Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water Quality Criteria

Bioassessment and Biocriteria Program Status for South Dakota: Streams and Wadeable Rivers

Related Information

Information on Bioassessment and Biocriteria Programs for Streams and Wadeable Rivers

State Program Contact

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources


Water Quality Standards

WQS Information

The link to South Dakota's WQS that are in effect for Clean Water Act purposes is provided. These are the WQS approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Water Quality Standards Regulations: South Dakota

The state of South Dakota provided information and links to sections of their administrative code on designated aquatic life use, biological criteria, antidegradation as well as technical support documents and information on its bioassessment and biocriteria programs. These are included for your convenience and may or may not reflect the most recently EPA-approved WQS.

  • Surface Water Quality

Designated Aquatic Life Uses

  • Coldwater permanent fish life propagation
  • Coldwater marginal fish life propagation
  • Warmwater permanent fish life propagation
  • Warmwater semipermanent fish life propagation
  • Warmwater marginal fish life propagation
  • Fish and wildlife propagation, recreation, and stock watering

Water quality standards and criteria associated with the designated ALUs use both a single grab sample threshold (acute) and a multiple sample threshold (chronic) for a suite of parameters intended to protect the ALUs.

Biological Criteria

__X__ Narrative statement
_____ Numeric
_____ No criteria

  • Biological integrity of waters

All waters of the state must be free from substances, whether attributable to human-induced point source discharges or nonpoint source activities, in concentrations or combinations which will adversely impact the structure and function of indigenous or intentionally introduced aquatic communities.

Antidegradation Policy

Use of biocriteria or bioassessment not included in antidegradation policy.

  • Antidegradation of waters of the state
  • Antidegradation of water quality review for existing point source discharges to waters of the state
  • Antidegradation of water quality review for new, potential point source discharges to waters of the state
  • Antidegradation of water quality review for nonpoint source discharges to waters of the state

Biological Assessment

What biological assemblages are used in the bioassessment program?
Benthic macroinvertebrates and fish 

Are bioassessments used to support 303(d) listings? 
Yes. Listing methodology: The 2024 South Dakota Integrated Report for Surface Water Quality Assessment (pdf)

How are assemblages used to make impairment decisions?
Currently limited to Level III Ecoregions 46 and 43. Based on IBI scores for fish and benthos. If both IBI scores are ≤ 50 then listed as impaired. If one of the IBI scores is > 50 then include a Habitat Condition score. If 2 out of 3 scores are not meeting the thresholds then it is considered impaired. Further monitoring may be required to determine the cause of impairment.

Other uses of biocriteria or bioassessment within the water quality program:
BMP evaluation


Technical Support Information and Documents

Reference condition

Stream reference sites represent least impacted condition for the population of streams in a region. Reference sites are identified and validated based on an assessment of chemical, physical, and biological condition and landscape disturbance factors. A regional approach (ecoregion) is used to characterize reference site networks. South Dakota is in the process of building regional stream reference site networks through ecological and landscape condition assessments.

Technical reference material

  • The 2024 South Dakota Integrated Report for Surface Water Quality Assessment (pdf)

Biocriteria

Not available.

Stressor identification/causal analysis approach

Biological samples are usually accompanied by a suite of chemical/physical analyses but more extensive monitoring may be required to establish stressor identifications, casual relationships, etc.

Technical reference material

  • The 2024 South Dakota Integrated Report for Surface Water Quality Assessment (pdf)

Water Quality Criteria

  • Aquatic Life Criteria Table
  • Human Health Criteria Table
  • Human Health Toxics Criteria and Methods
  • Recreational Criteria and Methods
  • Aquatic Life Toxics Criteria and Methods
  • Nutrient Water Quality Criteria
  • Biological Water Quality Criteria
  • Other Aquatic Life Water Quality Resources
Contact Us about Water Quality Criteria
Contact Us about Water Quality Criteria to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 4, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Ayuda
  • مساعدة
  • 帮助 (简体版)
  • 幫助 (繁體版)
  • Aide
  • Asistans
  • 지원
  • Assistência
  • Помощь
  • Tulong
  • Trợ Giúp
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.