Water Detail - Little Eau Pleine River, Little Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW14)

Little Eau Pleine River, Little Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW14)

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Little Eau Pleine River (1412600)

Size

30.34 Miles

Segment

25.66 - 56

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.

Warm Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater, 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.

2023

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

High Phosphorus Levels

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Clark, Marathon

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.

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.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Little Eau Pleine River is a 57-mile-long tributary to the Wisconsin River. The general condition of the river is unknown, but the first 28 miles from its mouth the Little Eau Pleine River has an attainable use of a Warm Water Sport Fishery.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Little Eau Pleine River - Biotic index sampling indicated fair to fairly poor water quality. The Upper Little Eau Pleine River is affected by animal waste run-off (Kaatz) and streambank erosion. Portions of the stream flow through Mead/McMillan wildlife areas. The Village of Unity discharges WWTP effluent to a riparian wetland of the river.

Kreitlow, James D. 1991. Upper Wisconsin River Central Sub-Basin Water Quality Management Plan. PUBL-WR-287-91-REV. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1991

Author Aquatic Biologist

Little Eau Pleine River, Little Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW14) Fish and Aquatic Life

Little Eau Pleine River, Little Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW14) Recreation

Little Eau Pleine River, Little Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW14) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Little Eau Pleine River (1412600) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

CBCW Waterfowl - Waterfowl Survey [Little Eau Pliene River, Hwy O Landing, Sep 25 2016]

CBCW Waterfowl - Waterfowl Survey [Little Eau Pliene River, Hwy S Landing, Sep 25 2016]

CBCW Waterfowl - Waterfowl Survey [Little Eau Pliene River, Hwy O Landing, Sep 24 2016]

CBCW Waterfowl - Waterfowl Survey [Little Eau Pliene River, Hwy S Landing, Sep 24 2016]

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Waterfowl Hunters AIS Education Grant Application

Updated Waterfowl Hunter AIS Outreach Proposal & Budget

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Little_Eau_Pleine_River_WBIC_1412600_fIBI_2012_Impairment_Assessment_Documentation

LITTLE EAU PLEINE RIVER, UNNAMED TRIBUTARY, UNNAMED CREEK 11-7, UNNAMED CREEK 27-16, WOOD COUNTY, WISKERCHEN CHEESE INC. WWTP USE DESIGNATION

LITTLE EAU PLEINE RIVER, UNNAMED TRIB, MARATHON COUNTY, SPENCER STP WWTP USE DESIGNATION

LITTLE EAU PLEINE RIVER, MARATHON COUNTY, UNITY WWTP USE DESIGNATION

LITTLE EAU PLEINE RIVER, UNNAMED TRIBUTARY, MARATHON COUNTY, EDELWEISSE CHEESE INC. USE DESIGNATION

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
DNR:MARATHON: Waterfowl Hunter AIS Ed.	2014

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373213	Little Eau Plaine River - Cloverdale Cheese Factory			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	103009	L Eau Pleine R at Tn Rd Ab Unity			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373299	Little Eau Pleine- Cth C Bl Edelweis			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373367	L Eau Pleine R at Cth E	5/1/1979	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373215	Little Eau Pleine River - Bl Cloverdale Ditch	10/13/1975	12/9/1975	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	103011	Little Eau Pleine River at Cth K	6/29/1989	6/29/1989	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373104	Big Eau Pleine River West Branch Tributary - Cloverdale Cheese Factory	8/11/1975	12/9/1975	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373214	Little Eau Pleine River - Ditch Bl Clovrdale			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	10031504	Little Eau Pleine at Galvin Ave			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	10016781	Little Eau Pleine River - Sampled Riffle Above Cth F	6/29/1989	10/25/2021	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373170	L Eau Pleine R at Kingston Rd	6/29/1989	7/30/2023	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	103012	Little Eau Pleine at Sth 13	5/19/1982	3/21/2006	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373368	L Eau Pleine R at Hwy 153	5/1/1979	6/29/1989	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	103112	L Eau Pleine R at S Hiline Dr	6/29/1989	3/21/2006	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	10035781	Little Eau Pleine River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373216	Little Eau Pleine River at Sth 97			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	10017232	Little Eau Pleine R.-200' Below Town Road (Kenton Rd) In Sec 17.	5/19/1982	5/19/1982	Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	373212	L Eau Pleine R - Above Cloverdale C F			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	10036793	Little Eau Pleine River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1412600	Little Eau Pleine River	103113	Lower Eau Pleine River - Cth K			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Little Eau Pleine River is located in the Little Eau Pleine River watershed which is 263.30 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (39%), wetland (23%) and a mix of forest (18%) and other uses (20.00%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 38,285.37 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Little Eau Pleine River is considered a Warm Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater, 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.

Warm Mainstem waters are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with relatively warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to 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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