Section 303.235  Chicago Area Waterway System Aquatic Life Use A Waters

a)         Waters designated as Chicago Area Waterway System Aquatic Life Use A Waters are capable of maintaining, and must have quality sufficient to protect, aquatic-life populations predominated by individuals of tolerant and intermediately tolerant types that are adaptive to the unique physical conditions, flow patterns, and operational controls necessary to maintain navigational use, flood control, and drainage functions of the waterway system.  The aquatic life may include fish species, such as channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, spotfin shiner, orangespotted sunfish, common carp, and goldfish.

b)         Waters designated as Chicago Area Waterway System Aquatic Life Use A Waters are not capable of attaining an aquatic life use consistent with the section 101(a)(2) of the Clean Water Act goal (33 U.S.C. 1251(a)(2)).

c)         The following waters are designated as Chicago Area Waterway System Aquatic Life Use A Waters and must meet the water quality standards of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 302. Subpart D:

1)         Upper North Shore Channel from Wilmette Pumping Station to North Side Water Reclamation Plant;

2)         Lower North Shore Channel from North Side Water Reclamation Plant to its confluence with the North Branch of the Chicago River;

3)         North Branch of the Chicago River from its confluence with North Shore Channel to its confluence with South Branch of the Chicago River and Chicago River;

4)         South Branch of the Chicago River;

5)         Calumet-Sag Channel;

6)         Calumet River from Lake Michigan to its confluence with Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River;

7)         Little Calumet River from its confluence with Calumet River and Grand Calumet River to its confluence with Calumet-Sag Channel;

8)         Grand Calumet River;

9)         Lake Calumet; and

10)         Lake Calumet Connecting Channel.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 4575, effective March 23, 2023)