20230105 13591000 1.0 TRUE TRUE Maine_DEP_Water_Classification_History The Maine water classification system is used to set the State’s management goals for its surface waters, protect the quality of those waters for their intended management purposes, and where standards are not achieved, direct the State to improve the quality to achieve those purposes. The standards for each classification establish designated uses, related characteristics of those uses, criteria necessary to protect the uses, and specific conditions for certain activities such as the discharge of wastewater. The Water Classification system was formalized in 1965, and has gone through periodic updates and changes to the present day. Maine DEP Water Classification water quality Map showing the Water Class for all waterbodies in Maine for the period 1965-2019. Maine uses a multi-tiered water classification system to establish and measure water quality goals for all surface waters. It is used to set the State’s management goals and standards for all waterbodies, and where those standards are not achieved, direct the State to take steps to improve water quality. The water classification system began to be developed in the 1950's, and its first iteration was largely complete by 1965. A series of minor updates and changes were made between 1965 and 1979. Maine then significantly revised its classification system between 1985 and 1987. This updated classification system established new water quality standards and set baseline criteria for biological integrity of streams as a performance measure. Subsequent revisions to the statute were implemented in 1990, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2003, and 2009. The current statutes are codified in the Maine Revised Statutes Title 38, Chapter 3, Article 4-A. Maine Department of Environmental Protection iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAASwAAADICAYAAABS39xVAAAAAXNSR0IB2cksfwAAAAlwSFlzAAAO xAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAqpJREFUeJzt1DENADAMwLAd5U+5o7BvimQjyJXZ3T0AAfM7AOCVYQEZhgVk GBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFY QIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZ hgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgW kGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECG YQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYF ZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBh WECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEB GYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQY FpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhA hmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmG BWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQYVhAhmEBGYYFZBgWkGFYQIZhARmGBWQYFpBhWECGYQEZhgVkGBaQ YVhAhmEBGYYFnIoLreIHHblfYqUAAAAASUVORK5CYII=