&EFK
             United States
             Environmental Protection
             Agency

             Water  '
             Office of Water
             Regulations and Standards
             Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-S8-034
September 1988
State Water  Quality
Standards Summary:
Arkansas

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                           DISCLAIMER

     This publication was prepared by Battelle under contract  to
the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Contract  68-03-3534).
Secondary information sources  were used to compile data presented
in this document.  Each State  was  given an opportunity to  review
and provide comments on a draft  of this information document.  In
no  event  shall either the United States or  Battelle  have  any
responsibility or liability for  any use,  misuse, or reliance upon
the  information  contained herein,  nor does  either  warrant  or
otherwise represent in any way the accuracy, adequacy,  efficacy,
or applicability of the contents hereof.

     The  reader should consult  the water quality standards of  a
particular State for exact regulatory language applicable to that
State.   Copies of State water quality standards may be  obtained
from   the  State's  Water  Pollution  Control  Agency   or   its
equivalent.

     Additional information may  also be obtained from the:

                        Standards  Branch
            Criteria and Standards Division (WH-585)
            Office of Water Regulations and Standards
              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                     Washington, D.C.   20460
                          202-475-7315
     This document may be obtained only from the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) at the following address:

                National Technical Information Service
                       5285 Front Royal Road
                    Springfield, Virginia 22161
                         703-487-4650

     The NTIS order number is:  PB89-141667	

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                                        ARKANSAS
Responsible   Agency:
 Arkansas Dept. of Pollution Control  and  Ecology
 8001 National Drive
 Little Rock
 501-562-7444
72209
Standards   Available   From:
 Douglas Szenher
 Cpnunications Coordinator
 Arkansas Dept. of-Poll.  Cont.  4 Ecology
 8001 National Drive
 Little Rock           72209
 501-562-7444   Fee:  none     Hailing  List:   no
State  Contact:
 Hr. Vince     filubaugh
 Chief
 Mater Division
 Arkansas Dept. of Poll.  Cont.  &  Ecology
 8001 National Drive
 Little Rock           72209       501-562-7444

State  Contact:
 Hr. John      Biese
 Chief Ecologist
 Technical Services
 Arkansas Dept. of Poll.  Cont.  &  Ecology
 8001 National Drive
 Little Rock           72209       501-562-7444
State   Narrative   Language  For:  Antidegradation
 A. Existing instreai water uses and  the  level of water quality necessary to protect the existing uses shall  be
 maintained and protected.
 B. Where the quality of the Haters exceeds  levels necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish, and
 wildlife and recreation in and on  the  water, that quality shall be laintained and protected unless the State
 finds, after full  satisfaction the intergovernmental coordination and public participation provisions of the
 State's continuing planning process, that allowing  lower water quality is necessary to accommodate important
 econosic or social development in  the  area  in which the waters are located.  In allowing such degradation or
 lower water quality, the State shall assure water quality adequate to protect existing uses fully.  Further
 the State shall assure that (1) there  shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory requienents for
 all new and existing point sources and,  (2) that the provisions of the Arkansas Hater Quality Hanageient Plan
 be implemented with regard to  nonpoint sources.
 C. Where high quality waters constitute  an  outstanding State or National resource such as those waters
 designated as extraordinary resource waters, ecologically sensitive or natural and scenic waterways, those
 uses shall' be Maintained and protected by (1) water quality controls, (2) maintenance of natural flow regime,
 (3! protection of  instreaa habitat, and  (4) pursuit of land management protective of the watershed.  The
 Arkansas Soil and  Water Conservation Ccmsission has responsibility for the regulation of the withdrawal of
 water fros streass and reserviors, and such withdrawls are not within the juristiction of this regulation.
 D. In those cases  where potential water  quality impairment associated with a thermal discharge is involved,
 the antidegradation policy and iapleaenting method  shall be consistent with Section 316 of the Act.

State   Narrative   Language  For:  Toxics
 Toxic material shall not be present  in receiving waters, after mixing, in such quantities as to be toxic to
 huian, animal, planter aquatic life or  to  interfere with the normal  propagation, growth and survival of the
 indigenous aquatic biota.   Within  the  mixing zone there may be a zone of  initial dilution which exceeds the
 acute toxicity.  In no instance shall  the entire mixing zone be acutely toxic.  Compounds known to be
 persistent, cumulative and/or  to. exhibit synergism with other waste or stream components shall be addressed
 on a case-by-case  basis.  Permitting of  all toxic materials shall be in accordance with the toxic implementat-
 ion strategy found in the Continuing Planning Process.

State   Narrative   Language  For:  Free  From
 A.  All waters shall be free from substances attributed to man-caused point or nonpoint source discharges in
 concentrations that produce undesirable  aquatic life or result in the dominance of nuisance species.
 B.  True color shall not be increased  in any waters to the extent that it will interfere with the present or
 projected future uses of these waters.
 C,  Taste and odor producing substances  shall be limited in receiving waters to concentrations that will not
 interfere with the production  of potable water by  reasonable water treatment processes, or impart unpalatable
 flavor to food, fish or result in offensive odors arising from the waters or otherwise interfere with the
 reasonable use of  the water.
                                                   AR-1

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                                        ARKANSAS


 D.  Receiving waters shall have no distinctly visible solids, scui or foai of a persistent nature,  nor shall
 there be any formation of slime, bottom deposits or sludge banks.
 E.  Oil, grease or petrocheiical substances shall not be present in receiving waters to the extent  that they
 produce globules or other residue or  any visible, colored fill on the surface, or coat the banks and/or
 bottoss of the watercourses or  adversely affect any of the associated biota.
 F.  Toxic materials shall not be  present in receiving waters in such  quantities as to be toxic to huian,
 animal, plant or aquatic life or to interfere with the normal propagation, growth and survival  of aquatic
 biota.

State  Narrative  Language   Fors   Low  Flow
 Streai Flows - Specific standards are based upon the assumption that existing flow conditions in streais shall
 continue without laterial change.  The Mater Quality Standards shall apply at all times except  during  periods
 when flows are less than the average minimum 7-day flow which occurs once in  ten years.  Streams with
 regulated flow will be addressed on a case-by-case basis to maintain designated instream uses.

State  Narrative  Language   For:   Mixing   Zones
 The effects of wastes on the receiving stream shall be determined after the wastes have been thoroughly mixed
 with the streai water,  but consideration will also be given to the quality of the waste effluent in determin-
 ing the adequacy of treatment.  Outfall structures should be designed to minimize the extent of mixing zones
 and in the larger streais the zone of lixing shall not exceed 1/4 of the cross sectional area and/or volume of
 the streai flow.  The retaining 3/4 of the streai shall be maintained as a zone of passage for  swimming and
 drifting organisis, and shall reiain of such quality that streai ecosystems are not significantly affected. •
 In smaller streais, because of varying local physical and chemical conditions and biological phenomena,  a
 site-specific detenination shall be iade on the percentage of river width necessary to allow passage  of
 critical free-swi«ing and drifting organisis so that negligible or no effects are produced on  their popula-
 tions.  As a guideline no tore than 2/3 the width of sialler streams should be devoted to mixing zones thus
 leaving at least 1/3 free as a zone of passage.   In lakes and reservoirs the size of mixing zones shall  be
 defined by the Department of Pollution Control and Ecology on an individual  basis, and the area shall  be kept
 at a minimui.
 Mixing zones shall  not prevent free passage of fish or significantly affect aquatic  ecosystems.
                                                AR-2

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                                        ARKANSAS
Classifications
 Extraordinary
 Recreational and
 Aesthetic Value
 This beneficial  use  is  a  combination  of  the characteristics of the watershed
 expressed  in  the water  quality  and  the riparian area.
 Outstanding National
 Resource Nater
 Pri«ary Contact
 Recreation

 Secondary Contact
 Recreation

 Public  Nater Supply
 Industrial  Hater
 Supply
 Agricultural Hater
 Supply

 Other Uses
Harmater Fishery


Coolnater Fishery



Trout Fishery
 This beneficial use  is  for waters thought to constitute an outstanding national
 resource,  such as Haters of National  and State Parks and Wildlife refuges and
 Haters  of  exceptional ecological significance.

 This beneficial use  designateds Haters where secondary activities like boating,
 fishing, or Hading are  involved.

 Designates Haters where secondary activities like boating, fishing, or wading
 are  involved.

 Designates nater nhich is suitable, in its raw fort, to be utilized for a
 public  water supply.  Conditioning or treatment lay be necessary prior to
 distribution in a public water systei.

 Designates water which is suitable for process or cooling purposes,  fluality
 criteria vary nith the specific type, of process involved and the nater supply
 •ay  require prior treatment or conditioning.                                  .

 Designates Haters which are suitable  for irrigation of crops and/or consuiption
 by livestock.

 This category of beneficial use is generally used to designate uses not
 dependent  upon water quality,  such as hydroelectric power generation and
 navigation.                                                              •

 Hater which is suitable for the propagation  of indigenous wariwater species  of
 fish.

Hater which is suitable for the propagation  of indigenous coolwater species  of
fish, generally,  but not exclusively, characterized by the presence of
stallnouth bass.

Hater which is suitable for the growth and survival of trout.
                                               AR-3

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                                                ARKANSAS
Physical
    pH
         Upper Value
         Lower Value
    Teiperature Change
         Upper Value
    Chlorides
         Upper Value
    Sulfates
         Upper Value
    Total Dissolved Solids
         Upper Value

Nutrients
    Phosphorus
         Upper Value
         Secondary Upper Liiit

Toxic Netals

Pesticides
    Aldrin
         Upper Value
    Dieldrin
         Upper Value
         Secondary Upper Liiit
    Endrin
         Upper Value
         Secondary Upper Liiit
    Toxaphene
         Upper Value
         Secondary Upper Liiit

Organics
    PCBs
         Upper Value

Bacteria
    Fecal Colifon
         Upper Value
         Secondary Upper Liiit
                                         fill                Extraordinary      Outstanding Nat..  Priiary Contact
                                         Classes
9.0
6.0
250    ig/L

250    ig/L

500    ig/L
100    ug/L
50     ug/L
3      ug/L

2.5    ug/L
0.0019 ug/L

0.18   ug/L
0.0023 ug/L

2.4    ug/L
0.013  ug/L
0.014  ug/L
                   Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
Narr.
                                                      AR-4

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                                                ARKANSAS
                                         Secondary  Conta..  Public Hater Su..  Industrial Kate..  Agricultural Na.
Physical
    Teiperature
         Upper Value                     Narr.              Narr.

Nutrients

Toxic Metals

Pesticides

Qrganics

Bacteria
    Fecal Colifort
         Upper Value                     Narr.
         Secondary Upper Liiit           Narr.
                                                        AR-5

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                                                ARKANSAS
Other Uses
                                                           Karma ter Fishe..  Coolwater  Fishe..  Trout Fishery
Physical
    Dissolved Oxygen
         Loner Value
    Teiperature
         Upper Value
    Teiperature Change
         Upper Value

Nutrients

Toxic Hetals

Pesticides

Organics

Bacteria
5.0    ig/L

90     F

5      F
6.0    ig/L

86     F

5      F
                                                        68

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                                                     AR-6

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