The state Department of Environmental Protection wants to upgrade 749 river miles of state waters, including segments of Tuckerton Creek and Westecunk Creek, to category one anti-degradation designation. According to the rule proposal, the upgrades would protect specific waterbodies that contain exceptional aquatic communities and habitat suitable for certain endangered and threatened species.

“Any wastewater or other regulated discharges impacting these waterways will need to meet stringent water quality…