Applicable Water Quality Standards and Numeric Water Quality Targets

The applicable water quality standards for the TCMA lakes, wetlands, and streams are included in Minn. R. ch. 7050. The lakes, streams and wetlands listed as impaired for chloride are classified as 2B for protection of cool and warm water sport fish and 3C waters for protection of industrial consumption. Minn. R. 7050.0222[ and [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=7050.0223 7050.0223 define the aquatic life and recreation and industrial consumption use classifications:

  • Minn. R. 7050.0222, subp. 4. Class 2B waters. The quality of Class 2B surface waters shall be such as to permit the propagation and maintenance of a healthy community of cool or warm water sport fish or commercial fish and associated aquatic life, and their habitats. These waters shall be suitable for aquatic recreation of all kinds, including bathing, for which the waters may be usable. This class of surface water is not protected as a source of drinking water.
  • Minn. R. 7050.0223, subp. 4. Class 3C waters. The quality of Class 3C waters of the state shall be such as to permit their use for industrial cooling and materials transport without a high degree of treatment being necessary to avoid severe fouling, corrosion, scaling, or other unsatisfactory conditions.

The chronic standard for chloride to protect for 2B uses is 230 mg/L. The chronic standard is defined in Minn. R. 7050.0218, subp. 3.l., as “the highest water concentration of a toxicant to which organisms can be exposed indefinitely without causing chronic toxicity.” The 230 mg/L value is based on a 4-day exposure of aquatic organisms to chloride. The maximum standard to protect for 2B uses is 860 mg/L. The maximum standard is defined in Minn. R. 7050.0218, subp. 3.T., as “the highest concentration of a toxicant in water to which organisms can be exposed for a brief time with zero to slight mortality.” The 860 mg/L value is based on a 24-hour exposure of aquatic organisms to chloride. These criteria are adopted from the EPA's recommended water quality criteria for chloride. The industrial consumption chloride standard to protect for 3C uses is 250 mg/L.

The MPCA’s approach to determining whether or not a stream, lake or wetland is impaired by chloride is outlined in the MPCA document Guidance Manual for Assessing the Quality of Minnesota Surface Waters for Determination of Impairment: 305(b) Report and 303(d) List (2014). The MPCA conducted an assessment for chloride in the TCMA waterbodies in 2013. Two or more exceedances of the chronic criterion within a three-year period are considered an impairment. One exceedance of the acute