31.01 Miles
11.61 - 42.62
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Headwater
2024
Fair
Dodge, Washington
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The 11.6-mile long East Branch of Rock River is classified as a warm water sport fishery. Unfortunately, the branch is impaired by low dissolved oxygen and an impaired habitat due to total phosphorus and total supended solids/sediments.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
The East Branch of the Rock River (861400) from the mouth to Highway 67 in Mayville was placed on the impaired waters list in 2006 for total phosphorus and sediment/total suspended solids. The TMDL for both pollutants was approved by the U.S. EPA in 2011. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do 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
Recommendations
Water Quality Planning
East Branch Rock River (UR13) Watershed Planning
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 |
|---|
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10016910 | Rock River At South Mcarthur - Intersection Of Mcarthur And Southmcarthur Roads - Downstream Approx 120 Feet First Riffle | 10/8/1989 | 4/29/1990 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10042281 | East Branch Rock River near Theresa Ln | 6/25/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 673276 | East Branch Rock River at St Anthony Rd (County Rd Dw) | 10/1/1998 | 10/1/1998 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10032572 | East Branch Rock River - Hwy. W | | | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 143014 | Rock River-Mayville Millpond at Up Mayville Millpond | 2/20/1990 | 2/20/1990 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10032574 | East Branch Rock River - Hwy. 28/67 (V) Mayville | | | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 673236 | Rock River East Branch - Allenton Potw 100' Dnstr Of Outfall Along Ldb | 5/29/1996 | 5/29/1996 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10032027 | East Branch Rock River Highway D N of bridge | 7/19/2002 | 5/30/2024 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10019241 | Rock River - East Fork -- Village Park 1 | 9/30/2013 | 9/30/2013 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 673233 | Rock River East Branch - (2) (T11nr18e16) | 6/20/1995 | 10/31/1995 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10001261 | Rock River East Branch - E Br Rock R 20 Kekoskee Mllpnd | 7/1/2010 | 9/22/2017 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 673232 | Rock River East Branch - Allenton Potw 30' Upstr Of Potw; Downstream Of City Proper | 6/15/1995 | 5/29/1996 | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10022608 | East Branch Rock River Below Theresa Marsh | | | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10032573 | East Branch Rock River - just below Theresa Dam | | | Map | Data |
| 861400 | East Branch Rock River | 10041919 | East Branch RR - Gill Rd. | 6/25/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
East Branch Rock River is located in the East Branch Rock River watershed which is 198.99 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (58.90%), grassland (17.20%) and a mix of wetland (11.90%) and other uses (12.00%). This watershed has 306.48 stream miles, 292.02 lake acres and 16,059.62 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.
East Branch Rock River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Warm Headwater, 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.
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.
Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and
river species are absent.