The designated uses are defined as follows:

1. (1) Extraordinary Resource Waters. This beneficial use is a combination of the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of a waterbody and its watershed that is characterized by scenic beauty, aesthetics, scientific values, broad scope recreation potential, and intangible social values. (For specific listings, refer to Appendices A and D).
2. (2) Ecologically Sensitive Waterbody. This beneficial use identifies segments known to provide habitat within the existing range of threatened, endangered or endemic species of aquatic or semi-aquatic life forms. (For specific listings, refer to Appendices A and D).
3. (3) Natural and Scenic Waterways. This beneficial use identifies segments that have been legislatively adopted into a state or federal system. (For specific listings, refer to Appendices A and D).
4. (4) Primary Contact Recreation. This beneficial use designates waters where full body contact is involved. Any streams with watersheds of greater than ten square miles (>10 mi²) are designated for full body contact. All streams with watersheds less than ten square miles (<10 mi²) may be designated for primary contact recreation after site verification. (April 1 to October 31).
5. (5) Secondary Contact Recreation. This beneficial use designates waters where secondary activities like boating, fishing or wading are involved. (Year-round).

6. (6) Aquatic Life. This beneficial use provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and other forms of aquatic biota. It is further subdivided into the following subcategories:

   1. (A) Trout Waters. Water that is suitable for the growth and survival of trout (Family: Salmonidae);
   2. (B) Lakes and Reservoirs. Water that is suitable for the protection and propagation of fish and other forms of aquatic biota adapted to impounded waters. Generally characterized by a dominance of sunfishes such as bluegill or similar species, black basses and crappie. May include substantial populations of catfishes such as channel, blue and flathead catfish and commercial fishes including carp, buffalo and suckers. Forage fishes are normally shad or various species of minnows. Unique populations of walleye, striped bass and/or trout may also exist; and

   3. (C) Streams. Water that is suitable for the protection and propagation of fish and other forms of aquatic biota adapted to flowing water systems whether or not the flow is perennial.

      1. (i) Ozark Highlands Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by a preponderance of sensitive species and normally dominated by a diverse minnow community followed by sunfishes and darters. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      2. (ii) Boston Mountains Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by a major proportion of sensitive species; a diverse, often darter-dominated community exists but with nearly equal proportions of minnows and sunfishes. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      3. (iii) Arkansas Valley Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by a substantial proportion of sensitive species; a sunfish- and minnow-dominated community exists but with substantial proportions of darters and catfishes (particularly madtoms). The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      4. (iv) Ouachita Mountains Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. The fish community is characterized by a major proportion of sensitive species; a minnow-sunfish-dominated community exists, followed by darters. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      5. (v) Typical South Central Plains Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by a limited proportion of sensitive species; sunfishes are distinctly dominant followed by darters and minnows. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      6. (vi) Springwater-influenced South Central Plains Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by a substantial proportion of sensitive species; sunfishes normally dominate the community and are followed by darters and minnows. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      7. (vii) Least-altered Mississippi Alluvial Plain Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by an insignificant proportion of sensitive species; sunfishes are distinctly dominant followed by minnows. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
      8. (viii) Channel-altered Mississippi Alluvial Plain Ecoregion. Streams supporting diverse communities of indigenous or adapted species of fish and other forms of aquatic biota. Fish communities are characterized by an absence of sensitive species; sunfishes and minnows dominate the population followed by catfishes. The community may be generally characterized by the following fishes:
7. (7) Domestic Water Supply. This beneficial use designates water that will be protected for use in public and private water supplies. Conditioning or treatment may be necessary prior to use.
8. (8) Industrial Water Supply. This beneficial use designates water that will be protected for use as process or cooling water. Quality criteria may vary with the specific type of process involved and the water supply may require prior treatment or conditioning.
9. (9) Agricultural Water Supply. This beneficial use designates waters that will be protected for irrigation of crops and/or consumption by livestock.
10. (10) Other Uses. This category of beneficial use is generally used to designate uses not dependent upon water quality, such as hydroelectric power generation and navigation.