Overview

The West Branch of the Fond du Lac River begins in northwest Fond du Lac County and flows generally southeast to its confluence with the East Branch. The West Branch has four distinct segments. The first segment is the upper headwater segment, including all its tributaries upstream from Eldorado Marsh. The second segment is contained within Eldorado Marsh. The third segment is downstream from Eldorado Marsh to the City of Fond du Lac, while the fourth segment is in the City of Fond du Lac.

The segment upstream from Eldorado Marsh has a relatively low gradient. There are numerous small wetland complexes and areas of drained wetlands. Many of the unnamed tributaries and drainageways have been ditched or straightened. There are areas of very intensive farming, including the state’s largest concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), but there are also large areas of farmland which have been set aside as part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The seemingly large CRP lands in the sub-watershed of this segment act as buffers to the stream in many areas. Water quality is good enough to allow wild rice to be present in the stream channel at least one location upstream from Eldorado Marsh (WDNR SCR-Files, 1996). All the CRP land also reduces the amount of sediment and nutrients that would otherwise find their way into Eldorado Marsh. There is a dam on the river at the Community of Eldorado. Ownership of the dam is unclear according to DNR records. As a result, it is unknown how the dam is being managed or ought to be managed.

The Eldorado Marsh segment of the river is within the boundaries of the Eldorado State Wildlife Area. There is a water control structure that is used to manipulate water levels and control flow out of the marsh. The marsh acts as a sediment and nutrient sink, where much of the incoming sediment is deposited.

The segment of the river from State Highway 23 at the south edge of the wildlife area downstream to U.S. Highway 41 has a steeper gradient and possesses a series of runs and riffles. In stream habitat looks very good and perhaps may be capable of supporting a smallmouth bass fishery (WDNR SCR-Files, 1996). There is not as much intensive agriculture in this segment and there is rural, low-density residential development along portions of the river that may be offering even more buffer from agricultural nonpoint source impacts. Macroinvertebrate monitoring indicates fair to good water quality conditions (Sorge, 1996).

The segment from U.S. Highway 41 downstream to its confluence with the East Branch is an urban stream. There are urban nonpoint sources of pollution, which affect the water quality of the stream.

Date  2011

Author  Michael Reif

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the West Branch Fond Du Lac River showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Temperature data also exceeded the listing criteria. Available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

West Branch Fond Du Lac River (134000) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Temperature data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

Recommendations

Recommendations

Additional water quality monitoring data should be collected to develop a clearer picture of the overall water quality of the river. In particular, total phosphorus, suspended solids, and macroinvertebrate data should be collected so that effective management strategies can be developed.

The dam on the West Branch of the Fond du Lac River in the hamlet of Eldorado should be inspected and ownership issues should be resolved.

Date  2011

Author  Michael Reif

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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

West Branch Fond Du Lac River is located in the Fond du Lac River watershed which is 244.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (15.90%) and a mix of wetland (10.90%) and other uses (16.00%). This watershed has 461.86 stream miles, 991.41 lake acres and 16,649.99 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.