Lafayette
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The Apple River rises in southern Lafayette County, southeast of Shullsburg, and flows southerly into Illinois. Approximately 99% of the watershed is agricultural. Monitoring done in the 1980s showed that the stream had habitat and water quality impairments due to nonpoint sources of pollution.
The most recent survey (2005) conducted at County Highway W showed an assemblage of non-game species typical of coolwater streams in southwestern Wisconsin. The rubble/ cobble dominated stream contained a high number of central stonerollers, common shiners, hornyhead chubs, southern redbelly dace, and white sucker. The study also found the Ozark minnow, a state threatened species. Biologists found moderate sedimentation in pools and the presence of filamentous algae indicating that there is sediment and nutrient loading to the stream.
Date 2010
Author James Amrhein
Historical Description
The Apple River rises in southern Lafayette County, southeast of Shullsburg, and flows southerly into Illinois. Approximately 99.2 percent of the watershed is agricultural. Monitoring done in the 1980's showed that the stream had habitat and water quality problems due to non-point sources of pollution (Fix, 1991). More recent monitoring (Wang, et.al., 1994) has also found that grazing and trampling of banks is degrading riparian areas along the stream.
In addition, some problem barnyards and some terraced fields drain directly to the Apple River and some of its tributaries (Fix, 1998). Little is known about the impact of such direct farm field drainage on fisheries and water quality of the Apple River.
The Apple River was once listed as one of Americas most endangered rivers sue primarily to the threat of large hog producing operations being proposed in Illinois part of the Apple River sub-watershed (American Rivers, 1998). A study done by USGS on the Apple River shows the stream carries a median unit-area sediment of 209 tons per square mile with a maximum load of 282 tons of sediment per square mile. The same study showed the stream receiving a median unit-area load of 929 pounds of phosphorus per square mile with a maximum loading of 1400 pounds per square mile (Corsi, et.al, 1997). An endangered species that is very sensitive to water pollution had been found along the Apple River in the early 1980's, however, no recent recorded sightings have occurred (DNR, 1997).
The warm water of Biotic Integrity (IBI) the Apple River, a measure of water quality based on the fish community, indicated only fair water quality (Wang, et.al., ibid). In 1995 and 1996, the macroinvertebrate community of the Apple River was sampled to give a picture of the stream health that ranges from good to poor water quality. Overall, this biotic index (known as the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index or HBI) indicated fair water quality. The majority of the macroinvertebrates found in the Apple River were midges which are typically found in higher numbers in streams with significant agricultural non-point source pollution and often suggest ecological disturbances in the stream (Gamman, 1983, Marshall, 1999).
Date 2001
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 |
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| 933500 | Apple River | 333089 | Apple River at Cth W Near Shullsburg WI | 10/15/1980 | 10/15/2001 | Map | Data |
| 933500 | Apple River | 10012759 | Apple River - (North Of Cth W) | 10/22/1985 | 5/1/1996 | Map | Data |
| 933500 | Apple River | 10015912 | Apple River - 45 M Upstream Of Bridge At Secondbridge Upstrm Of Mouth At Cth W | 5/1/1996 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 933500 | Apple River | 10010485 | Apple River - 1 | | | Map | Data |
| 933500 | Apple River | 10015899 | Trib. Of Apple R. - Cth W | 10/22/1985 | 5/1/1986 | Map | Data |
| 933500 | Apple River | 10031344 | Unnamed Tributary (933500) to Apple River at Martin Road | 10/12/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Apple River is located in the Galena River watershed which is 241.84 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (63.10%), grassland (26.40%) and a mix of forest (5.70%) and other uses (4.60%). This watershed has 572.33 stream miles, 65.18 lake acres and 681.01 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.