Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Environmental Quality
Title R317 - Water Quality
Rule R317-2 - Standards of Quality for Waters of the State
Section R317-2-14 - Numeric Criteria

(1) See also numeric criteria for water and organism in Table 2.14.6.

(2) The dissolved metals method involves filtration of the sample in the field, acidification of the sample in the field, no digestion process in the laboratory, and analysis by approved laboratory methods for the required detection levels.

(3) Reserved

(4) SITE SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS)

Blue Creek and tributaries, Box Elder County, from Bear River Bay, Great Salt Lake to Blue Creek Reservoir: March through October daily maximum 4,900 mg/l and an average of 3,800 mg/l; November through February daily maximum 6,300 mg/l and an average of 4,700 mg/l. Assessments will be based on TDS concentrations measured at the location of STORET 4960740.;

Blue Creek Reservoir and tributaries, Box Elder County, daily maximum 2,100 mg/l;

Castle Creek from confluence with the Colorado River to Seventh Day Adventist Diversion: 1,800 mg/l;

Cottonwood Creek from the confluence with Huntington Creek to Highway U-57: 3,500 mg/l;

Ferron Creek from the confluence with San Rafael River to Highway U-10: 3,500 mg/l;

Huntington Creek and tributaries from the confluence with Cottonwood Creek to Highway U-10: 4,800 mg/l;

Ivie Creek and its tributaries from the confluence with Muddy Creek to the confluence with Quitchupah Creek: 3,800 mg/l provided that total sulfate not exceed 2,000 mg/l to protect the livestock watering agricultural existing use;

Ivie Creek and its tributaries from the confluence with Quitchupah Creek to Highway U-10: 2,600 mg/l;

Kanab Creek and tributaries from immediately below the confluence with Sink Valley Wash to the confluence of Simpson Hollow Wash: April through November, daily maximum 1,900 mg/l. December through March, daily maximum 1,700 mg/l. Assessments shall be based on TDS concentrations measured in Kanab Creek.;

Kanab Creek and tributaries from immediately above Simpson Hollow Wash to irrigation diversion at confluence with Reservoir Canyon: April through November, daily maximum 1,400 mg/l. Assessments shall be based on TDS concentrations measured in Kanab Creek.;

Lost Creek from the confluence with Sevier River to U.S. National Forest boundary: 4,600 mg/l;

Muddy Creek and tributaries from the confluence with Ivie Creek to Highway U-10: 2,600 mg/l;

Muddy Creek from confluence with Fremont River to confluence with Ivie Creek: 5,800 mg/l;

North Creek from the confluence with Virgin River to headwaters: 2,035 mg/l;

Onion Creek from the confluence with Colorado River to road crossing above Stinking Springs: 3000 mg/l;

Brine Creek-Petersen Creek, from the confluence with the Sevier River to Highway U-119 Crossing: 9,700 mg/l;

Price River and tributaries from confluence with Green River to confluence with Soldier Creek: 3,000 mg/l;

Price River and tributaries from the confluence with Soldier Creek to Carbon Canal Diversion: 1,700 mg/l;

Quitchupah Creek and tributaries from the confluence with Ivie Creek to Highway U-10: 3,800 mg/l provided that total sulfate not exceed 2,000 mg/l to protect the livestock watering agricultural existing use;

Rock Canyon Creek from the confluence with Cottonwood Creek to headwaters: 3,500 mg/l;

San Pitch River from below Gunnison Reservoir to the Sevier River: 2,400 mg/l;

San Rafael River from the confluence with the Green River to Buckhorn Crossing: 4,100 mg/l;

San Rafael River from the Buckhorn Crossing to the confluence with Huntington Creek and Cottonwood Creek: 3,500 mg/l;

Sevier River between Gunnison Bend Reservoir and DMAD Reservoir: 1,725 mg/l;

Sevier River from Gunnison Bend Reservoir to Crafts Lake: 3,370 mg/l;

Silver Creek and tributaries, Summit County, from confluence with Tollgate Creek to headwaters: maximum 1,900 mg/L.

South Fork Spring Creek from confluence with Pelican Pond Slough Stream to U.S. Highway 89 1,450 mg/l (Apr.-Sept.)

1,950 mg/l (Oct.-March)

Virgin River from the Utah/Arizona border to Pah Tempe Springs: 2,360 mg/l

(5) Investigations should be conducted to develop more information where these pollution indicator levels are exceeded. These indicators are superseded by numeric criteria in waters where promulgated.

(6) Total Phosphorus as P (mg/l) indicator for lakes and reservoirs shall be 0.025.

(7) Where the criteria are exceeded and there is a reasonable basis for concluding that the indicator bacteria E. coli are primarily from natural sources, such as in National

Wildlife Refuges and State Waterfowl Management Areas, the criteria may be considered attained provided the density attributable to non-wildlife sources is less than the criteria. Exceedences of E. coli from nonhuman nonpoint sources will generally be addressed through appropriate Federal, State, and local nonpoint source programs.

Measurement of E. coli using the "Quanti-Tray 2000" procedure is approved as a field analysis. Other EPA approved methods may also be used.

For water quality assessment purposes, up to 10% of representative samples may exceed the 668 per 100 ml criterion (for 1C and 2B waters) and 409 per 100 ml (for 2A waters). For small data sets, where exceedences of these criteria are observed, follow-up ambient monitoring should be conducted to better characterize water quality.

TABLE 2.14.2

NUMERIC CRITERIA FOR AQUATIC WILDLIFE(8)

(1) Not to exceed 110% of saturation.

(2) These limits are not applicable to lower water levels in deep impoundments. First number in column is for when early life stages are present, second number is for when all other life stages present.

(2a) These criteria are not applicable to Great Salt Lake impounded wetlands. Surface water in these wetlands shall be protected from changes in pH and dissolved oxygen that create significant adverse impacts to the existing beneficial uses.

To ensure protection of uses, the Director shall develop reasonable protocols and guidelines that quantify the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of these waters. These protocols and guidelines will include input from local governments, the regulated community, and the general public. The Director will inform the Water Quality Board of any protocols or guidelines that are developed.

(3) Site Specific Standards for Temperature Kens Lake: From June 1st - September 20th, 27 degrees C.

(4) Where criteria are listed as 4-day average and 1-hour average concentrations, these concentrations should not be exceeded more often than once every three years on the average.

(5) The criterion for aluminum will be implemented as follows:

Until January 25, 2026, where the pH is equal to or greater than 7.0 and the hardness is equal to or greater than 50 ppm as CaC03 in the receiving water after mixing, the 87 ug/1 chronic criterion, expressed as total recoverable, will not apply, and aluminum will be regulated based on compliance with the 750 ug/1 acute aluminum criterion expressed as total recoverable.

On and after January 25, 2026, the one-hour and four-day aluminum criteria are incorporated by reference from Appendix K, Recommended Criteria for Various Water Chemistry Conditions, Final Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum 2018, EPA-822-R-18 -001.

(5a) For water chemistry conditions not specifically listed in Appendix K, the criteria are the more stringent of the criteria bracketed by the two most similar water chemistry conditions or may be interpolated using the same equations used to create the Appendix K tables.

(5b) Criteria based on ambient water chemistry conditions must protect the water body over the full range of water chemistry conditions, including during conditions when aluminum is most toxic.

(5c) For characterizing ambient waters, total recoverable analytical methods may be used or different scientifically appropriate analytical methods that measure the bioavailable fraction of aluminum that includes the measurement of amorphous aluminum hydroxide yet minimizes the measurement of mineralized forms of aluminum such as aluminum silicates associated with suspended sediment particles or clays.

(6) The dissolved metals method involves filtration of the sample in the field, acidification of the sample in the field, no digestion process in the laboratory, and analysis by EPA approved laboratory methods for the required detection levels.

(7) Hardness dependent criteria. 100 mg/l used. Conversion factors for ratio of total recoverable metals to dissolved metals must also be applied.

In waters with a hardness greater than 400 mg/l as CaC03, calculations will assume a hardness of 400 mg/l as CaC03. See Table 2.14.3 for complete equations for hardness and conversion factors.

(8) See also numeric criteria for organism only in Table 2.14.6.

(9) The following equations are used to calculate Ammonia criteria concentrations:

(9a) The thirty-day average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (in mg/l as N) does not exceed, more than once every three years on the average, the chronic criterion calculated using the following equations.

Fish Early Life Stages are Present:

mg/l as N (Chronic) = ((0.0577/(1+107.688-pH)) + (2.487/(1+ 10pH-7.688))) * MIN (2.85, 1.45*100.028*(25-T))

Fish Early Life Stages are Absent:

mg/l as N (Chronic) = ((0.0577/(1+107.688-pH)) + (2.487/ (1+10pH-7.688))) * 1.45*100.028* (25-MAX(T,7)))

Mill Creek (Salt Lake County) from confluence with Jordan River to Interstate 15, Jordan River from Farmington Bay to confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek, Surplus Canal from 900 South Street to diversion from the Jordan River, State Canal, Fish Early Life Stages are Present:

mg/l as N (Chronic) = 0.9405 * ((0.0278/(1+107.688-pH)) + (1.1994/(1+10pH-7.688))) * MIN(6.920,(7.547*100.028*(20-T)))

Mill Creek (Salt Lake County) from confluence with Jordan River to Interstate 15, Jordan River from Farmington Bay to confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek, Surplus Canal from 900 South Street to diversion from the Jordan River, State Canal, Fish Early Life Stages are Absent:

mg/L as N (chronic) = 0.9405 * ((0.0278/(1+107.688-pH)) + (1.1994/(1+10pH-7.688))) * (7.547*100.028*(20-MAX (T,7)) )

(9b) The one-hour average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (in mg/l as N) does not exceed, more than once every three years on the average the acute criterion calculated using the following equations.

Class 3A:

mg/l as N (Acute) = (0.275/(1+107.204-pH)) + (39.0/1+10pH-7.204))

Class 3B, 3C, 3D:

mg/l as N (Acute) = 0.411/(1+107.204-pH)) + (58.4/(1+10pH-7.204))

Mill Creek (Salt Lake County) from confluence with Jordan River to Interstate 15, Jordan River from Farmington Bay to confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek, Surplus Canal from 900 South Street to diversion from the Jordan River, State Canal:

mg/l as N (Acute) = 0.7249 * ((0.0114/(1+107.204-pH))+(1.6181/ (1+10pH-7.204))) * MIN(51.93, (62.15*100.036*(20-T)))

In addition, the highest four-day average within the 30-day period should not exceed 2.5 times the chronic criterion. The "Fish Early Life Stages are Present" 30-day average total ammonia criterion will be applied by default unless it is determined by the Director, on a site-specific basis, that it is appropriate to apply the "Fish Early Life Stages are Absent" 30-day average criterion for all or some portion of the year. At a minimum, the "Fish Early Life Stages are Present" criterion will apply from the beginning of spawning through the end of the early life stages. Early life stages include the pre-hatch embryonic stage, the post-hatch free embryo or yolk-sac fry stage, and the larval stage for the species of fish expected to occur at the site. The Director will consult with the Division of Wildlife Resources in making such determinations. The Division will maintain information regarding the waterbodies and time periods where application of the "Early Life Stages are Absent" criterion is determined to be appropriate.

(10) Investigation should be conducted to develop more information where these levels are exceeded.

(11) pH dependent criteria. pH 7.8 used in table. See Table 2.14.4 for equation.

(12) Total Phosphorus as P (mg/l) as a pollution indicator for lakes and reservoirs shall be 0.025. These indicators are superseded by numeric criteria in waters where promulgated.

(13) Reserved

(14) The selenium water quality standard of 12.5 (mg/kg dry weight) for Gilbert Bay is a tissue based standard using the complete egg or embryo of aquatic dependent birds using Gilbert Bay based upon a minimum of five samples over the nesting season. Assessment procedures are incorporated as a part of this standard as follows:

Egg Concentration Triggers: DWQ Responses

Below 5.0 mg/kg: Routine monitoring with sufficient intensity to determine if selenium concentrations within the Great Salt Lake ecosystem are increasing.

5.0 mg/kg: Increased monitoring to address data gaps, loadings, and areas of uncertainty identified from initial Great Salt Lake selenium studies.

6.4 mg/kg: Initiation of a Level II Antidegradation review by the State for all discharge permit renewals or new discharge permits to Great Salt Lake. The Level II Antidegradation review may include an analysis of loading reductions.

9.8 mg/kg: Initiation of preliminary TMDL studies to evaluate selenium loading sources.

12.5 mg/kg and above: Declare impairment. Formalize and implement TMDL.

Antidegradation

Level II Review procedures associated with this standard are referenced at R317-2-3.5.C.

(1) Hardness as mg/l CaCO3.

FOOTNOTES:

(1) Applicable to all Category 1 and Category 2 streams with the following exceptions: Quitchupah Creek through Convulsion Canyon from U. S. Forest Service boundary upstream to East Spring Canyon headwaters; North Fork of Quitchupah Creek from the U. S. Forest Service boundary upstream to its confluence with South Fork; Huntington Creek from U. S. Forest Service boundary to confluence with Crandall Creek and Crandall Creek to headwaters.

(1) Applicable to all Category 1 and Category 2 streams with the following exceptions: Quitchupah Creek through Convulsion Canyon from U. S. Forest Service boundary upstream to East Spring Canyon headwaters; North Fork of Quitchupah Creek from the U. S. Forest Service boundary upstream to its confluence with South Fork; Huntington Creek from U. S. Forest Service boundary to confluence with Crandall Creek and Crandall Creek to headwaters.

(2) For water quality assessments, Table 8, Decision Matrix That Will Be Used to Assess Support of Headwater Aquatic Life Uses for Nutrient-related Water Quality Problems, "Proposed Nutrient Criteria: Utah Headwater Streams["]," Utah Division of Water Quality, March, 2019 is incorporated by reference.

(3) Not to be exceeded seasonal average for the index period of algal growth through senescence.

(4) Not to be exceeded average based on at least three transects perpendicular to stream flow and spatially dispersed along a reach of at least 50 meters

(5) Not to be exceeded during the index period of algal growth through senescence.