Apple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
Apple River, Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
Apple River (2614000)
3.91 Miles
6.14 - 10.05
Macroinvertebrate, Large River
2025
Unknown
 

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

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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Streams capable of supporting a seasonal coldwater sport fishery and which may be managed as coldwater streams.
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.