Water Detail - Pine River, Upper Pine River,Willow Creek Watershed (LW12)

Pine River, Upper Pine River,Willow Creek Watershed (LW12)

Return to Search

Pine River (1220600)

Size

22.35 Miles

Segment

0 - 22.35

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 Mainstem, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater, COOL-Warm Headwater, Large River

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

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Impairment Unknown

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Richland

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.

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.

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.

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 Pine River is a spring fed river that begins in Vernon County and flows south to the
Wisconsin River. The section of the river in this watershed is classified as a warm water sport
fishery for the lower 17 miles. The upper two miles above County Highway AA are able to support a
Class II trout stream. A rare aquatic species has been found in the river. The river
is threatened by nonpoint source pollution.
The Pine River originates from springs in southern Vernon County. The Pine River is
currently classified as a Class II trout stream for 17 miles. The remaining portion of the river
is considered a warm water sport fishery. A rare aquatic species has been found in the creek in
past surveys. The Pine River has been hydrologically modified as a part of a flood control
project. One of the largest threats to the water quality in the Pine River is from nonpoint
source pollution and the river is affected by cropland erosion and streambank pasturing which
contribute sediment to the river and affects in-stream habitat. The Pine River receives point
source discharges from the Hub City/Rockbridge Sewerage District and Foremost Farms.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Pine River, Upper Pine River,Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) Fish and Aquatic Life

Pine River, Upper Pine River,Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) Recreation

Pine River, Upper Pine River,Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Pine River (1220600) from the mouth to CTH AA was placed on the impaired waters list in 2014 for total phosphorus. 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

PINE RIVER(YUBA BRANCH), RICHLAND COUNTY, PINE VALLEY MANOR USE DESIGNATION

PINE RIVER(YUBA BRANCH), RICHLAND COUNTY, RICHLAND CENTER STP USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Information and Education

Richland County Land Conservation Department will organize the Pine River Study and Information Network (PRISTINE) and develop PRISTINE's ability to collect information and educate the public about the unique character of the Upper Pine River Watershed.

Nine Key Element Plan

Pine River/Willow Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Pine River/Willow Creek Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Pine River/Willow Creek Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resources objectives. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of pollutants originating from nonpoint sources that reach surface water and groundwater within the Pine River/Willow Creek Priority Watershed Project area.

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
Pine River/Willow Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan	1998
RICHLAND COUNTY: Pine River Organizational Development & Education	2001
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1220600	Pine River	10013234	Pine River (County O)			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10040579	Pine River at old Richland Center dam site	7/19/2002	6/28/2020	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	533085	Pine River - Richland Center			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10011121	Pine River 1966 Station 8 Hwy 14 In Richland Center To 1/2 Mi. Above Cty Aa Bridge	9/6/2011	9/6/2011	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10031637	Pine River at STH 60	10/20/2010	4/26/2022	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10043990	Pine R US of CTH AA	1/1/2015	10/23/2022	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	533029	Pine River at Sth 14 Richland Cntr	6/28/1995	9/19/2006	Map	Data
1179900	Wisconsin River	10039895	Wisconsin River - Gotham			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10020942	Pine River At Twin Bluff Road Bridge	6/12/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10054142	Pine River Shoreline at North Park	5/6/2020	10/7/2020	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10017666	Pine River -- Access			Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10044823	Pine River US CTH AA	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1220600	Pine River	10017586	Wisconsin River -- Buena Vista Boat Landing	6/4/2012	9/20/2023	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Pine River is located in the Willow Creek watershed which is 153.08 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.10%), grassland (22.50%) and a mix of agricultural (16.80%) and other uses (8.60%). This watershed has 339.41 stream miles, 64.58 lake acres and 3,605.43 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

Pine River is considered a Warm Mainstem, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, Coldwater, COOL-Warm Headwater, Large River 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 Mainstem waters are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with relatively warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to 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.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map