Waupaca
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Pigeon River - The main stem of the Pigeon River is an 11-mile-long tributary to the Embarrass River. It is formed by the junction of the north and south branches of the Pigeon River in north central Waupaca County. The fishery consists of warm water sport fish and forage species. Nonpoint sources identified include sediment and nutrient problems from cropland and feedlot runoff, as well as bank erosion. An impoundment of the river near Clintonville forms Pigeon Lake.
From: Bougie, Cheryl A., Kosmond, Lisa D, and Watermolen, Dreux J. 1996. Wolf River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1996
Author Cheryl Bougie
Impaired Waters
Pigeon River (293100) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
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 |
|---|
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 693135 | Pigeon River at Klemp Road | 10/15/1991 | 10/8/2024 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10032294 | Downstream 100ft from Clintonville WWTP outfall | | | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10021184 | Pigeon River 14 | | | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10029304 | PIGEON RIVER AT KLEMP RD DOWNSTREAM | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10042372 | Unnamed Trib (WBIC 5016138) Upstream 20 Meters of Pigeon River Confluence | 7/2/2014 | 7/2/2014 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10042373 | Pigeon River 50 Meters Downstream of Confluence with Unnamed Trib (WBIC 5016138) | 7/2/2014 | 7/2/2014 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10042371 | Pigeon River Upstream 5 Meters from Confluence with Unnamed Trib (WBIC 5016138) | 7/2/2014 | 7/2/2014 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 693134 | Pigeon River at Clintonville Clintonville Park | 10/24/1995 | 10/15/1997 | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10032293 | Upstream 100ft from Clintonville WWTP outfall | | | Map | Data |
| 293100 | Pigeon River | 10015732 | Pigeon River at 28th Court Inverts Were Col-Lected Primarily From Bank Vegetation Andvery Limited Suitable Bottom Substrate | 10/24/1995 | 10/24/1995 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Pigeon River is located in the Pigeon River watershed which is 116.32 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (35.30%), forest (28%) and a mix of wetland (20.40%) and other uses (16.30%). This watershed has 146.47 stream miles, 197.04 lake acres and 15,030.25 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.