Wood River, Wood River Watershed (SC11)
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Wood River, Wood River Watershed (SC11)
Wood River (2642900)
21.76 Miles
0 - 21.76
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-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.
2022
Good
 
Burnett
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.
No
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.
No
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.
No

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.
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 Wood River flows through Dunham, Little Wood and Wood Lakes and is impounded in the community of Grantsburg to form Mirror Lake.

Date  1992

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Wood River, Wood River Watershed (SC11) Fish and Aquatic LifeWood River, Wood River Watershed (SC11) RecreationWood River, Wood River Watershed (SC11) Fish Consumption

General Condition

The Wood River (WBIC 2642900, Wood Lake to headwaters) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting this designated use and is 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
Wood River-Hwy 70 W of Grantsburg nc validation 2008
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Wood River 427m DS STH 70 (first crossing), 2014, Natural Community Validation
Wood River at HWY 70 US of Granatsburg, 2014, Natural Community Validation
Wood River at W River Rd. 1 mi above St. Croix R, 2014, Natural Community Validation
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Clam, Wood, and Yellow Rivers Load Report, Appendix A.
Clam, Wood, and Yellow River Water Quality and Nutrient and Sediment Loads to the St. Croix River
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area Water Quality Assessment, 2016
Wood River 2647000_MIBI_CHT TWA Report 2014
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
2014 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Wood River @ W River Rd
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Upper Apple River Watershed Plan (SC06)
Burnett County Surface Water Resources 1966

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
BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Big Wood Lake AIS Program2005
VILLAGE OF GRANTSBURG: Memory Lake Phase 1: Restoration/BMP Planning2011
BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Big Wood Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan Update, Monitoring & Education2013
VILLAGE OF GRANTSBURG: Memory Lake Aquatic Plant Management Planning2024
BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Big Wood Lake 2007 AIS Education Project2007
BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Big Wood Lake 2008 AIS Education Project2008
BURNETT COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT: CLG - Burnett County Shoreline Incentives Program2024
VILLAGE OF GRANTSBURG: Memory Lake Management Plan2006
BURNETT COUNTY LAKES & RIVERS ASSOCIATION: Lake Launch Monitoring & AIS Education - 2 Seasons2006
BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Big Wood Lake Point Intercept and AIS Survey2020
VILLAGE OF GRANTSBURG: Memory Lake Phase 2: Stormwater Management Planning2011

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2642900Wood River10042994Wood River 427m DS STH 70 (first crossing)8/13/20148/13/2014MapData
2642900Wood River073128Wood River at Big Wood Lk Outlet4/29/20027/10/2020MapData
2642900Wood River10054514Wood River at County Road F7/8/20207/8/2020MapData
2642900Wood River073029Wood River at Hwy 70, East Crossing5/9/19791/1/2015MapData
2642900Wood River10029120Wood River-upstrm. Crosstown Rd10/15/20147/10/2020MapData
2642900Wood River10001045Dunham Lake T38 R17W S287/6/20097/6/2009MapData
2642900Wood River073109Wood River at Hwy 70 (East Crossing - to be replaced)MapData
2642900Wood River10031374Burnett Dairy Coop GrantsburgMapData
2642900Wood River073019Wood River - Dam At Grantsburg7/8/20205/5/2022MapData
2642900Wood River10029122Wood River-Hwy 70 W of Grantsburg1/1/20157/8/2020MapData
2642900Wood River073004Wood River - Grantsburg Stp4/28/197610/31/1977MapData
2642900Wood River073030Wood River At West River Road (1 Mi Above St Croix R)5/9/19797/8/2020MapData
2642900Wood River10042968Wood River 460 m DS STH 70 second crossing9/29/20141/1/2015MapData
2642900Wood River073020Wood River at Sth 70 Near GrantsburgMapData
2642900Wood River073106Wood River at North Williams Rd Near Grantsburg WI7/9/19997/10/2020MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Wood River is located in the Wood River watershed which is 220.24 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (50.60%), wetland (25.10%) and a mix of grassland (11.10%) and other uses (13.40%). This watershed has 197.60 stream miles, 5,461.36 lake acres and 34,321.60 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low 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.

Natural Community

Wood River is considered a Warm Mainstem, 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.

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.