Water Detail - Pine River, Upper Pine River Watershed (LW13)

Pine River, Upper Pine River Watershed (LW13)

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Pine River (1220600)

Size

25.33 Miles

Segment

22.35 - 47.68

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-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater

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

General Condition

Excellent

County

Richland

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.

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.

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

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.

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

The Pine River is a spring fed river that begins in Vernon County and flows south to the
Wisconsin River. The section of the river in this watershed is classified as a warm water sport
fishery for the lower 17 miles. The upper two miles above County Highway AA are able to support a
Class II trout stream. A rare aquatic species has been found in the river. The river
is threatened by nonpoint source pollution.
The Pine River originates from springs in southern Vernon County. The Pine River is
currently classified as a Class II trout stream for 17 miles. The remaining portion of the river
is considered a warm water sport fishery. A rare aquatic species has been found in the creek in
past surveys. The Pine River has been hydrologically modified as a part of a flood control
project. One of the largest threats to the water quality in the Pine River is from nonpoint
source pollution and the river is affected by cropland erosion and streambank pasturing which
contribute sediment to the river and affects in-stream habitat. The Pine River receives point
source discharges from the Hub City/Rockbridge Sewerage District and Foremost Farms.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Pine River, Upper Pine River Watershed (LW13) Fish and Aquatic Life

Pine River, Upper Pine River Watershed (LW13) Recreation

Pine River, Upper Pine River Watershed (LW13) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Pine River (1220600) from the mouth to CTH AA was placed on the impaired waters list in 2014 for total phosphorus. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date 2015

Author Aaron Larson

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

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

PINE RIVER(YUBA BRANCH), RICHLAND COUNTY, PINE VALLEY MANOR USE DESIGNATION

PINE RIVER(YUBA BRANCH), RICHLAND COUNTY, RICHLAND CENTER STP USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Information and Education

Richland County Land Conservation Department will organize the Pine River Study and Information Network (PRISTINE) and develop PRISTINE's ability to collect information and educate the public about the unique character of the Upper Pine River Watershed.

Nine Key Element Plan

Pine River/Willow Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Pine River/Willow Creek Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Pine River/Willow Creek Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resources objectives. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of pollutants originating from nonpoint sources that reach surface water and groundwater within the Pine River/Willow Creek Priority Watershed Project area.

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
Pine River/Willow Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan	1998
RICHLAND COUNTY: Pine River Organizational Development & Education	2001
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1220600	Pine River	10011127	Pine River 1974 Station 6 Quarry Drive To Stowell Drive			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10055283	Pine River Pier Park			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011111	Pine River 1964 Station 1 Shellington Lane Bridge To Property Line 800 Yds Upstream	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011113	Pine River 1964 Station 3 As It Flows Through Lester Graves' Property			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10032685	Pine River at Cunningham Ln. culvert Rockbridge			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10043990	Pine R US of CTH AA	1/1/2015	10/23/2022	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011122	Pine River 1974 Station 1- Cty I To Sth 80	8/18/2014	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1234000	Unnamed	10011115	Pine River 1966 Station 2 Steel Bridge On Carl Jindrick'S Farm To Hwy H			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011134	Pine River 1974 Station 13 Resac Lane To Heidenreich Lane	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10030643	Pine River at Cty Rd C bridge	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011128	Pine River 1974 Station 7 -Beatty Drive To Cty C			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10043989	Pine River ~800M US of HWY 80 on the Public Land	1/1/2015	8/10/2024	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011103	Pine River - Pine River Station 1 (Hwy 80 To Entrance Of Malancthon Creek)			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011116	Pine River 1966 Station 3 Pier Morgan To Lester Graves' Farm			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011110	Pine River Heidenreich Rd. To Muncle Rd	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011133	Pine River 1974 Station 12 Jindrick Prop. Line To Resac Lane			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011104	Pine River Station 2 (Junct. With Melancthon Cr. Up To Wits Row Cottonwood)			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10035796	Pine River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011135	Pine River - Pine River 1976 Hatcher Lane To Quarry Lane			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011136	Pine River - Pine River 1975 (1974 Station 4) Dead End Rd. On Border Of Sections 21 And 28 To Cty C			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011117	Pine River at Cth C and Dove Ln to Quarry Dr	7/1/2002	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10043894	Pine R at Hwy 80 (N of Gardner Wall Ln)	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011119	Pine River 1966 Station 6 Cty I To Trib Entry Due West Of Hub City	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10036274	Pine River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011120	Pine River DS STH. 80 Bridge	6/7/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011123	Pine River 1974 Station 2- Shellington Dr. To Sth 80			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011132	Pine River 1974 Station 11 -Entry Of Trib From North To Jindrick Prop. Line			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011107	Pine River Station 5 (Upstream From Quarry Rd)	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10055114	Pine River - Off Shellington Dr.	5/16/2021	10/2/2024	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011109	Pine River Resac Rd To Heidenreich Rd.			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011130	Pine River - Pine River 1974 Station 9 Center Of T.12n.-R.1e.-S.7 To Cty C			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011105	Pine River Station 3 (Start Se Boundary Of Hewwe Prop. Up ~200 Yds.)			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011126	Pine River 1974 Station 5 Cty C To Quarry Drive			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	533053	Pine River - Muncie Rd	11/1/1993	11/1/1993	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011112	Pine River 1964 Station 2 River As It Flows Through T.12n.-R.1e.-S20			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011125	Pine River 1974 Station 4 Dead End Rd. On Border Of Sections 21 And 28 To Cty C			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011131	Pine River 1974 Station 10- Cty C To Entry Of Trib From North			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011137	Pine River 1975 (1974 Station 5) Cty C To Quarry Drive			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10014459	Pine River- Bridge On Muncle Rd To 1st Beaver Dam	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011108	Pine River at Cty C	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011118	Pine River 1966 Station 5 Shellington Drive To Cty C			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011124	Pine River 1974 Station 3 Sth 80 To Dead End Rd. On Border Of Section 21 And 28			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	533059	Pine River Rock Bridge - Hwy 80 Near Cth D Intersection	11/1/1993	11/1/1993	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011114	Pine River 1966 Station 1 Hwy 80 In Yuba To Bridge In Section 1	8/27/2012	8/27/2012	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10036670	Pine River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10043820	Pine R US of Hwy 80 N of Hub City	1/1/2015	10/30/2019	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	533051	Pine River West Branch - Yuba City			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Pine River is located in the Upper Pine River watershed which is 179.98 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.80%), grassland (29%) and a mix of agricultural (12.50%) and other uses (5.60%). This watershed has 404.04 stream miles, 92.10 lake acres and 3,397.98 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

Pine River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater 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 (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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