Part IV: Use Designation for Waters of the State

Washington State Department of Ecology

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Part IV: Use Designation for Waters of the State

173-201A-600
Use designations — Fresh waters.

(1) All surface waters of the state not named in Table 602 are to be protected for the designated uses of: Salmonid spawning rearing, and migration; primary contact recreation; domestic, industrial, and agricultural water supply; stock watering; wildlife habitat; harvesting; commerce and navigation; boating; and aesthetic values.

(a) Additionally, the following waters are also to be protected for the designated uses of: Core summer salmonid habitat; and extraordinary primary contact recreation:

All surface waters lying within national parks, national forests, and/or wilderness areas.
All lakes and all feeder streams to lakes (reservoirs with a mean detention time greater than fifteen days are to be treated as a lake for use designation).
All surface waters that are tributaries to waters designated core summer salmonid habitat; or extraordinary primary contact recreation.
All fresh surface waters that are tributaries to extraordinary quality marine waters (WAC 173-201A-610 through173-201A-612).

(2) The water quality standards for surface waters for the state of Washington do not apply to segments of waters that are on Indian reservations.

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Last updated October 2007