Marinette, Oconto
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The Peshtigo River flows approximately 136 miles from its headwaters in Forest County southeast through Marinette County before its confluence with Green Bay. The portion within the Lower Peshtigo River Watershed is approximately 17 miles from the outlet of Lake Noquebay to Potato Rapids flowage and another 11.5 miles from the dam at the Peshtigo Flowage to the Bay of Green Bay. Two hydroelectric dams are located on the River, the Potato Rapids Dam and the Peshtigo Dam. Potato Rapids dam has a hydraulic head of 14 ft. and impounds 281 acres of the Peshtigo River to create the Potato Rapids Flowage. The Potato Rapids Flowage is relatively shallow with almost entirely natural shorelines with little development.
Date 2017
Author Andrew Hudak
Recommendations
Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
Lower Peshtigo River TWA
Nine Key Element Plan
Middle Peshtigo-Thunder Rivers PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Middle Peshtigo-Thunder Rivers Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Middle Peshtigo-Thunder Rivers Watershed and guides the implementation of pollution prevention and control measures during the next 10 years. These control measures are needed to maintain the excellent water quality in the watershed and to meet specific water resource objectives for the Middle Peshtigo-Thunder Rivers Watershed. The watershed is unique in that it has a protection approach rather than the traditional remediation focus.
Monitor Fish Tissue
Monitor Peshtigo River (TMDL ID 173) to confirm fish consumption advice from before 2000.
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 |
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515500 | Peshtigo River | 10039390 | Peshtigo River at Hwy C | | | Map | Data |
545400 | Caldron Falls Reservoir* | 10045146 | Phragmites Occurrence - Caldron Falls Reservoir | | | Map | Data |
515500 | Peshtigo River | 10045145 | Phragmites Occurrence - Caldron Falls Reservoir | | | Map | Data |
545400 | Caldron Falls Reservoir* | 10045145 | Phragmites Occurrence - Caldron Falls Reservoir | | | Map | Data |
515500 | Peshtigo River | 10045146 | Phragmites Occurrence - Caldron Falls Reservoir | | | Map | Data |
515500 | Peshtigo River | 10019652 | Caldron Falls Reservoir -- Landing #12 - Roaring Rapids | 7/16/2010 | 7/16/2010 | Map | Data |
515500 | Peshtigo River | 10019653 | Caldron Falls Reservoir -- Landing 12 - Roaring Rapids | 6/25/2021 | 6/25/2021 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=GB11)
Watershed Characteristics
Peshtigo River is located in the Upper Peshtigo River watershed which is 338.33 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (62.80%), wetland (31.20%) and a mix of grassland (3.60%) and other uses (2.40%). This watershed has 342.45 stream miles, 1,184.80 lake acres and 48,481.09 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.