Manitowoc R. So. Branch, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
Return to Search
Manitowoc R. So. Branch, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
Manitowoc R. So. Branch (77900)
12.64 Miles
0 - 12.64
Natural Community
Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels, Elevated Water Temperature, PCBs Contaminated Fish Tissue, PCB Contaminated Sediments
Total Phosphorus, Unknown Pollutant, PCBs
 
Calumet, Manitowoc
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

The South Branch of the Manitowoc originates in northeastern Fond du Lac County and flows through
Chilton and Hayton before joining the North Branch to form the main stem of the Manitowoc River. Two
impoundments, Hayton Pond and Chilton Millpond, are on this stream. Common fish species include
smallmouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, bullhead, and carp. Smallmouth bass were stocked below
Chilton Millpond in the 1980s (Meyers 1996). It is unknown if a population was ever established in the
river. Waterfowl make moderate use of the river and adjacent 1,325 acres of primarily wooded wetlands
during spring and fall migrations. The potential biological use of the stream is a warm water sport fishery.
The South Branch of the Manitowoc River was selected as a basin assessment trend monitoring station.
Sampling will begin in January 1996 and run through December, 1996. For more information regarding
this monitoring refer to the Surface Water Quality Report.
Historic reductions in the percentage of forested and wetland vegetation have resulted in a watershed that
lacks adequate opportunities for infiltration and retention of precipitation and snow melt resulting in
flashy runoff which overwhelms existing stream channels and aquatic habitat. This excessive runoff also
strips valuable sediments and nutrients from the terrestrial environment and delivers them to our streams
and lakes where they result in degraded water quality and poorer habitat which can kill sensitive and
intolerant fish and aquatic invertebrates. Flashy runoff also limits the amount of water available to
sustain adequate flows during drought. Restoration efforts should focus on increasing the overall
percentage of forested and wetland vegetation in this watershed to restore a more natural hydrologic
regime and minimize the impacts of flashy runoff and an altered hydrologic regime.
The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with local, State and Federal
agencies, obtains a large amount of data pertaining to the water resources of Wisconsin each year
(Holmstrom 1995). A gauging station is located on the South Branch of the Manitowoc River on the left
bank 100 feet downstream from Weeks Road bridge, at Hayton. The station has been in service since July
1993. The type of data being collected include: chemical, discharge, sediment, and water temperature.
Please refer to the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resource Data Wisconsin Water Year 1995 for specific
data.

From: Willman, Guy and Mike Toneys. 2001. The State of the Lakeshore Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  2001

Author  Michael Toneys

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.