# Idaho Code § 39-3606: 39-3606 MONITORING AND USE OF REFERENCE STREAMS OR CONDITIONS AND BENEFICIAL USE SUPPORT ASSESSMENT

> Idaho · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3606

## Section

- **Citation:** Idaho Code § 39-3606
- **Heading:** 39-3606 MONITORING AND USE OF REFERENCE STREAMS OR CONDITIONS AND BENEFICIAL USE SUPPORT ASSESSMENT
- **Jurisdiction:** Idaho
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Idaho Code / Title 39 / Chapter 36 / Section 39-3606

## Text

39-3606. monitoring and Use of reference streams or conditions and beneficial use support assessment. (1) The director shall conduct monitoring to determine whether designated beneficial uses of water bodies are fully supported. In making such determinations, the director shall consult with the basin advisory group and the watershed advisory group with the responsibilities described in this chapter for the water body. The director shall use the appropriate water quality standards as identified in the rules of the department and shall compare the physical, chemical and biological measures of the water body with the reference stream or condition appropriate to the land type, land uses, hydrology, water uses and geophysical features of the water body as described in section 39-3605(2), Idaho Code. If the water body has such physical, chemical or biological measures as the reference stream or condition, even though such measures may be diminished from the conditions set forth in section 39-3605(1), Idaho Code, then the director shall deem the designated beneficial uses for the water body to be fully supported and as having achieved the objectives of the federal clean water act and of this chapter. When site-specific standards have been developed for an activity pursuant to the rules of the department, the use of reference streams as described in this section shall not be necessary.

(2) The physical, geological, hydrological, atmospheric, chemical or biological measures of a water body to be used to determine whether beneficial uses are fully supported may include, but are not limited to: stream width, stream depth, stream shade, sediment, bank stability, water flows, physical characteristics of the stream that affect habitat for fish, macroinvertebrate species or other aquatic life, and the variety and number of fish or other aquatic life.

History:

[39-3606, added 1995, ch. 352, sec. 1, p. 1171; am. 1997, ch. 279, sec. 4, p. 833; am. 2013, ch. 348, sec. 4, p. 946.]

## Nearby sections

- [Idaho Code § 39-3601 39-3601 DECLARATION OF POLICY AND STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3601.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3602 39-3602 DEFINITIONS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3602.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3603 39-3603 ANTIDEGRADATION POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3603.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3604 39-3604 DESIGNATION OF INSTREAM BENEFICIAL USES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3604.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3605 39-3605 IDENTIFICATION OF REFERENCE STREAMS OR CONDITIONS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3605.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3605C 39-3605C ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FUND ESTABLISHED.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3605C.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3606 39-3606 MONITORING AND USE OF REFERENCE STREAMS OR CONDITIONS AND BENEFICIAL USE SUPPORT ASSESSMENT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3606.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3606C 39-3606C APPROPRIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FUND — PURPOSE OF CHAPTER.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3606C.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3607 39-3607 REVISIONS AND ATTAINABILITY OF BENEFICIAL USES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3607.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3608 39-3608 REGULATORY ACTIONS FOR WATER BODIES WHERE BENEFICIAL USES ARE FULLY SUPPORTED.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3608.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3609 39-3609 IDENTIFICATION OF WATER BODIES WHERE BENEFICIAL USES ARE NOT FULLY SUPPORTED.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3609.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3610 39-3610 GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES FOR WATER BODIES NOT FULLY SUPPORTING BENEFICIAL USES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3610.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3611 39-3611 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD OR EQUIVALENT PROCESSES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3611.md)
- [Idaho Code § 39-3612 39-3612 INTEGRATION OF TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD PROCESSES WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3612.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T39_C36_S39-3606. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.