Project Detail

Sinsinawa River Targeted Watershed Assessment, Grant County With 2021 and 2022 Addendum. NWQI Approved* Project 2023

Purpose

This project monitored the contemporary status of streams in the watershed to evaluate its overall health. The department needed current fish, habitat, and macroinvertebrate data for streams in the watershed. Volunteers have collected phosphorus data at the watershed pour point; it exceeds the total phosphorus criteria. Fisheries determined the Sinsinawa River to be a very productive smallmouth bass system that has been subject to periodic fish kills. This survey will help determine priority area in which to work. The data was also used to determine whether streams in this system are achieving attainable use and to assess the overall health of the watershed as required by CWA Section 303(d) and Section 305(b). This project is located in HUC12 070600050203. Read the Sinsinawa River Targeted Watershed Assessment, Grant County *2021 and 2022 Update: Grant County and NRCS are developing a NWQI planning project for the Sinsinawa Watershed. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids monitoring will be added to this project to get a baseline of concentrations in the watershed before BMP implementation begins as part of the NWQI project. *2023 Update: Grant County and NRCS have a draft NWQI plan for the Sinsinawa River watershed. The second draft should be sent to WDNR staff in early 2023 with the hopes of having the plan approved in the next few months. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids monitoring will continue to be monitored to get a baseline of concentrations in the watershed before BMP implementation begins as part of the NWQI project.

Objective

Data gathered by this project was used to determine management actions to take to protect a quality, highly vulnerable smallmouth bass fishery. It will also help the land conservation department and other interested organizations determine what and where certain best management practices can be most effective. *2021 and 2022 Update: Grant County and NRCS are developing a NWQI planning project for the Sinsinawa Watershed. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids monitoring at 4 sites will be added to this project to get a baseline of concentrations in the watershed. The 4 stations to be monitored in 2021 and 2022 are: Galena River (Sinsinawa River) at Center Rd, Sinsinawa River at STH 11 near Hazel Green WI, Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd (Bi), and Unnamed Trib (941100) to Sinsinawa River at York Rd. *2023 Update: Grant County and NRCS have finalized and approved the Sinsinawa Watershed NWQI Plan. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids will continue to be monitored at the 4 sites from 2021 and 2022. This data will help to determine baseline concentrations in the watershed. The 4 stations to be monitored in 2023 are: Galena River (Sinsinawa River) at Center Rd, Sinsinawa River at STH 11 near Hazel Green WI, Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd (Bi), and Unnamed Trib (941100) to Sinsinawa River at York Rd.

Outcome

Fisheries, habitat, and macrovinvertebrate data will be collected on 12 sites in the watershed (HUC 12). Data will be collected during the field season of the 2016 calendar year. Data will be entered into the FH database and SWIMS. Updated streams narratives and watershed reports will be entered into SWIMS and WATERS. All data will be entered into the respective database by December, 2016 or whenever it becomes available. Final report will be drafted in winter 2017/18. *2021 and 2022 Update: Grant County and NRCS are developing a NWQI planning project for the Sinsinawa Watershed. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids monitoring at 4 sites will be added to this project to get a baseline of concentrations in the watershed. The baseline data will help to determine concentrations of the parameters listed above before BMP implementation beings as part of the NWQI project. *2023 Update: Grant County and NRCS are developing a NWQI planning project for the Sinsinawa Watershed. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids will continue to be monitored at 4 sites to get a baseline of concentrations in the watershed. The baseline data will help to determine concentrations of the parameters listed above before BMP implementation beings as part of the NWQI project.

Study Design

Data will be collected in accordance with accepted department SOPs and techniques.

Project Type

Targeted Watershed Approach

Project Sub Type

Evaluation (TP SSC, Stressor, Bioassess)

Project ID

South_TWA_2_2016

Year Started

2016

Status

Complete

Reports and Documents

Sinsinawa River Targeted Watershed Assessment: A Water Quality Report to Restore Wisconsin Watersheds

Assessments and recommendations for the Watershed. Sinsinawa River Targeted Watershed Assessment: A Water Quality Report to Restore Wisconsin Watersheds, 2018

Sinsinawa River - upstream at Louisberg Rd (940200) photo by JAmes Amrhein

Sinsinawa R - Louisberg Rd NC Validation

An Assessment of Water Quality in the Sinsinawa River Watershed 2016 Grant County, TWA-Monitoring Report

A narrative that describes the results and recommendations based on the Sinsinawa River Targeted Watershed Assessment conducted in 2016.

Riffle (1) - Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd (940200) photo by Amrhein, James

Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd Bridge (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd Bridge (640200) photo by James Amrhein

Riffle (2) - Sinsinawa River at Sinsinawa Rd (940200) photo by Amrhein, James

Landscape (5) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Landscape (3) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Landscape (8) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Landscape (2) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Sinsinawa River at Smally (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River at Smally(2) (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Landscape (6) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Landscape (1) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Landscape (1) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Sinsinawa River - Downstream at Sinsinawa Rd (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River - upstream at Sinsinawa Rd (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River - upstream at Sinsinawa Rd(2) (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River - upstream at Sinsinawa Rd(3) (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Landscape (4) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by Jim Amrhein

Landscape (7) Sinsinawa River TWA 2016 project (940200) photo by James Amrhein

Sinsinawa River - downstream at Louisberg Rd (940200) photo by JAmes Amrhein

Activities & Recommendations

Monitor Fish Community

Monitor Stressor Identification

Monitor Watershed (Status,Sources,Impairments)

Water Quality Planning

Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing

Fisheries has determined the Sinsinawa River to be a very productive smallmouth bass system that has been subject to periodic fish kills. This survey will help determine priority area in which to work. The data will also be used to determine whether streams in this system are achieving their attainable use and assess the overall health of the watershed as required by Section 303(d) and Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act.

Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

2021 Addendum- monitor 4 sites for total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrite as N, ammonia, total suspended solids for the early stages of the NWQI project development.

Watershed

Galena River

Waters

Sinsinawa River

Monitoring Data

Purpose

Objective

Outcome

Study Design

Related Reports