Water Detail - Yellow River, Yellow River Watershed (LC09)

Yellow River, Yellow River Watershed (LC09)

Return to Search

Yellow River (2096100)

Size

5.74 Miles

Segment

18.58 - 24.32

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-Warm 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

Excellent

County

Barron

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 II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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

Flowages on the Yellow River are shallow and highly eutrophc. The Yellow River drains to the
Red Cedar River. The upper portion of the Yellow River supports trout.
The model originally used for the watershed assessment provided estimates of sediment loading only
for upland fields. Models now available also allow the estimation of phosphorus loading, as well as
sediment loading, from these sites.
Jerome Foods Inc. has a surface water discharge from its aerated lagoon treatment system to the
Yellow River. Ths facility also discharges to groundwater through seepage cells. The reissued
permit will implement the phosphorus removal requirements of NR 217 Wis. Adm. Codes.
Northern Sofi Water operates a water softening business in Barron. When the permit application
and monitoring data are submitted for a discharge to the Yellow River, appropriate limitations will
be imposed to control chlorides and total dissolved solids in the discharge

Date 1996

Author Aquatic Biologist

Yellow River, Yellow River Watershed (LC09) Fish and Aquatic Life

Yellow River, Yellow River Watershed (LC09) Recreation

Yellow River, Yellow River Watershed (LC09) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Yellow River, from its mouth upstream to Barron Flowage No. 3 (miles 0 to 9.75), was evaluated for phosphorus and biology every two years between 2012 and 2018. Phosphorus levels were too high.

Yellow River, from Barron Flowage No. 3 to unnamed trib (WBIC 5005829) (miles 9.75 to 18.58), was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2018 to 2022; fish and bug data indicated a healthy system. This river segment is on the Healthy Waters List.

Yellow River, from unnamed trib (WBIC 5005829) to Jack Harrington Dam (miles 18.58 to 24.32), was evaluated in 2018 and 2022; fish data indicated a healthy system. This river segment is on the Healthy Waters List.

Yellow River, from Jack Harrington Dam to CTH B (miles 24.33 to 30.33), was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2018 to 2022; fish data indicated a healthy system. This river segment is on the Healthy Waters List.

Yellow River, from CTH B to Unnamed Trib (WBIC 5004991) (miles 30.33 to 34.94), was evaluated in the 2018 and 2022 cycles; fish data indicated a healthy system. This stream segment is on the Healthy Waters List.

Yellow River, from Unnamed Trib (WBIC 5004991) to Fox Lake (miles 34.94 to 36.58) and from Fox Lake to headwaters (miles 37.05 to 39.62) have not been evaluated for water quality.

Date 2022

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Rivers TP Summary 2012

Barron County Land and Water Plan 2011

Yellow River and tribs, Barron Co, OERW Evaluation

Barron County Surface Water Resources 1964

Recommendations

Review, Update Use Designation

Trout water changed from Class I to a Class II water. Should evaluate issues related to NR102.

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2096100	Yellow River	10011546	Yellow River - Yellow River at 20 1/4 Ave	10/2/1990	10/2/1990	Map	Data
2096100	Yellow River	10008081	Yellow River			Map	Data
2096100	Yellow River	10011449	Yellow River at Foot Bridge	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2096100	Yellow River	10016311	Yellow River - 3/4 Mile S. Of Hwy 48 On 12 1/2st. At Swale Confluence	10/12/2000	10/12/2000	Map	Data
2096100	Yellow River	10012032	Yellow River - Yellow River at 20 1/4 Ave	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2096100	Yellow River	033115	Yellow River at 20 1/2 Ave N Yl2-T2	3/15/1990	4/4/1990	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Yellow River is located in the Yellow River watershed which is 239.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (38%), forest (28.40%) and a mix of grassland (20.50%) and other uses (13.00%). This watershed has 415.31 stream miles, 2,929.80 lake acres and 11,565.29 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

Yellow River is considered a Cool-Warm 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.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map