Overview

The Bad Axe River, located in southwestern Vernon County, flows in a westerly direction for approximately five miles before reaching the Mississippi River south of Genoa. The lower end of the Bad Axe River flows through the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge and the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. It has a slight gradient of less than 20 feet per mile and drains steep forests, agricultural land, and lowland pasture. Approximately 370 acres of wetland adjoin the lower end of the Bad Axe River near the Mississippi River. The Bad Axe River is not a classified trout stream, but contains warm water sport fish.

The most recent survey, completed in 1960, documented a 60 foot wide river averaging over four feet deep. Low mud flats, steep eroding banks and forested bank cover were observed. The fish found in the Bad Axe River were all species common to the Mississippi River such as northern pike, sauger, largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, freshwater drum, mooneye and northern redhorse. A fishery survey should be conducted to update the biological information available for the Bad Axe River. No WDNR stocking records exist for the Bad Axe River. Access to the river is from three road crossings and the Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

From: Koperski, Cindy. 2002. The State of the Bad Axe - La Crosse Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Bad Axe River. T21N. R7W. Section 160 Surface Acres = 32.9. Miles = 4.6. Gradient = less than 20 feet
per mile.
This hard water stream flows in a westerly direction and joins the Mississippi River about two and three-quarter miles north of Victory. At the time of survey, the water was turbid. Sauger, northern pike, largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, mooneye, freshwater drum (sheepshead), redhorse, gizzard shad, white sucker, carp, and numerous small minnow species comprise the fishery. Sand is the dominant bottom type, with some silt and small amounts of detritus, clay, gravel, and rubble. The lower end of the stream flows through the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge, and the Genoa National Fish Hatchery has land bordering the stream. Three roads cross the stream. There are about 371 acres of adjoining wetlands. Wildlife includes muskrat, beaver, nesting mallards, teal, and wood ducks, and considerable numbers of migrant puddle and diving ducks.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W. 1973. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1973

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Bad Axe River (1639300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category).

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

Recommendations

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

Watershed Characteristics

Bad Axe River is located in the Bad Axe River watershed which is 195.49 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (40%), agricultural (29.60%) and a mix of grassland (24.60%) and other uses (5.80%). This watershed has 468.27 stream miles, 489.81 lake acres and 2,552.28 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.