Big Rib River, Upper Rib River Watershed (CW26)
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Big Rib River, Upper Rib River Watershed (CW26)
Big Rib River (1451800)
5.22 Miles
49.91 - 55.13
Natural Community
Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Headwater
Year Last Monitored
2022
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Taylor
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

The Lower Big Rib River is classified as a warm water sport fishery. The river is currently stocked with muskies from Marathon City downstream to Lake Wausau. Other gamefish species commonly found in the river include walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. A mercury advisory for the consumption of walleye exists between Rib Falls and Lake Wausau. Limiting factors of habitat include nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, lack of fish cover and poor flow regimes. Sources of these problems have been identified as cropland erosion, streambank erosion, urban runoff, and point source discharges. Upstream of the town of Rib Falls, the Big Rib River appears to be undergoing long-term bank erosion resulting from natural processes. Bar development is apparently the result of major rain episodes rather than historic deposition. Resource specialists the falls of Rib Falls have served as a natural barrier to the effects of past in-stream mining by preventing head cutting. Historic in-stream nonmetallic mining operations have had a negative impact on the river downstream of Rib Falls.

The Upper Big Rib River has an excellent fishery. Classified as a Class I, II, and III trout stream, it also contains Class A musky waters, and small mouth bass and walleye fisheries. Biotic index sampling conducted in 1978 indicated excellent water quality.

As noted above, sand and gravel excavations affect the Big Rib River (Upper). Fish stranding has occurred in isolated excavations adjacent to the river. Sediment may be entering the stream as a result of gravel washing.

Date  2002

Author  Linnea Rock

Historical Description

The Lower Big Rib River is classified as a warm water game fishery. STORET water quality data indicates levels of nitrite-nitrate nitrogen as high as 3.6-4.1 ppm. A Department of Justice letter to the DNR in 1977 indicated 34.4 miles of the Rib River was pocketed with 20 excavation sites.

Date  1991

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.