White River, White River Watershed (LS10)
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White River, White River Watershed (LS10)
White River (2892500)
9.40 Miles
13.96 - 23.36
Natural Community
Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
2015
Good
 
Ashland
Trout Water 
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Cold (Class II Trout)
Designated Use
Cold

Overview

The White River forms at the confluence of the East, West and South Forks of the White River. It is considered a Class I trout stream for brook and brown trout for the first two miles down to Pike's Branch at the Section 21/22 line. From this point to the White River Flowage in Ashland County, and then from the outlet of the flowage to the river mouth, is considered Class II trout water, with the reach up to the dam supporting migratory species from Lake Superior. The Class I portion is an outstanding resource water. From the Section 21/22 line to the boundary of the Bad River Indian Reservation, the stream is considered an exceptional resource water.

The White River Fishery Area was created through easements to provide a public fishing area in the upper reaches above Bibon Marsh. This stretch of the White River is characterized by shifting sands with marl shelves found in places. Bibon Marsh is a state natural area and identified as an important Lake Superior habitat and priority wetland. The community of Grand View discharges its effluent via an unnamed feeder and Twenty Mile Creek to Bibon Marsh. Some elevated levels of suspended solids have been found near the discharge, but not above standards. There is little water quality data on this discharge.

As the river passes through the marsh and down to the White River Flowage, it collects the waters of Long Lake Branch and its tributaries and Schramm Creek. The river picks up discoloration here from the underlying red clay soils and while still a cold water stream is less productive for trout. Bottom types are mostly clay, with areas of sand, gravel, silt and rubble.

Several of the White River's feeder streams are considered trout waters. Most of the feeders to the river in this downstream portion are either intermittent or considered warm water forage fishery waters. The entire river system is popular with waterfowl for nesting and during migration.

Northern States Power operates a 49-foot head dam that creates the White River Flowage. Downstream from the flowage the river flows mostly through red clay soils until it meets the Bad River near Odanah, with an unstable sand and clay bottom. The two major resource issues at the White River Project are minimum flows to the bypassed reach and headwater elevation maintenance (Scheirer). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in its relicensing process has ordered Northern States Power to conduct a qualitative flow study in consultation with the natural resource agencies to determine what minimum flows are necessary to maintain aquatic life and aesthetics in the bypassed reach of the project (Scheirer). Based on study from May, 1994, WDNR, Northern States Power and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) each proposed different flow recommendations. Due to the marginal profitability of the project, the need for power and the adequate condition of the fishery, FERC in its Draft Environmental Assessment determined that Northern States Power should maintain as sufficient the existing leakage from the spillgates to the bypassed reach, which was measured as between .25 and .35 cubic feet per second (cfs). Both WDNR and USFWS vigorously opposed the conclusion as not protective of the resource. WDNR had recommended a minimum flow of 16 cfs year-round, and USFWS had recommended 16 cfs in winter and 27 cfs in spring, summer and fall. In the new license, FERC reversed its earlier conclusion and ordered Northern States Power to implement the minimum flow recommendation submitted by USFWS.

Date  1998

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 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.
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.
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.