Little Lemonweir River, Little Lemonweir River Watershed (LW29)
Return to Search
Little Lemonweir River, Little Lemonweir River Watershed (LW29)
Little Lemonweir River (1306100)
7.74 Miles
4.62 - 12.36
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-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.
2022
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Juneau
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.
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.

Overview

The Little Lemonweir River begins in eastern Monroe County and flows east to its confluence
with the Lemonweir River 26 miles later at New Lisbon in Juneau County. The lower six
miles support a warm water sport fishery. Moving upstream, the Little Lemonweir River then
transitions to a cold water fishery near HWY 12/18. For 4.3 miles upstream of this bridge, the
Little Lemonweir River is a Class III trout stream, then Class II for another 6 miles, then
finally Class I for the uppermost mile in Monroe County, totaling 11.3 miles of trout water.
The one mile of Class I trout water is also designated as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERW). The WDNR's Fisheries Management program has acquired fishing easements along
portions of this stream in Juneau County. An improvement in stream and fishery health has
been seeen as a result of these easements. Nonpoint source problems affecting the Little
Lemonweir River are cattle grazing of streambanks and barnyard runoff. Since the most
recent biological survey was conducted in 1969, a fish and habitat survey should be conducted
of the Little Lemonweir River to determine existing conditions and classification.

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

The Little Lemonweir rises in eastern Monroe County and flows east to its confluence
with the Lemonweir River in Juneau County. The lower six miles are warm water sport
fishery (Ironside, 1991). About 11.3 miles of the stream's length are trout waters
(WDNR, 1980). One mile of the this is Class I trout water and also considered
exceptional resource waters under the state's antidegradation rules. WDNR's Fisheries
Management program is acquiring assessments along portions of the stream in Juneau
County. There are some nonpoint source problems, particularly cattle grazing and
trampling banks and runoff from barnyards, which are believed to be affecting in-stream
habitat (Ironside, 1991).

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Little Lemonweir River, Little Lemonweir River Watershed (LW29) Fish and Aquatic LifeLittle Lemonweir River, Little Lemonweir River Watershed (LW29) RecreationLittle Lemonweir River, Little Lemonweir River Watershed (LW29) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Between the 2012 and 2014 assessment cycles the entire Little Lemonweir River (WBIC 1306100) was listed for total phosphorus. This water was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) and temperature sample data were clearly below 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

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
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Little Lemonweir River (1306100) 2014 Draft Impaired Waters Documentation Sheet
Rivers TP Summary 2012

Recommendations

Monitor Fish Community
AU 948033, poor fIBI, Station 10012170

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
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1307200Unnamed10015156Unnamed Ditch Station 3 1969 - Mouth UpstreamMapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River293069Little Lemonweir - Below Hustler11/17/19822/24/1983MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River10012170Little Lemonweir River - Cth H11/17/19825/7/2016MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River10014483Little Lemonweir R. St3 1956 - Cth A Bridge Crossing6/11/200910/18/2022MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River293058Little Lemonweir River - Highway A5/1/19801/1/2015MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River10047234Little Lemonweir River - Schroeder Rd.1/1/20155/7/2016MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River293070Little Lemonweir - Above Hustler Stp11/17/19822/24/1983MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River10014482Little Lemonweir R. St1 1956 - Railroad Tracks(Ush 12)MapData
1306100Little Lemonweir River293067Little Lemonweir R at Sth 18511/17/19822/24/1983MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Little Lemonweir River is located in the Little Lemonweir River watershed which is 218.01 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (33.10%), agricultural (28.30%) and a mix of wetland (17.20%) and other uses (21.40%). This watershed has 488.22 stream miles, 1,656.86 lake acres and 18,277.64 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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

Little Lemonweir River is considered a Cool-Cold 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.

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.

More Interactive Maps
View Water in Alternative Map