Surface Water | Wisconsin DNR

Wisconsin is a state rich with surface water, including lakes, streams, wetlands, aquifers and springs. Wisconsin has thousands of streams stretching over 84,000 miles, more than one million acres of inland lakes, 1,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and more than five million wetland acres. Learn how the DNR protects and restores these surface waters through water quality monitoring, water quality standards and more.

Water Resources Protection

Healthy Watersheds, High-Quality Waters

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act

Water quality assessments

Public Participation in Water Quality Assessments

Surface Water Impairments and Pollutants

Surface Water Quality Restoration

Water Condition Lists

Wisconsin's Water Quality Report to Congress

Wisconsin’s Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM)

Surface Water Quality Assessment Process

Water Quality Tools: Maps, Data, Modeling

Wisconsin Water Explorer (WEx)

Surface Water Data Viewer

Water Condition Viewer

Watershed Restoration & Protection Viewer

Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) Database

Pollutant Load Ratio Estimation Tool (PRESTO)

Water Quality Modeling Tools

Monitoring and Planning

Wisconsin Water Monitoring

Areawide Water Quality Management Plan (AWQMP) Program

Sewer Service Area Planning

Clean Water Act Water Quality Plans and Reports

Wisconsin’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Water quality standards

Water Quality Standards and Classifications

Water Quality Criteria

Water Quality Standards Rule Updates

PFAS Surface Water Criteria

Triennial Standards Review

Antidegradation

Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters

Surface Water Designated Uses