Overview

1999 Lake Superior Basin Plan. This substantial stream flows from the four-foot head dam at the outlet from Lake Owen, an outstanding resource water lake, through several small lakes until it meets the White River in the Bibon Marsh. The reaches upstream from the outlet of Drummond Lake are considered to be forage waters only. The stream is impounded behind a 15-foot head dam on Mill Pond Lake (Rust Flowage) and a 13-foot head dam on Drummond Lake where water temperatures have the potential to increase. Below Drummond Lake, Long Lake Branch is considered an outstanding resource water and Class I trout stream. Bank feeders provide spring water and numerous trout waters feed the stream.

The Drummond wastewater treatment plant discharges treated effluent to a bog wetland from an outfall in the SESW and SWSE S28 T45 N R07W to the outlet in SESW S28 T45N R7W. This stretch of wetland is recommended for inclusion in NR104 as supporting limited aquatic life. Emerging from the bog wetland at a weir outlet and flowing north is an intermittent tributary to Long Lake Branch downstream of Drummond Lake. The intermittent tributary flows into another wetland that surrounds a 4.4-acre unnamed lake, known locally as Weso Lake, passes under the abandoned Chicago and Northwestern railroad grade and is joined by another feeder. This intermittent tributary from the wetland outlet to the entrance of the lake is also recommended for classification as supporting only limited aquatic life. A site review conducted in 1991 indicated high levels of phosphorus in the stream near the outlet weir and just below the abandoned railroad grade. A substantial increase in the five-day biochemical oxygen demand level occurred downstream of the rail bridge and staff reported a noticeable odor of sewage in the water. This odor still existed six months later. The 1991 site visit indicated no adverse impacts on Long Lake Branch from the discharge. The watershed characteristics rated excellent, while in-stream habitat, due to a lack of depth and siltation in the streambed, rated fair to poor. Habitat availability rated fair. Beaver activity is noted throughout the watershed.

This stream is identified in the Lake Superior Coastal Wetland Evaluation (Epstein 1997) as an aquatic priority site. Most of the stream's influence stems from the Winegar Moraines subsection, but the lower few miles are in the Lake Superior Clay Plain subsection. The insect fauna here was the richest seen in the study, with 66 taxa, five of which are rare (Epstein 1997). The 33 taxonomic families were comprised mostly of caddisflies and mayflies, with significant numbers of dragonflies and true flies. Negative impacts noted included impoundment (Rust Flowage) and silt. Bank erosion, failing septic systems and urban pollutants are threats.

From: Turville-Heitz, Meg. 1999. Lake Superior Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Impaired Waters

Long Lake, from its mouth to Drummond Lake (miles 0 to 16.92), was put on the impaired waters list for elevated water temperature in 2016. Evaluation of biology in the 2014 and 2018 showed fish communities in good health.

Long Lake, from Drummond Lake to Lake Owen (miles 16.92 to 22.29), was put on the impaired waters list in 2016.

Date  2022

Author  Ashley Beranek

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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Long Lake Branch is located in the White River watershed which is 366.15 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (75.10%), wetland (14.60%) and a mix of grassland (4.90%) and other uses (5.30%). This watershed has 472.79 stream miles, 7,218.85 lake acres and 29,057.91 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.