Little Wolf River, Upper Little Wolf River Watershed (WR07)
Little Wolf River, Upper Little Wolf River Watershed (WR07)
Little Wolf River (272400)
0.62 Miles
50.99 - 51.61
Cool-Warm Mainstem
Unknown
 

Overview

About nine miles of the Little Wolf River flows through the Lower Wolf River watershed (WR04), the portion from its mouth at the Wolf River, to the mouth of the South Branch Little Wolf River. A low gradient stream, it passes through primarily farmland. The Little Wolf's fishery is similar to the Wolf River, with diverse warm water fish and rough fish. DNR fisheries personnel have created a master plan for the Little Wolf River.

Very little water quality information is available on the stretch of the Little Wolf River in the Lower Little Wolf River watershed (WR06). The Little Wolf River from the junction with the Wolf River upstream to Manawa Dam is designated an Exceptional Resouce Water per Chapter NR 102, Wisconsin Administrative Code.

In the Upper Little Wolf River watershed (WR07), different portions of the Little Wolf River are classified as a warmwater sport fishery and Class I and II trout waters. Stream habitat evaluations were conducted at seven locations during summer/fall of 1993 (WDNR, 1995). Instream habitat ranged from excellent to good to fair. Instream habitat was fair downstream of Highway VV and above Franzen Road due to streambank pasturing and cropland runoff (erosion channels).

From: Bougie, Cheryl A., Kosmond, Lisa D, and Watermolen, Dreux J. 1996. Wolf River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1996

Author  Cheryl Bougie

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.
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Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.
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.