies are attaining water quality criteria and supporting their designated uses, as established in Wyoming’s Surface Water Quality Standards.
The WDEQ has revised its methods for conducting these assessments in the document Methods for Determining Attainment of Surface Water Quality Standards: Basis and Overall Approach, available on the WDEQ Water Quality Assessment website under the tab “Guidance”. These methods establish the basic data requirements and framework for assessment of Wyoming surface water quality. Please note that another method, Assessment Method for Aquatic Life Use in Wadable Streams, is referenced in this document. This method will be publicly available in the coming months.
The document Methods for Determining Attainment of Surface Water Quality Standards: Basis and Overall Approach is open for public comment for 30 days starting March 24, 2026. The deadline for submitting comments is April 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by the WDEQ via the comment portal provided at http://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/. Written, hard-copy comments should be sent to Joanna Harter at 510 Meadowview Drive, Lander, WY 82520. Questions can be directed to Joanna Harter at 307-335-6965 or joanna.harter2@wyo.gov.
Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Please provide at least fourteen (14) days before the close of the public comment period for such requests.
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