What water quality standards beneficial uses apply to primary headwater streams?
Some primary headwater habitat streams are named in the Ohio’s Water Quality Standards rules, in which case specific beneficial use designations (e.g., warmwater habitat or coldwater habitat) are assigned to the streams. However, most primary headwater streams are not named in the rules. For these waters no beneficial use designations are currently assigned. What chemical water quality criteria apply to primary headwater streams? The chemical water quality criteria for the warmwater habitat use designation apply to all surface waters of the State, including primary headwater streams, not specifically named in the Ohio’s Water Quality Standards rules. If a primary headwater stream is named in the Ohio Water Quality Standards rules, the water quality criteria associated with the designated beneficial uses apply. Does the State’s antidegradation rule apply to primary habitat streams? Yes. Primary headwater streams, even if not specifically named in the Ohio’s Water Quality Standards rules
