West Branch Root River Canal, Root River Watershed (SE03)
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West Branch Root River Canal, Root River Watershed (SE03)
West Branch Root River Canal (4500)
2.26 Miles
9.22 - 11.48
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.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
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
Good
 
Racine
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.
LAL
Streams capable of supporting macro-invertebrates or occasionally fish that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically small streams with very low-flow and very limited habitat. Certain marshy ditches, concrete line-drainage channels, and other intermittent streams. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters are tolerant of many extreme conditions, but typically require concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain about 1 mg/L.

Overview

West Branch Root River Canal is part of the Root River watershed in the southeastern portion of the state. The stream reach area of the West Branch Root River Canal sub-watershed is about 25,320 acres with about 5% being riparian buffer. As of 2010 nearly 80% of the sub-watershed was used for agricultural purposes. The West Branch Root River Canal has been highly channelized since at least 1937, possibly the early 1900s. The first 4.4 miles (river mouth to Highway 20) were put on the impaired waters list in 1998 for phosphorus, sediment, and low dissolved oxygen. This watershed is included in the 2014 Root River Watershed Restoration Plan.

Date  2023

Author   Aquatic Biologist

West Branch Root River Canal, Root River Watershed (SE03) Fish and Aquatic LifeWest Branch Root River Canal, Root River Watershed (SE03) RecreationWest Branch Root River Canal, Root River Watershed (SE03) Fish Consumption

General Condition

The West Branch Root River Canal (67th Drive to 10th Avenue) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; temperature data did not exceed the 2018 WisCALM thresholds. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

Date  2017

Author  Amanda Smith

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
UNNAMED TRIBUTARY (YORKVILLE CREEK) OF THE WEST BRANCH OF THE ROOT RIVER CANAL , RACINE COUNTY, USE DESIGNATION
WEST BRANCH OF THE ROOT RIVER CANAL, RACINE COUNTY, VILLAGE OF UNION GROVE WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Standards Details

Historical files show that this water was designated in NR104 from Highway 20 to CTH C (LFF); from CTH C to 67th Drive (LAL). Facility: Union Grove WWTP.

Date  2010

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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
4500West Branch Root River Canal10032231W Br Root River Canal - Downstream 40ft from Union Grove WWTP outfall12/3/20101/1/2015MapData
4500West Branch Root River Canal523135Root River Canal West Branch - Above U G Stp7/31/19961/1/2015MapData
4500West Branch Root River Canal10032230W Br Root River Canal - Downstream 14ft from Union Grove WWTP outfall12/3/20101/1/2015MapData
4500West Branch Root River Canal10032232W Br Root River Canal - Upstream 14ft from Union Grove WWTP outfall12/3/20101/1/2015MapData
4500West Branch Root River Canal10007889West Branch Root River CanalMapData

Watershed Characteristics

West Branch Root River Canal is located in the Root River watershed which is 198.97 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.10%), suburban (25%) and a mix of urban (9.80%) and other uses (22.20%). This watershed has 306.47 stream miles, 967.77 lake acres and 6,175.95 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

West Branch Root River Canal is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater 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.