Water Detail - Sand Branch, Blue River Watershed (LW09)

Sand Branch, Blue River Watershed (LW09)

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Sand Branch (1211200)

Size

4.04 Miles

Segment

0 - 4.04

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

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

Grant

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.

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.

Overview

Sand Branch is a small, spring-fed tributary to the Blue River. The stream is considered a Class II trout fishery. A rare aquatic species has been found in this creek. The stream has a high bed-load of sand that affects the availability of in-stream habitat. Baseline monitoring was conducted in 2000. A cursory habitat evaluation was conducted on the stream during the summer of 2001. The survey found the habitat to be of fair quality. The creek experiences nonpoint source pollution from its watershed and also shows some evidence of bank erosion and sediment deposition.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area =.20 acres, Length = 3.3 miles, Gradient = 31 ft./mile, Flow = 1.2 c.f.s.

A small spring-fed stream beginning near the Grant and Iowa County line and flowing in a westerly direction to empty into the Blue River three miles southwest of Musco~a. The stream banks show some erosion in the upper reaches while relatively stable pasture land adjoins the rest of the stream. Brown and brook trout dominate the fishery and are stocked annually by the Department of Natural Resources. Forage species are common and fishing pressure is light. A private fish hatchery with a large scenic spring is located along the stream. Approximately 60 percent of the watershed is covered by extensive woodlands and is excellent habitat for white-tailed deer and ruffed grouse. Other game common in the watershed and along the stream include squirrels, rabbits, raccoon, muskrats, and quail. Access is possible from two bridge crossings and from a road paralleling the stream. The Blue River also provides navigable water access. Six dwellings adjoin the stream.

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Sand Branch, Blue River Watershed (LW09) Fish and Aquatic Life

Sand Branch, Blue River Watershed (LW09) Recreation

Sand Branch, Blue River Watershed (LW09) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Sand Branch (1211200), from the mouth to the Grant-Iowa county line, was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) 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

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1211200	Sand Br	10007996	Sand Br. Station 2 (E. Of Hickory Flat Rd)			Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10015242	Sand Branch General Fish			Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10030531	Sand Branch #1	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10009258	Sand Branch Station 2	11/3/2000	10/31/2001	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10030532	Sand Branch #2	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10040594	Sand Branch 400 yds US CTH G	8/8/2003	6/28/2006	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10042420	Sand Branch at Hickory Flat Rd			Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10009260	Sand Branch Station 3	11/3/2000	10/31/2001	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10030535	Sand Branch at Masar Private Driveway	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10007997	Sand Br. Station 3			Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10007992	Sand Branch at CTH G	11/3/2000	11/3/2000	Map	Data
1211200	Sand Br	10030533	Sand Branch #3	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
5034531	Unnamed	10030535	Sand Branch at Masar Private Driveway	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Sand Br is located in the Blue River watershed which is 216.19 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.60%), grassland (29.40%) and a mix of agricultural (20.80%) and other uses (8.20%). This watershed has 513.46 stream miles, 416.83 lake acres and 5,825.06 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

Sand Branch is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold 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 (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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