Bark River, Bark River Watershed (LR13)
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Bark River, Bark River Watershed (LR13)
Bark River (813500)
1.85 Miles
45.49 - 47.34
Natural Community
Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2024
Fair
 
Waukesha
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
WWSF
Designated Use
WWSF

Overview

Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.

Bark River The Bark River originates in Bark Lake in southern Washington County and flows southwesterly through Waukesha and Jefferson counties, joining the Rock River at Fort Atkinson. Stream water quality in the Bark River is generally poor, with conditions slightly better in the river's headwaters. There are five lakes and three impoundments on the river; three of these lakes are directly influenced by the river.

The Bark River is classified as a warm water sport fishery but is only partially meeting that use, primarily due to urban and rural polluted runoff entering the river and its tributaries. Most of the urban runoff pollution occurs in Waukesha County, where rapid development of urban and suburban “pockets” occurs along and between its many lakes.

The now-abandoned Hartland wastewater treatment plant discharged to the river upstream of Nagawicka Lake. Due to poor operation, it was identified as a major source of conventional pollutants to the river, which led to poor water quality. The old facility was replaced by the Delafield-Hartland wastewater treatment plant in 1980. A 1983 post-abandonment study indicates improved in-stream water quality conditions with reductions in ammonia, total and soluble phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand loading, fecal coliform and streptococcus bacteria, in-stream sludge deposits, and plant biomass.

The Jefferson County portion of this river is a meandering, turbid, low-gradient stream with local flooding problems. The fishery consists of northern pike, channel catfish, panfish, and rough fish. Water quality has been degraded by polluted runoff from barnyards and farm fields and from hydrologic modifications such as ditching and straightening of tributary streams. Wetland drainage has also affected water quality. Significant wetlands exist adjacent to the Bark River in Jefferson County and some support spawning of game fish. A large state wildlife area at Prince’s Point offers a variety of recreational activities.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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 warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.