Water Detail - Little Green River, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07)

Little Green River, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07)

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Little Green River (1204000)

Size

4.12 Miles

Segment

0 - 4.12

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.

Cool-Cold Mainstem

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.

2015

General Condition

Good

County

Grant

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.

Yes

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.

Yes

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.

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

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.

Cold (Class I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

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.

Cold

Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

The Little Green River is a tributary of the Big Green. It is classified as a Class I trout stream
for 3.6 miles of its length. The river is also listed as an outstanding resource water (ORW). A
survey conducted in the summer of 2000 indicated an increase in the number of trout. The
Little Green River has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution reduction.
Cattle grazing and trampling of streambanks is an apparent problem, and barnyards near the
stream may also be a problem.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin.
PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Overview

The Little Green River is a tributary of the Big Green. It is classified as a Class I trout stream for 3.6 miles of its length. The river is also listed as an outstanding resource water (ORW). A survey conducted in the summer of 2000 indicated an increase in the number of trout. The Little Green River has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution reduction. Cattle grazing and trampling of streambanks is an apparent problem, and barnyards near the stream may also be a problem.

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area = 2.91 acres, Length = 3.0 miles, Gradient = 33 ft./mile, Flow = 9.5 c.f.s.

A small spring-fed stream beginning 3.5 miles north of Mount Hope and flowing in a northerly direction to enter the lower reaches of the Big Green River. A two acre trout rearing pond was built on several headwater springs by the Department of Natural Resources in 1959. The pond and the state-owned land adjoining the pond is now known as the Mount Hope Conservation Area. The upper portion of this stream below the rearing pond is considered good brown trout water. Brown trout are common here and fishing pressure is heavy during the early part of the season. Some native trout have been found. Forage fish are common throughout the stream. The excellent water quality of the stream is limited by extensive areas of shallow gravel-rubble riffles. The entire stream remains practically ice-free during most of the winter. Bank cover is very abundant in the headwaters along the state-owned land but deteriorates to practically nothing on the lower two-thirds of the stream. A large recreation area with a 40-acre lake, several golf courses, a ski slope, several restaurants, and extensive executive office space was proposed to be built on the lower reaches of the stream in 1964.
This project, which never materialized, was to be financed by the Mid-American Ranch and Recreation Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin.

A feedlot located near one headwater spring remains a distinct eyesore from Highway 133 as well as being a pollution problem. Game assets are limited to a few muskrats and the major upland varieties. The Mount Hope Conservation Area provides 0.6 mile of public frontage on the stream in the upper reaches. The stream can also be easily reached from Highway 133, one bridge crossing, and the Big Green River. Seven rural dwellings adjoin the stream.

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Little Green River, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) Fish and Aquatic Life

Little Green River, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) Recreation

Little Green River, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

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

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1204000	Little Green River	10058651	Little Green River Spring			Map	Data
1204000	Little Green River	10031475	Little Green River at confluence of Big Green River	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1204000	Little Green River	10012848	Little Green River - (Hwy 33)			Map	Data
1204000	Little Green River	10030295	Little Green R at N end of State Property	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1204000	Little Green River	10058650	Little Green River Spring			Map	Data
1204000	Little Green River	10047006	Little Green River ~ 1865ft US from confluence with Big Green River	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Little Green River is located in the Green River and Crooked Creek watershed which is 125.71 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.60%), grassland (26.30%) and a mix of agricultural (16.80%) and other uses (10.30%). This watershed has 278.95 stream miles, 257.04 lake acres and 4,127.32 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

Little Green River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem 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 (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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