Stony Brook, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
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Stony Brook, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
Stony Brook (81500)
4.39 Miles
1.84 - 6.23
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.
Cool-Warm Headwater
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
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Calumet
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.
Yes
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Cold
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.

Overview

Stony Brook is a clear, hard water tributary of the South Branch of the Manitowoc River. During the
1970s Fisheries Management implemented a brown trout stocking program to provide a trout fishery in the area. The stream does not support the natural reproduction. A stream survey in the late 1970s
indicated some carryover of trout. A wild trout strain could be stocked with the goal of establishing a self sustaining population if the stream is still capable of supporting a cold water fishery (Meyers 1996). If the stream is not capable of supporting a cold water fishery, the WDNR publication, Wisconsin Trout Streams, should be updated to reflect the correct classification. Intensive agricultural practices has greatly reduced any recreational potential Stony Brook may have once offered.

Date  2001

Author  Michael Toneys

Stony Brook, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) Fish and Aquatic LifeStony Brook, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) RecreationStony Brook, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Stony Brook (mile 0-1.84) was evaluated in the 2022 cycle: phosphorus levels were above listing thresholds as outlined in 2022 WisCALM. This stream was added to the 2022 Impaired Waters List.

Date  2022

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Stony Brook (mile 0-1.84): There is not enough information about this segment of the river to assess the condition of its designated uses.

Stony Brook (mile 1.84-6.23): Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show impairment by total phosphorus. Phosphorus levels were too high for aquatic communities (plants, fish, bugs) according to 2020 WisCALM standards. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.

Date  2019

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

Stony Brook Diatom Sampling Field Sheet 2019
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Stony Brook, Stony Brook at Stony Br Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Stony Brook - Across From Farm Adjacent to Shady Lane
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Stony Brook Water Quality Assessment
Calumet County Surface Water Resources 1971

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
CALUMET COUNTY LCD: Kloten Star Dairy 012005
LAKESHORE NATURAL RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP INC.: SWE - Education and Outreach on Stony Brook2023
LAKESHORE NATURAL RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP INC.: RES-Restoration of Stony Brook-Phase 32022
CALUMET COUNTY: RR - Sohrweide Phase III Stony Brook Restoration2023
LAKESHORE NATURAL RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP INC.: SWE - Friends of Stony Brook Dev & Community Engagement2021

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
81500Stony Brook10020461Stony Brook - Across From Farm Adjacent To Shady Lane10/10/200610/3/2024MapData
81500Stony Brook083078Stony Brook at Court Road10/10/19968/8/2024MapData
81500Stony Brook10015689Stony Brook - Quinney Road Crossing7/8/20145/11/2016MapData
81500Stony Brook10015685Stony Brook - Long Road Crossing7/8/20148/27/2018MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Stony Brook is located in the South Branch Manitowoc River watershed which is 189.10 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (60.30%), wetland (17.60%) and a mix of grassland (14.10%) and other uses (8.10%). This watershed has 228.03 stream miles, 86.31 lake acres and 21,287.68 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Stony Brook is considered a Cool-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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