8.70 Miles
0 - 8.70
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
2017
Good
Jackson
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
South Branch Trempealeau is an 8 mile long stream located in Jackson County and within the Upper Trempealeau Priority Watershed Project area. It is not on our current Measure W list, but could be added. WCR has proposed the de-listing of the stream on our 303(d) list due to the improvement in the water quality of the stream. It appears that there is adequate information to support the de-listing, although the existing information will be reviewed. At this point, we don’t know whether the implementation of the Upper Trempealeau River Priority Watershed Project is the impetuous for improvement. J. Bauman, Dec. 2007
Date 2007
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Entire stream (class 2).
Date 1980
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
South Branch Trempealeau River was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
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
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 273047 | Trempealeau River South Branch at Cth F | 8/12/1996 | 9/9/1996 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10016561 | S.B. Trempealeau River - 25 Feet Upstream From Confluence Withamo Creek | 6/3/1996 | 6/3/1996 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 273048 | Trempealeau River South Branch at Meek Rd | 4/11/1990 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 5020316 | Unnamed | 273130 | Unnamed Creek | 6/16/2003 | 5/11/2004 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10008728 | So. Br. Trempealeau R. [170 ft US Of North Branch Rd] | 10/2/1991 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 273131 | Unnamed Creek - (Bridge) | 6/16/2003 | 5/11/2004 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10032319 | S. Fork Halls Creek at Hwy. F bridge Alma Center | | | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10016569 | South Branch Trempealeau R. - 20 Feet Downstream Of Confluence Withamo Creek. | 6/3/1996 | 6/3/1996 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10008414 | S. Br. Trempealeau R Station 1 N Br Rd Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 273050 | Trempealeau River South Branch - State Highway 95 | 8/8/1990 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 10029764 | South Branch Trempealeau Land Locked DNR Property | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1806900 | South Branch Trempealeau River | 273049 | Trempealeau River South Branch at Cth FF | 4/11/1990 | 11/8/2017 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
South Branch Trempealeau River is located in the Upper Trempealeau River watershed which is 175.54 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.60%), agricultural (29.80%) and a mix of grassland (12.70%) and other uses (8.90%). This watershed has 359.69 stream miles, 209.54 lake acres and 7,549.82 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.
S. Branch Trempealeau R. is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) 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.
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.
This stream is classified as a Class II brook trout stream. This stream has the potential to become a Class I brook trout stream if livestock would be prevented from grazing on the streambanks and other NPS pollution impacts are controlled. The Wisconsin Dairies Alma Center plant may be degrading water quality, aquatic habitat and possibly the trout fishery in the stream. The plant is also degrading groundwater quality in the area.
Date 1991
Author Aquatic Biologist