Little Manitowoc River, Lower Manitowoc River Watershed (MA02)
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Little Manitowoc River, Lower Manitowoc River Watershed (MA02)
Little Manitowoc River (82500)
7 Miles
0 - 7
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 Headwater, COOL-Warm Headwater
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.
2023
Unknown
 
Manitowoc
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.

Overview

The Little Manitowoc River is small tributary that enters Lake Michigan on the north side of city of
Manitowoc. The lower 1.5 miles of the river are within the city limits of Manitowoc. The stream has a
slight gradient and stream bottom consists of gravel and rubble. The overall water quality, based on the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index, was fair (1979), and fair (1990). Stream habitat evaluations rated the stream as fair (1990). Spring and fall runs of smelt and salmon occur when sufficient flow is available to permit entrance from Lake Michigan. The fishery is dominated by forage species.

Date  2001

Author  Michael Toneys

Little Manitowoc River, Lower Manitowoc River Watershed (MA02) Fish and Aquatic LifeLittle Manitowoc River, Lower Manitowoc River Watershed (MA02) RecreationLittle Manitowoc River, Lower Manitowoc River Watershed (MA02) Fish Consumption

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

As-Built Summary - Little Manitowoc River Estuary Habitat Restoration Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Stantec Project 1937047101
Little Manitowoc Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Quarterly Report 2019 - Q4
Little Manitowoc Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Quarterly Report 2019 - Q3
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Final Programmatic Report Narrative Little Manitowoc River Coastal Wetlands National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Little Manitowoc River Coastal Wetland Restoration Final Report December 2018
Little Manitowoc River Coastal Wetlands Sustain Our Great Lakes Report
Final Grant Report for the Little Manitowoc River, Manitowoc County
Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed Cover Letter [Memo September 2016]
Little Manitowoc River Conservancy and Coastal Wetland Restoration Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership Final Report Cover Sheet
Little Manitowoc River Water Quality Report Graphs [2013-2015]
Little Manitowoc River Water Quality Report, 2013-2015
Lower Manitowoc Action Plan, Final Report Document Outline

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
MANITOWOC PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT: Manitowoc Public School District AIS Educational Project2006
LAKESHORE NATURAL RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP INC.: Lakeshore Natural Resources Parnership Manitowoc River2013

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
82500Little Manitowoc River10039296Little Manitowoc River at Reed Ave8/29/20156/11/2022MapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10039297Little Manitowoc River at Manitowoc City Park off CTH BMapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10044041Little Manitowoc at Waldo Drive8/29/20158/19/2023MapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10049251Little Manitowoc River at HWY 3109/1/20179/1/2017MapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10045499Phragmites Occurrence - Little Manitowoc River - Reed AveMapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10015690Little Manitowoc River-County Hwy B CrossingMapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10016844Little Manitowoc at CTH B5/22/19798/29/2015MapData
82500Little Manitowoc River10044042Little Manitowoc at Maritime8/29/20159/1/2017MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Little Manitowoc River is located in the Lower Manitowoc River watershed which is 168.33 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (47%), wetland (19.50%) and a mix of grassland (17.90%) and other uses (15.50%). This watershed has 264.70 stream miles, 2,910.36 lake acres and 19,995.06 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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 Manitowoc River is considered a Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Headwater 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.

Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.