Water Detail - North Branch Oconto River, Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed (GB05)

North Branch Oconto River, Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed (GB05)

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North Branch Oconto River (457800)

Size

17.72 Miles

Segment

50.76 - 68.48

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.

Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Cool-Warm Headwater, Coldwater

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.

2015

General Condition

Good

County

Forest, Oconto

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.

Yes

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.

Yes

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.

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.

Cold

Streams capable of 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. 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.

North Branch Oconto River, Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed (GB05) Fish and Aquatic Life

North Branch Oconto River, Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed (GB05) Recreation

North Branch Oconto River, Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed (GB05) Fish Consumption

General Condition

The North Branch Oconto River was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

Date 2017

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - North Branch Oconto River at Joyce Ln

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Recommendations

Best Management Practices, Implement

Partnering with property owners, Chute Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District #1 is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Temperature exceedances in 2017 and 2018. Potentially natural conditions based on temperature class (cool-warm). Temperature data was NOT collected for purposes of assessing against the temperature criteria. Unknown placement of logger and data may not reflect true thermal conditions. Recommend against listing. If listed, the category should be for 5C as this segment of river is class II trout water and is classified as a Cool-Warm Transitional Mainstem.

Monitor to Evaluate Stream Baseflow

Do cross section measurement of stream discharge to obtain total discharge which was 119.6 CFS

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
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond APM Planning Project	2007
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Hlk - Chute Pond Healthy Lakes 2017	2017
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond Management Planning	2018
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond APM Plan Phase 1	2007
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: HLK - Chute Pond Healthy Lakes 2019	2019
TOWN OF WABENO: North Branch Oconto River restoration at Cavour St.	2024
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond EWM Control Project	2008
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond Limno curtain small scale EWM control	2021
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond Lake Management Planning	1997
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: HLR - Chute Pond Healthy Lakes 2021-2022	2021
Fish Propagation Actions	2001
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Pond EWM Control & Prevention Project 2019-2021	2019
CHUTE LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Chute Lake P & R District 2020 CBCW	2020

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10029769	North Branch Oconto River - Cavour St.	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	213001	Oconto River North Branch - Town Rd Abv Wabeno			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10013064	N. Branch Oconto River-8 M. Upstream Of Cavour St	10/16/2003	10/16/2003	Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10010147	North Branch Oconto River - N. Br. Oconto River - 29.4m Above Cavour St. Bridge			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10013068	N. Branch Oconto River-20 M. Upstream North Branch Lane	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10015507	North Branch Oconto River-Wabeno	10/26/2006	10/26/2006	Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	213004	Oconto River North Branch - Cth C Brdg Wabeno			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	213005	Oconto River North Branch at Sth 32 Wabeno			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10052640	DS North Branch Lane			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	213003	Oconto River North Branch - Cth H Brdg Wabeno			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10010178	North Branch Oconto River - N. Branch Oconto R. Above Hemlock Impoundment			Map	Data
457800	North Branch Oconto River	10015508	North Branch Oconto River A2	10/26/2006	10/26/2006	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

North Branch Oconto River is located in the Lower North Branch Oconto River watershed which is 389.28 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (68.90%), wetland (22.60%) and a mix of agricultural (2.90%) and other uses (5.70%). This watershed has 410.78 stream miles, 5,377.75 lake acres and 51,397.21 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.

Natural Community

North Branch Oconto River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Cool-Warm Headwater, Coldwater 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.

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.

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