Water Detail - Prairie River, Prairie River Watershed (UW30)

Prairie River, Prairie River Watershed (UW30)

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Prairie River (1481200)

Size

27.51 Miles

Segment

0 - 27.51

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-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.

2024

General Condition

Good

County

Lincoln

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.

Yes

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.

Prairie River, Prairie River Watershed (UW30) Fish and Aquatic Life

Prairie River, Prairie River Watershed (UW30) Recreation

Prairie River, Prairie River Watershed (UW30) 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Oneida County Land and Water Resource Management Plan

Pine River Watershed Plan 2011 (CW29)

Recommendations

Land Acquisition

Lincoln County shall participate in the River Protection Program by acquiring 5 acres of land adjoining the Prairie River.

Land Acquisition

Lincoln County shall participate in the River Protection Program by acquiring 5 acres of land adjoining the Prairie River.

Sewer Service Area Planning

This is an April 1996 SSA planning report for the Merrill service area identifies sewer service needs through the year 2015

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
LINCOLN COUNTY: Prairie River Dells Scenic Area Land Acquisition	2000
Merrill SSA Plan (April 1996)	1995
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1481200	Prairie River	353124	Prairie River at Hwy J	8/13/1973	6/23/2021	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020439	Prairie River -- Launch off of Hwy 17 North of Hwy CCC	5/12/2020	5/12/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353062	Wisconsin River Tributary - Prairie R At Merrill	6/27/1977	2/17/1981	Map	Data
1179900	Wisconsin River	10044869	Merrill Flowage	7/4/2014	6/1/2022	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10017235	Prairie River-50' Above Hwy 51 Overpass Near Merrill.	10/12/1982	9/9/2024	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10056169	PRAIRIE RIVER - US OF HW 17 BOAT LAUNCH (STATION 15)			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10030701	PRAIRIE RIVER - START AT 3RD ST EAST	7/20/2022	6/1/2023	Map	Data
1483900	Prairie Dell Pond	10020289	Prairie Dell Pond - Prairie River -- Walk-In			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10029867	Prairie River - 2008 Henrich Project			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	354003	Ward Mill Pond - Ward Mill Pond	7/25/1979	7/25/1979	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353066	Prairie River North Branch - Above Gleason Stp	5/1/1979	10/1/1979	Map	Data
1481100	Merrill Flowage	10044869	Merrill Flowage	7/4/2014	6/1/2022	Map	Data
1484000	Big Hay Meadow Creek	10052102	BIG HAYMEADOW CREEK UPSTREAM FROM PRAIRIE RIVER CONFLUENCE			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020366	Prairie River at Yankee Rapids Trail	3/31/2020	3/31/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10032701	Prairie River at 0.2 miles W of Town Hall Rd. crossing			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353375	Prairie River - T32r7e			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020441	Prairie River -- Boat Launch off of Hwy 17			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020359	Prairie River -- Walk-In Access off Hwy 47 North of 2nd Ave	5/12/2020	5/12/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353105	Prairie River at Cth C	3/31/2020	3/31/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353212	Prairie River US of CTH C near Merrill	5/21/2002	10/28/2002	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020279	Prairie River HWY J parking area W2374 Town of Russel	3/31/2020	3/31/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10030700	PRAIRIE RIVER - 800M DOWNSTREAM OF CTH C	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020360	Prairie River -- Access			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353197	Prairie River - Raceway At Abandoned Ward Papers Mill (Merrill)	10/12/1982	7/17/2001	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10052224	PRAIRIE RIVER PRAIRIE DRIVE UPSTREAM TO CTH J	3/31/2020	8/10/2024	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353106	Prairie River at Cth K	10/22/2009	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353104	Prairie River at Cth J			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020356	Prairie River -- Access Off Town Hall Rd In The Town Of Russell			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353022	Wisconsin River - Ward Paper Co Merrill	8/7/1975	10/11/1983	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020433	Prairie River -- Access at Cth K	7/7/2022	7/7/2022	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10029876	Prairie River - S of island			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10030699	PRAIRIE RIVER - 855M DS OF DEER TRAIL FISHING GROUNDS	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10035968	Prairie River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10029866	Prairie River - Above HWY C Station to 2008 Henrich Project			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10029865	Prairie River - Above Heineman Road	5/9/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10017209	Prairie River-at Cth K	5/1/1979	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10022742	Prairie River-CTH C Upstream			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10040917	Prairie River 74.5m US Bachelors Ave	10/3/2013	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10041915	Prairie River DS of fishing access point at end of Prairie R. Rd.			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	355014	Prairie River - Exact Location Unknown			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020407	Prairie River -- Launch Site	10/13/2009	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10052225	PRAIRIE RIVER CTY CCC UPSTREAM 1,877 FEET TO FEEDER			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10020440	Prairie River -- Access Off Sth 17			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10035716	Prairie River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	10037248	Prairie River -- Access at Prairie Forks Rd	5/12/2020	5/12/2020	Map	Data
1481200	Prairie River	353184	Ward Mill Pond - 250 Feet Upstream Of Dam	10/2/1998	10/2/1998	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Prairie River is located in the Prairie River watershed which is 263.99 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (58.80%), wetland (27.20%) and a mix of grassland (5.80%) and other uses (8.20%). This watershed has 273.14 stream miles, 2,082.78 lake acres and 34,162.59 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.

Natural Community

Prairie River is considered a 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.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map

Maps of Watershed

Pine Creek WT 2011 Map

Pine Creek WT 2011 Dams & Outfalls

Pine Creek WT 2011 Land Use

Pine Creek WT 2011 OERW & Impaired Waters

Pine Creek WT 2011 Potentially Restorable Wetlands

Pine Creek WT 2011 Trout Streams

Pine Creek WT 2011 Wetlands