Crawfish River, North Branch, Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06)
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Crawfish River, North Branch, Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06)
Crawfish River, North Branch (843100)
25.03 Miles
5.66 - 30.69
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.
Warm Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.
2022
Fair
 
Columbia
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.
No
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.
No
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.
No

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.
WWSF
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.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The North Branch Crawfish River enters the main branch just below the Village of Fall River. Monitoring indicated polluted agricultural runoff, low levels of dissolved oxygen and low flow problems exist (WDNR, 1994).

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Crawfish River, North Branch T11N, R12E, Section 27, Surface Acres = 44.72, Miles = 24.6, Gradient = 3.25 feet per mile.
Major tributary to the Crawfish River, flowing northeast then southeast to
join the mainstream south of the Fall River Millpond (Lazy Lake). A dam with
14-foot head impounds nearly 2.5 miles of channel at Fall River. Largemouth
bass, nothern pike, and several of the panfishes constitute the fishery. Carp are
abundant, hence a use problem. Access is possible at numerous road crossings
and a launching site exists at the millpond. About 607 acres of wetland adjoin the stream.

From: Poff, Ronald J. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Columbia County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.

Date  1965

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Crawfish River, North Branch, Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) Fish and Aquatic LifeCrawfish River, North Branch, Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) RecreationCrawfish River, North Branch, Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) Fish Consumption

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 Crawfish River, Crawfish River-North Branch - Hwy Z, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
North Branch Crawfish River, N. Br. Crawfish River at CTH CD, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
CRAWFISH RIVER TRIBUTARY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN ACADEMY WWTP USE DESIGNATION
CRAWFISH RIVER, NORTH BRANCH TRIBUTARY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, FALL RIVER STP USE DESIGNATION
Columbia County Surface Water Resources 1965

Recommendations

Lakes Planning Grant
Aquatic Plant Monitoring or Survey
Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Update
Water Quality Modeling
Wastewater Monitoring or Management
Nutrient Budget Development
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

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
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake APM Plan Update & Water Chem Load Analysis2012
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake Mgmt Plan Development2007
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake-WQ Monitoring-Ph. 22008
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake-WQ Monitoring-Ph. 12008
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake Watershed Impact Inventory2005
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Lazy Lake APMP Update2023

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
843100North Branch Crawfish River113141Crawfish River-North Branch - Hwy Z7/8/20199/30/2019MapData
843100North Branch Crawfish River10017299North Branch Crawfish River At Cth Dg 5/9/19795/9/1979MapData
843100North Branch Crawfish River10028841North Branch Crawfish River at Hall Rd8/11/20086/3/2022MapData
843100North Branch Crawfish River10045070N. Br. Crawfish River at CTH CD1/1/20159/30/2016MapData

Watershed Characteristics

North Branch Crawfish River is located in the Upper Crawfish River watershed which is 161.18 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (73.50%), wetland (10.70%) and a mix of grassland (7.40%) and other uses (8.30%). This watershed has 228.16 stream miles, 731.69 lake acres and 11,027.15 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Crawfish River, North Branch is considered a Warm Mainstem, Cool-Cold 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.

Warm Mainstem waters are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with relatively warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.