Rat River, Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek Watershed (WR01)
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Rat River, Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek Watershed (WR01)
Rat River (251800)
11.67 Miles
13.14 - 24.81
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, Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Headwater
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.
2021
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Low DO
Total Phosphorus
 
Outagamie, Winnebago
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
WWFF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent forage fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.
WWFF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent forage fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

Overview

The Rat River is tributary to the Main Stem Wolf River, prior to entering Lake Poygan. Its marshy shoreline has areas of purple loosestrife and beaver dam problems. Of 11 barnyard/feedlot operations rated for their NPS pollution hazard, five are ranked critical, two are high priority, and four are medium priority. The average soil erosion rate is below 2 T/A/YR. Data indicates dissolved oxygen violations on this stream. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index ratings range from good-fair to poor-very poor.

From: Bougie, Cheryl A., Kosmond, Lisa D, and Watermolen, Dreux J. 1996. Wolf River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1996

Author  Cheryl Bougie

Overview

The Rat River is a tributary to the Mainstem Wolf River, which empties into Lake Poygan.
The Rat River's marshy shoreline contains areas of purple loosestrife. The average soil
erosion rate is below 2 tons per acre per year. Data indicate dissolved oxygen violations on
this stream (Gansberg, 1992). Hilsenhoff Biotic Index ratings (organic levels) range from
good-fair to poor-very poor.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Rat River, T20N, R14E, Section 23, Area = 10.4 acres, Length = 15.6 miles, Gradient = 6.7 feet/mile.
The Rat River i s a medium brown, hard water stream that enters the Wolf River just above Lake
Poygan. Silt is the predominant bottom material. Much of the shoreline is marsh or other types of
wetland. Aquatic vegetation is common to abundant with American lotus, white water lily, coontail, wild rice, arrowhead, reed canary grass, and filamentous algae the most prevalent. The lower portion of the river supports a fishery similar to that of the Wolf River while the remainder of the stream contains a marginal northern pike-bass-panfish fishery.
Carp are common. The entire river is a popular duck hunting area. Goodly numbers of migrant puddle ducks use the area. Broods of mallards, wood ducks, and bluewing teal were observed during field surveys. Furbearers
(muskrat and mink) are common to the area as are deer. About three and one-half miles of
stream lie within the Rat River Wildlife Area, a publicly owned hunting and fishing area.
Three county roads and one state highway provide additional public access.

From: 1975. Surface Water Resources of Winnebago County: Lake and Stream Classification Project.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1975

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Rat River, T21N, R16E, Sec. 31(11), Area = 19.4 acres, Length = 3.2 miles, M.P.A. = 359 ppm.
The Rat River in Outagamie County is little more than a level ditch. The extensive cattaill marsh and
wetland complex adjacent to the stream provides cover and nesting area for waterfowl, furbearers, and marsh
birds of all types. The marsh is not widespread in Outagamie County, but limited to the streambank area.
Logs and debris are present in the stream, and aquatic vegetation is abundant. The surrounding area is
mostly agricultural in nature. The fishery is seasonal, with a few panfish, northern pike, and carp working
their way upstream in the spring, but only the carp remain for any length of time. One town road and one
federal highwey cross this stream providing limited public access.

From: Nelson, Linden M. and Ronald L. Fassbender. Surface Water Resources of Outagamie County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1972

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Rat River, Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek Watershed (WR01) Fish and Aquatic LifeRat River, Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek Watershed (WR01) RecreationRat River, Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek Watershed (WR01) 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

Rat River, Rat River - Hwy 110, Nonwadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Town of Wolf River Boating Safety Ordinance, Ordinance No. 10 [Rat River, Winnebago County]
Arrowhead River, Rat River, Daggets Creek Priority Watershed Water Resource Appraisal Report
RAT RIVER, UNNAMED TRIBUTARY, WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WINCHESTER S.D. (NO WWTP) USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Navigability Determination
; Rat River; Extension of previous determination
Navigability Determination
; Rat River; Extension of previous determination
Navigability Determination
S13 T20 R14; trib to Rat River;
Navigability Determination
T20N R14E; Rat River;
Navigability Determination
T20N R15E S1; Rat River, trib; #3-NE-03-0610WL
Navigability Determination
NW S21 T21N R16E; Rat River, trib;
Navigability Determination
S17 T21N R16E; Rat River, trib;

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
Rat River at CTH II2011
Outagamie Navigability2008
Winnebago Navigability2008
TOWN OF GREENVILLE: Storm Water Planning2008

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
251800Rat River453243Rat River - Island Road9/18/19907/22/2021MapData
251800Rat River10017067Rat River - Spring Road9/19/19909/19/1990MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Rat River is located in the Arrowhead River and Daggets Creek watershed which is 142.91 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (45.40%), wetland (22.50%) and a mix of grassland (15.80%) and other uses (16.40%). This watershed has 246.26 stream miles, 4,646.49 lake acres and 18,649.27 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

Rat River is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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.

Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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