Montello River, Montello River,Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes Watershed (UF10)
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Montello River, Montello River,Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes Watershed (UF10)
Montello River (164100)
0.64 Miles
0 - 0.64
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 Mainstem
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.
2016
Good
 
Marquette
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

Montello River is the name given the water course between the Harris Pond and the Fox River below Buffalo Lake at Montello. The stream is light brown flowing over sand, gravel and clay. Dams at Harrisville and Montello collectively utilize a head of 30 feet for hydroelectric power. Largemouth bass, panfish, walleye, and northern pike constitute the fishery. Nearly one-half the river flows through timbered swamp. Immediately above Montello Lake several old oxbow ponds remain in the meandering river channel. Only one road crossing provides access to the river. It may be reached by boat from Montello Lake, however.

Montello River, TlSN, RIDE, Section 17, Surface Acres = 60.1, Miles = 13.4, Gradient = 2.4 feet per mile.

From: Poff, Ronald J. and Threinen, C.W., 1963. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Marquette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1963

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Montello River, Montello River,Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes Watershed (UF10) Fish and Aquatic LifeMontello River, Montello River,Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes Watershed (UF10) RecreationMontello River, Montello River,Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes Watershed (UF10) 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Streams/Rivers AIS ED Monitoring Pilot 2015 Marquette County, Montello River, 164100, 393007
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Upper Fox River Basin TP Reports

Recommendations

Diagnostic/Feasibility Assessment
The Montello Lake Protection and Rehab District proposes to conduct a Diagnostic Feasibility Study on their lake. This project will result in the development of a lake management plan while integrating all partners including the area community.
Educate and engage residents
MONTELLO SCHOOL DISTRICT: Montello School Adopt A Lake NALMS Presentation 10100253
Water Quality Planning
Montello River (UF13) Watershed Planning work in 2010-11

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
MONTELLO LAKE P&R DISTRICT: LMI-Montello Lake Diagnostic Feasibility Study2007
MONTELLO LAKE P&R DISTRICT: Montello Lake Aquatic Invasive Species Protection Project2004
Montello River (UF13) Watershed Planning2010
MONTELLO LAKE P&R DISTRICT: Montello Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan Update2018
MONTELLO SCHOOL DISTRICT: Montello School Adopt A Lake NALMS Presentation2002
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
164100Montello River10047247Montello River US HWY 22 BridgeMapData
164300Lake Montello10044938Lake Montello - South [Herbicide Monitoring Site C]5/24/20166/20/2016MapData
164100Montello River393007Montello River - Sth 23 Brg Montello9/16/20159/16/2015MapData
164100Montello River10044938Lake Montello - South [Herbicide Monitoring Site C]5/24/20166/20/2016MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Montello River is located in the Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes watershed which is 225.11 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (28.70%), wetland (27.90%) and a mix of forest (24.60%) and other uses (18.80%). This watershed has 305.16 stream miles, 5,877.75 lake acres and 35,513.76 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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

Montello River is considered a Cool-Warm Mainstem 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.