Lynch Branch, Upper East Branch Pecatonica River Watershed (SP06)
Return to Search
Lynch Branch, Upper East Branch Pecatonica River Watershed (SP06)
Lynch Branch (912700)
3.86 Miles
0 - 3.86
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2015
Good
 
Iowa
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Cold (Class II Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

This small trout stream flows northeasterly and feeds into the Dodge Branch. While classified as a Class II trout stream and currently stocked with brown trout, it is a limited trout fishery. An evaluation survey of the middle section of the stream from Town Line Road upstream to the south line of Section 24, conducted in 1994, showed the stream to be navigable for this entire distance. The stream contained veronica and watercress. Shallow runs and pools were separated by gravel riffles. Numbers and diversity of benthos increased from the downstream portion to the upstream portion and good numbers of forage fish were present. The limiting factor for fish appeared to be lack of permanent cover (Van Dyke, 1994). A 2000 baseline survey showed that this stream is a degraded cold water fishery, containing no top level predators but some sculpin, that may be declining to a warm water forage fishery. This is due to impacts by woodlot pasturing and streambank pasturing which are degrading the habitat and adding nutrients to the stream. The stream would likely not benefit from habitat efforts due to temperature limitations (Sims, pers. comm.).

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Lynch Branch - Mouth location T5N R4E Section 18 -13, Surface area = 1.8 acres, Length = 2.6 miles, Gradient = 50.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 276.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 1.5 cfs.
Lynch Creek is a small spring fed tributary of Dodge Branch which flows northeasterly, entering about midway in its length. Its gradient is close to average for Iowa County streams and is subject to severe flooding and subsequent heavy bank erosion, especially in its lower sections. Over 80 percent of its drainage basin has been cleared for farming purposes which is probably the major cause for rapid runoff of precipitation. The Department of Natural Resources manages it for brown trout which are stocked every year to supplement the fishery. Surveys show that other fish species present include bluntnose and stoneroller minnows; creek and hornyhead chubs; johnny and fantail darters; redbelly dace, hogsuckers, and common shiners. Aquatic game assets are restricted to some muskrats near the mouth. There is no public land along this stream. Presently, it can be reached from a town road crossing.

From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1968

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Lynch Branch, Upper East Branch Pecatonica River Watershed (SP06) Fish and Aquatic LifeLynch Branch, Upper East Branch Pecatonica River Watershed (SP06) RecreationLynch Branch, Upper East Branch Pecatonica River Watershed (SP06) Fish Consumption

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Pecatonica River Watershed Assessment Pilot Project FINAL-Report
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
EPA Pecatonica Watershed Assessment Pilot

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
912700Lynch Br10048595Lynch Branch - private drive Fitzsimons RoadMapData
912700Lynch Br10038298Lynch Branch upper end by pondMapData
912700Lynch Br10008026Lynch Br. Station 111/10/200011/10/2000MapData
912700Lynch Br10014320Lynch Branch-Baseline Survey (atTownline Road)9/20/20101/1/2015MapData
912700Lynch Br10008037Lynch Branch Station 211/10/200011/10/2000MapData
912700Lynch Br10041182Lynch Creek ~1960ft US of Unnamed trib(5037921) confluenceMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Lynch Br is located in the Upper East Branch Pecatonica River watershed which is 140.18 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (52.10%), agricultural (22.10%) and a mix of forest (20.70%) and other uses (5.10%). This watershed has 395.65 stream miles, 61.72 lake acres and 834.33 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Lynch Branch is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

More Interactive Maps
View Water in Alternative Map