Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW)

Outstanding Resource Waters have the highest value as a resource, excellent water quality, and high quality fisheries.  They do not receive wastewater discharges, and point source discharges will not be allowed in the future unless the quality of such a discharge meets or exceeds the quality in the receiving water. 

This classification includes national and state wild and scenic rivers and the highest quality Class I trout streams in the state.

Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 102.10 designates Outstanding Resource Waters.  The list can be found here on page 4.

Click here (requires Acrobat Reader) for a ORW/ERW Background booklet provided by the DNR in January 2006.

Click here and here (requires Acrobat Reader) for a listing of Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters in Douglas County.

Click here (requires Acrobat Reader) for a discussion of five myths about Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Water designations.

Notes:

An Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) is defined as a lake or stream having excellent water quality, high recreational and aesthetic value, high quality fishing and is free from point source or nonpoint source pollution.

An Exceptional Resource Water (ERW) is defined as a stream exhibiting the same high quality resource values as outstanding waters, but may be impacted by point source pollution or have the potential for future discharge from a small sewer community.

Note:  ORW is a higher rating than ERW.