Apple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
Apple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
Apple River (2614000)
3.97 Miles
11.49 - 15.46
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.
Large River
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.
2024
Unknown
 
St. Croix
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The Apple River is a high value warm water stream which supports a regionally noted recreational industry centered on tubing float trips. The river is impacted by nonpoint source pollution generally agriculturally related although rural residential development is increasing. This stream and watershed should be considered a high priority for nonpoint source pollution control.

The Apple River drains a large agricultural area and has moderate water quality impacts as a result of barnyard runoff, streambank erosion, cropland runoff and erosion. The Apple River Flowage has problems typical of man-made flowages including excessive siltation and nutrients combining to create favorable conditions for nuisance aquatic plant growth. The flowage also receives stormwater runoff from the community of Amery which serves as an additional source of nutrients. Implementation of nonpoint source controls in this watershed should include practices aimed at reducing pollution from both rural and urban sources.

Date  1992

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

The Apple River flows west into the St. Croix River. Five flowages are impounded on this stream in St. Croix County: the Huntington (28 foot head dam), McClure (13'), Riverdale (23'), Somerset (17') and Apple Falls Flowages (84'). Two sections of the stream are managed for brown trout, the remainder is managed for walleyes, bass and panfish. That considered trout water is the portion of stream within the village limits of Star Prairie and a mile stretch of stream below the McClure Flowage dam. Fish sp=cies common to this stream are walleyes, smallmouth bass, rock bass, black bullheads, brown trout, carp and white suckers. Also present are muskellunge, northern pike, perch, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, brown bullheads, burbot and rainbow trout.

A grass-sedge wetlands of 110 acres border the river, providing additional habitat for muskrat and broods of mallards, blue -winged teal, wood ducks and hooded mergansers. Beaver are also present. Public lands here consists of 2,400 feet of state-owned frontage in the St. Croix Islands Wildlife Area. Eight bridges also provide access to the stream. Private development is limited to 20 cottages and homes.
.
Apple River -T31N, R17W, Sec. 1 to T31N, R20W, Sec. 20, Surface Acres = 157.6 Miles = 13. Q Gradient = 8 feet per mile.
From: Sather, LaVerne M. and Threinen, C.W., 1961. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of St. Croix County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1961

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Apple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) Fish and Aquatic LifeApple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) RecreationApple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) Fish Consumption

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

Recommendations

Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
350 ft2 of native plantings on 4 properties.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Apple River P & R District will implement best practices described in Wisconsin's 2014-2017 Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets and technical guidance. Practices include: 350 ft2 native plantings on 4 properties. The best practices require a contract to remain in effect for 10 years and must include minimum operation and maintenance requirements and data collection as described in grant condition #16.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Apple River P & R District will implement best practices described in Wisconsin's 2014-2017 Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Practices include: 350 ft2 native plantings on 5 properties. The best practices require a contract to remain in effect for 10 years and must include minimum operation and maintenance requirements and data collection as described in grant condition #17.
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
Practices include: 350 ft2 native plantings on 5 properties.
Educate and engage residents
The St. Croix River Association proposes to build its volunteer base and the organization's capacity to enhance protection of the Lower Apple River Watershed in Polk and St. Croix Counties. Major project elements to include: a) review and enhancement of outreach strategies, b) identity outreach and volunteer objectives and priorities, c) workshops and other activities to enhance volunteer base and public involvement.
Watershed Mapping or Assessment
The Star Prairie Land Preservation Trust proposes to pursue and encourage establishment of conservation easements to protect habitat, water quality the ecological integrity of the Lower Apple River in St. Croix County. Major project elements to include: 1) property owner survey, 2) GIS mapping, 3) outreach planning, 4) literature and brochure development, 5) public presenatations, 6) web site updates and newsletters.
Restore Riparian Habitat
The Star Prairie Land Preservation Trust, in St. Croix County, proposes to implement the Lower Apple River Action Plan through activities outlined in the Trust's strategic plan including: 1) Lecture series on river protection, 2) development of ongoing education strategy, 3) habitat inventory on Lower Apple River, 4) development of habitat restoration strategy.
Partnership Project
The St. Croix River Association proposes to establish a multi-stakeholder partnership to secure long-term protection and improvement of the Lower Apple River in St. Croix County. Major project elements to include: 1) stateholder meetings, 2) review of existing data, 3) community meeting, 4) plan development and final report.
Educate and engage residents
The Star Prairie Land Preservation Trust proposes to initiate an effort to enhance its organizational capacity; also to inform riparians along the Apple River and Horse Creek in St. Croix and Polk Counties as to the importance of river ecosystems and benefits associated with land conservation. Major project elements to include: 1) Strategic planning, 2) Development and distribution of handouts and brochures, 3) Development of a web site, 4) Creation of GIS-based inventory of riparian parcels.
County Land and Water Management Plan
The Polk County Land & Water Resources Department will conduct an organizational development and informational & educational project in the Apple River watershed in Polk County. Activities involved with this project include; organization of a Citizen Forum to collect local input on river threats, etc., assist in the creation of an Apple River Association, development of outreach materials and assist in the development of an Apple River Association newsletter, conduct a sociological land owner survey, conduct public meetings and generate news releases on project status and results, and conduct a shoreline video survey. Reports of ongoing project activities will be disseminated via brochures(s), meeting(s) and workshop(s), and the preparation of a final report. Specific deliverables for this grant project include: A final report that summarizes the grant project activities and includes examples of outreach materials that were developed.
Water Quality Planning
This watershed is located in east-central Polk County and contains the Apple River drainage upstream from below the Apple River Flowage dam in Amery. The watershed is approximately 125,074 acres in size and consists of 139 miles of streams and rivers, 7,663 acres of lakes and 16,247 acres of wetlands. The watershed is dominated by forest (43%), grassland (23%) and agriculture (14%). It is ranked high for nonpoint source issues affecting lakes and medium for nonpoint source issues affecting streams. The Upper Apple River is a fertile warmwater stream which flows into what is known as the Apple River Flowage in the community of Amery. The Apple River flowage has problems typical of man-made flowages including excessive siltation and nutrients which combine to create favorable conditions for nuisance aquatic plant growth.

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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Apple River is located in the Lower Apple River watershed which is 202.16 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (31.20%), agricultural (28.20%) and a mix of grassland (25.70%) and other uses (14.80%). This watershed has 151.64 stream miles, 4,391.99 lake acres and 9,095.80 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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

Apple River is considered a Large River 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.

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