11.21 Miles
5.42 - 16.63
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
2015
Good
Jackson, Trempealeau
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The South Fork of the Buffalo River flows for over 16 miles before its confluence with the North Fork in Osseo. The first 5.43 miles of stream from its mouth the South Fork is considered a cold Class II Trout water, and the remaining 11 miles are classified as a Class I Trout water and an Exceptional Resource Water, as well.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
The South Fork Buffalo River 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
Recommendations
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
The City of Osseo proposes to restore shoreline on six properties along Lake Martha in Trempealeau County. Major project elements to include: 1) Revegetation of shoreline with native plants, 2) removal of sea walls and restabilization of the shoreline.
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10021334 | South Fork Buffalo River | | | Map | Data |
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10054828 | West Hillcrest Road | | | Map | Data |
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10054829 | County Highway T Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10021331 | South Fork Buffalo River Hill Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10021380 | South Fork Buffalo River - Cth G Crossing Upstream 1000 ft | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1827100 | South Fork Buffalo River | 10015319 | S. Fork Buffalo River - Dnr Property Line Upstream Of Cth G I-94 | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
South Fork Buffalo River is located in the Upper Buffalo River watershed which is 194.36 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.70%), agricultural (33.70%) and a mix of grassland (17.50%) and other uses (7.10%). This watershed has 438.86 stream miles, 85.35 lake acres and 6,107.52 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.
Buffalo River - South Fork 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.
This class I brook and brown trout stream is protected along most of its length by a state fishery area. Agricultural runoff from cropland and barnyards along with the natural condition of the stream channel prevents the trout fishery from reaching its full potential. The stream channel is highly erodible due to its sand streambanks and bottom.
Date 1991
Author Aquatic Biologist