Trotter Branch, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
Return to Search
Trotter Branch, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
Trotter Branch (899400)
3.80 Miles
0 - 3.80
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 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
Good
 
Green, Lafayette
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.
No

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.
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.
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

This small stream flows westward into Lafayette County and is joined by Jockey Hollow Branch before it enters the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. Although a 1980 fisheries survey reported small numbers of stonerollers, creek chubs and American Brook Lamprey, a 1990 study found only brook stickleback. It suffers from poor habitat, low flow, and channel straightening. The goal of the priority watershed project was to reduce organic loading and erosion, increase aquatic diversity, and improve wildlife habitat. It has not been monitored recently.

Sampling conducted in 2007 and 2008 showed very few trout and a paucity of other individuals, mostly made up of tolerant species. Like many lower areas of tributaries to the East Branch Pecatonica River, northern pike made their way up Trotter Branch in spring 2008 to spawn. Young-of-the-year pike were found at the (lower) Trotter Road crossing in 2008 whereas none were found there in 2007. Another survey conducted just downstream from Jockey Hollow Creek yielded only 4 brook stickleback. Macroinvertebrate HBI samples continue to indicate “very good” to “excellent” water quality. The department, in consideration of adding Trotter Branch to the list of impaired streams, should conduct further monitoring, including temperature, flow and habitat, and investigate land-use in the area to determine why the stream is lacking in fish.

Date  2010

Author  James Amrhein

Historical Description

This small stream flows westward into Lafayette County and is joined by Jockey Hollow Branch before it enters the east branch of the Pecatonica River. The stream flows through pastured land and several cattle yards. Consequently, the water is very turbid. The bottom consists primarily of sand, with gravel and silt in places. The fishery consists of small numbers of central stonerollers, creek chubs and the American brook lamprey and
wildlife values are negligible. Public access is available from two public road crossings.

Fish Species: Central stoneroller, creek chub, American brook lamprey.

Surface Acres =.1.0, Length = 2.1 Miles, Gradient = 55 ft./mi., Base Discharge = 1.7 cu. ft./sec.

Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Trotter Branch begins in Green County and flows westerly into the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. Approximately 23 percent of its total watershed area lies in Lafayette County. There is one prominent feeder which enters within the county, but most of its watershed is located in Green County. Bank erosion is generally moderate although most of the watershed area is farmed. The floodplain area is usually either in firm or meadow pasture while the uplands are cropped. Although there are some springs feeding into the stream, it is classified as a warm water drainage stream and is managed for forage fishes. Upland game species in the watershed are pheasants, quail, Hungarian partridge, deer and squirrels. There is also some waterfowl and furbearer production near the mouth. There are no public lands in the basin. Public access is limited to two town road bridges.

Trotter Branch, T2N, R5E, Sections 14-2, Surface acres = 0.8, Miles = 1.7, Gradient = 22.9 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 318 mg/l, Volume of flow = 2.0 cfs.

From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1967

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Trotter Branch, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Fish and Aquatic LifeTrotter Branch, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) RecreationTrotter Branch, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) 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

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

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

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
899400Trotter Br10029999Trotter Branch 140m downstream of confluence with Jockey HollowMapData
899400Trotter Br10021955Trotter Branch At Trotter Road (Lower)10/29/20071/1/2015MapData
899400Trotter Br10053859Trotter Branch at Duncan Hill Road6/24/202010/14/2021MapData
899400Trotter Br10022102Trotter Branch At Trotter Road (North Of Lewis Road)10/29/20071/1/2015MapData
899400Trotter Br333212Trotter Branch - Trotter Rd.Sec 12MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Trotter Br is located in the Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers watershed which is 144.80 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (44.90%), agricultural (35.10%) and a mix of forest (16%) and other uses (3.90%). This watershed has 370.96 stream miles, 107.68 lake acres and 2,029.49 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Trotter Branch is considered a Cool-Cold 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 (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.

More Interactive Maps
View Water in Alternative Map