Trade River, Trade River Watershed (SC10)
Return to Search
Trade River, Trade River Watershed (SC10)
Trade River (2636000)
5.37 Miles
21.40 - 26.77
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-Warm Mainstem
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.
2020
Fair
 
Burnett
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.
Cold (Class II Trout)
Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Historical Description

The eastern half of this watershed, which lies upstream of Long Trade Lake consists of
agricultural land uses which impact the class I11 trout fishery of the Trade River and also impact
downstream lake water quality. The eastern half of this watershed should be included in any
nonpoint source pollution control program (priority lakes project) aimed at improving water
quality in the Long Trade, Round and Big and Little Trade system.

Date  1992

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Trade River, Trade River Watershed (SC10) Fish and Aquatic LifeTrade River, Trade River Watershed (SC10) RecreationTrade River, Trade River Watershed (SC10) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Trade River was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired.

Trade River [4 segments (mile 0-32.24)]: The most recent assessments of this portion of Trade River do not show impairment.

Trade River [3 segments (mile 33.15-44.19)]: Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show total phosphorus levels too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, fish, and bugs, according to 2020 WisCALM standards. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.

Trade River [2 segments (mile 44.19-50.76)]: There is not enough information about this portion of Trade River to assess condition.

Date  2019

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

Trade River, Trade River at Carl Berg Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Trade River at 150th St.
2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Trade River at 150th St
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Trade River at STH 35; Trade River at 150th St.
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Stream Classification- Various Streams and Rivers in Northwest District

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
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Round Trade Lake Improvement Association 2020 CBCW2020
ROUND LAKE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT: 2024-2025 Round Lake Surface Water Quality Planning and Education Project2024
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Healthy Lakes Project - RTLIA2018
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: HLR - Healthy Lakes Project - RTLIA2021
POLK COUNTY LWRD: Round & Long Trade Lakes Phase 2-Tributary & Watershed Assessment2007
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2018-2019 AIS Management on Round Lake2018
POLK COUNTY LWRD: Round & Long Trade Lakes Phase 1-Water Quality & Vegetation Assessment2007
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: COMP-2021-22 Phase 1 \005C2013 Comprehensive Management Planning Project2021
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2018-2019 AIS Management on Big and Little Trade Lakes2018
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Long-Trade Lake Eurasian Watermilfoil Weevil Study1996
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2016-2017 Trade Lake System AIS Management Implementation2016
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Big Trade Lake Early Detection & Response Project2015
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Round Trade Lake Improvement Association 2019 CBCW2019
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2018-2019 AIS Management on Long Trade Lake2018
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2023 Big and Little Trade Lakes AIS Planning Project2023
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: HLR - Big Trade Lake Fish Sticks2021
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: Trade Lakes Eurasian Watermilfoil Early Detection & Response Project2009
ROUND TRADE LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 2022-23 Long Trade and Round APM Plan Update Project2022
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2636000Trade River10052622Trade River at Carl Berg Rd7/25/20197/8/2020MapData
2636000Trade River10045133Phragmites Occurrence - Big Trade LakeMapData
2638700Big Trade Lake10045132Phragmites Occurrence - Big Trade LakeMapData
2638700Big Trade Lake10045133Phragmites Occurrence - Big Trade LakeMapData
2636000Trade River10031585Trade River-upstrm. Melo Rd1/1/20157/13/2020MapData
2636000Trade River10045132Phragmites Occurrence - Big Trade LakeMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Trade River is located in the Trade River watershed which is 194.93 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.40%), wetland (18.80%) and a mix of grassland (11.70%) and other uses (13.10%). This watershed has 166.68 stream miles, 2,902.48 lake acres and 21,757.05 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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

Trade River is considered a Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Mainstem 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.

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.