Surface Water_Content Page_Triennial Standards Review

Triennial Standards Review

Helping improve Wisconsin's surface water quality

A wide view of a Wisconsin lake with a line of evergreen trees in the distance along the shoreline.

Final 2025-2027 Triennial Standards Review Workplan Now Available

The final work plan, 2025-2027 Triennial Standards Review (TSR) Priorities for the Water Quality Standards Program, is available for download. 

Every three years, the DNR reviews Wisconsin's water quality standards or related guidance to determine which standards need development or revision, as required by the federal Clean Water Act. This comprehensive evaluation, called the Triennial Standards Review (TSR), is an essential process to keep Wisconsin's surface waters swimmable, fishable and drinkable.

This review helps DNR staff focus efforts to integrate the latest science, technology and federal requirements into how the state regulates water quality. In addition, the review assists the staff with work planning and identifying needed actions for moving projects forward. Water quality standards act as guidelines for setting an appropriate level of protection for Wisconsin's lakes, rivers and streams.

Components of water quality standards reviewed as part of the Triennial Standards Review include the following:

  • designated uses – goals and expectations established for each waterbody
  • water quality criteria – narrative and numeric benchmarks established to protect the designated uses
  • antidegradation – policy or procedure established to protect high-quality waters
  • water quality variances – short-term changes to permit limits or water quality standards when criteria are unattainable.

Triennial Review Process

The image is a flowchart designed in a step-like format. It features three ascending rectangular steps, each with blue accents on the top and left sides. At the top of the second step, there is an icon of three people with a light bulb above them, suggesting a brainstorming or ideas phase. The first step on the left reads, "1. Draft priorities for TSR cycle," with "Fall 2023" beneath it. The second step reads, "2. Collect and analyze public input," with "Spring/Summer 2024" below. The third step says, "3. R

Step 1: Review workplan priorities from the 2021-2023 cycle and draft an updated workplan.

Step 2: Solicit public input to rank topics during the public comment period and public hearing.

Step 3: Use public input to help prioritize topics and draft a work plan for the next three years. Submit the final plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Once the triennial work plan is complete, staff will begin work on the prioritized topics as time and resources allow.

Current Cycle: 2025-2027

Step 1: Draft Priorities is now complete.

To kick off the cycle, DNR staff reviewed the status of various topics related to surface water quality standards, prioritizing work that was in progress, followed by topics that will be worked on as time and resources allow. Additional topics that remain important, but are comparatively low in priority, were acknowledged as work for future TSR cycles. 

Step 2: Collect Public Input is now complete.

A comment period was held from May 29, 2024 until July 26, 2024. Direct outreach was conducted to 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin, with an extended comment period that ended on Aug. 9, 2024.

The DNR held an online public hearing on July 17, 2025 to describe the topics under consideration, answer questions and take any comments about which topics attendees feel should be priorities. 

Step 3: Refine Topic Prioritization is now complete.

The final work plan, 2025-2027 Triennial Standards Review (TSR) Priorities for the Water Quality Standards Program, is available now.

Previous Cycles

Below is information about previous cycles. Work on topics begun in previous cycles will continue until it is completed.

2021-2023

2018-2020

2015-2017

2012-2014

2008-2011