Water Detail - Embarrass River-N. Branch, North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive Watershed (WR09)

Embarrass River-N. Branch, North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive Watershed (WR09)

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Embarrass River-N. Branch (301300)

Size

16.60 Miles

Segment

18.15 - 34.75

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, 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

General Condition

Good

County

Shawano

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.

Yes

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 I Trout)

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.

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 North Branch Embarrass River is a trout stream from its headwaters to the Pella Pond where it supports an excellent warm water sport fishery. A State Fishery Area is located on this stream. This stream's problems include beaver activity and streambank erosion from cattle pasturing. There are two impoundments on the river in Shawano County which slow and warm the water.

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

Embarrass River-N. Branch, North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive Watershed (WR09) Fish and Aquatic Life

Embarrass River-N. Branch, North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive Watershed (WR09) Recreation

Embarrass River-N. Branch, North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive Watershed (WR09) Fish Consumption

General Condition

The North Branch Embarrass River (miles 0.85-9.28) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

Date 2017

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

North Branch Embarrass River, Embarrass River North Branch Rd. Ibi, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, N Br Embarrass River at E. Schoolhouse Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, NB Embarrass River 300 yds DS DNR Ranger Station dam, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, Embarrass River North Branch at Cth D, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, N Branch Embarrass River at Regina Road, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, N Br Embarrass R at River Rd , Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, N Br Embarrass River at Maple Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, North Branch Embarrass River at Old Hwy N, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

North Branch Embarrass River, North Branch Embarrass River-Lake Rd / Church Rd (Upstream), Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

North Branch Embarrass River, Strassburg Cr, Shawano County, OERW Evaluation

NORTH BRANCH EMBARRAS RIVER, SHAWANO COUNTY, VILLAGE OF BOWLER STP USE DESIGNATION

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
SHAWANO COUNTY: RES - Tilleda Falls Shoreline Restoration	2024
Fish Propagation Actions	2001
TOWN OF HERMAN: Leopolis Pond Rapid Response	2014

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10021390	North Branch Embarrass River at Old Hwy N	8/21/2007	10/15/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10049175	North Branch Embarrass River - Old CTH D			Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10048417	North Branch Embarrass River 10 meters US of wetland tributary confluence	5/18/2017	5/18/2017	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10047839	N Branch Embarrass River at Regina Road	10/22/2020	10/22/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10040447	NB Embarrass River 300 yds. DS DNR Ranger Station dam	6/30/2003	10/26/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	593129	Embarrass River North Branch at Cth D	5/21/1997	10/22/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10016950	North Branch Embarrass River - Hilltop Rd Northeast Of Wittenberg	5/7/1996	8/1/2005	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10022042	North Branch Embarrass River - Butternut Rd			Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10013600	N. Br. Embarrass River-Hwy. D Habitat Work Station			Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10013582	North Branch Embarrass River-Lake Rd / Church Rd (Upstream)	5/16/1980	10/15/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10034819	N Br Embarrass R at River Rd	8/1/2005	5/30/2023	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10049168	North Branch Embarrass River - Bowler Ranger Station			Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10013594	North Branch Embarrass River-Hwy. D South of Schoolhouse Rd	7/28/2005	7/28/2005	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10034820	N Br Embarrass River at Maple Rd	8/1/2005	10/15/2020	Map	Data
301300	North Branch Embarrass River	10049167	North Branch Embarrass River - Bowler Ranger Station			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

North Branch Embarrass River is located in the North Branch and Mainstem Embarrass Rive watershed which is 312.62 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (39.30%), wetland (26.10%) and a mix of forest (22.90%) and other uses (11.70%). This watershed has 488.32 stream miles, 1,175.84 lake acres and 51,339.03 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

Embarrass River-N. Branch is considered a Cool-Warm Mainstem, 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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