Vernon
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
, in the West Fork Kickapoo River Watershed, is a 9.27 acre lake that falls in Vernon County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Seas Branch Pond is a sl-lallow, 11-acre flood control impoundment. Water quality
monitoring conducted in 1973 and 1974 indicated very high nutrient levels were present
in the pond. Elevated turbidity levels during the spring sampling indicates the
agricultural watershed may have a detrimental impact on water quality.
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Seas Branch Pond, T13N, R4W, Section 14, Surface Acres = 10.7, S.D.F. = 1.31, Maximum Depth = 10 feet This hard water, drainage impoundment is located on Seas Branch Creek. It has light brown, alkaline water with low transparency. The dam has a drop inlet and is a PL-566 flood control structure. The county has provided public access for fishing. The pond is managed for trout and, in the past, brook, brown, and rainbow trout have been present. During the fall, migrating diving ducks may be observed on the water.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Department of Natural Resources, 1973.
Date 1973
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1190300 | Seas Branch Pond | 10005951 | Seas Branch Pond | 8/8/2001 | 8/17/2007 | Map | Data |
| 1190300 | Seas Branch Pond | 633126 | Seas Branch Pond - Deep Hole | 7/13/1973 | 3/6/2003 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Seas Branch Pond is located in the West Fork Kickapoo River watershed which is 118.04 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.10%), grassland (29%) and a mix of agricultural (25.50%) and other uses (4.40%). This watershed has 283.75 stream miles, 49.18 lake acres and 672.36 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.