Water Detail - Shioc River, Shioc River Watershed (WR13)

Shioc River, Shioc River Watershed (WR13)

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Shioc River (316800)

Size

27.96 Miles

Segment

0 - 27.96

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.

2024

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

High Phosphorus Levels, Degraded Biological Community

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Outagamie, Shawano

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.

WWSF

Overview

Shioc River - The main stem is formed by the confluence of the West and East Branches Shioc River north of Navarino, and extends for 28 miles. The fishery of the main stem is derived from the Wolf River and is especially important during spring when walleye and bass use the river for spawning. A characteristic of the river is extreme water level fluctuations with low water and isolated pools during the summer months. The Shioc River and its tributaries flow through agricultural land with little or no buffering by vegetation. Both the Village of Bonduel and the Vlasic Foods Inc. discharge high concentrations of chlorides to the river (Masnado, 1995)

The West and East Branches of the Shioc River exhibit the same general water quality and characteristics as the main stem Shioc River.

From: Bougie, Cheryl A., Kosmond, Lisa D, and Watermolen, Dreux J. 1996. Wolf River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1996

Author Cheryl Bougie

Historical Description

Shioc River, T23N, R16E , Sec. 21(10), Area = 93.1 acres, Length = 19.2 miles, M.P.A. = 225 ppm.
The Shioc River traverses the north central portion of Outagmie County, draining into the Wolf River
just above Shiocton. The stream is characterized by extreme water level fluctuations, ranging from above an
established gauge to below the gauge in less than a month. The stream is generally slow moving
and turbid. Stream bottom materials consist mostly of silt with a few sand and gravel areas. Instream cover
is present but not overly abundant. Caddisflies, shrimp, and crayfish are common. The Shioc River is fished
heavily in the spring during the annual walleye and white bass runs. Road crossings are usually choked with
fishermen at this time. The remainder of the fishery is largely derived from the Wolf River. Two State,
two county, and three town roads provide public access.

From: Nelson, Linden M. and Ronald L. Fassbender. Surface Water Resources of Outagamie County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Shioc River, Shioc River Watershed (WR13) Fish and Aquatic Life

Shioc River, Shioc River Watershed (WR13) Recreation

Shioc River, Shioc River Watershed (WR13) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Shioc River (316800) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds 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). 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

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Rivers TP Summary 2012

ORDINANCE NO 141 - BOOK 2: An ordinance of the Village of Shiocton regulating boating and defining a slow-no-wake area upon the waters of the Wolf and the Shioc Rivers and prescribing penalties for violation thereof [Outagamie County]

Shioc River Boom Shocking Survey (1978), Outgamie County

Recommendations

Restore Wetlands

Navigability Determination

; Shiocton River; Extension of previous determination

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
Outagamie Navigability	2008
Wetland Restoration Database	2016

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
316800	Shioc River	453030	Shioc River at Sth 187 Bridge	1/14/1975	10/14/2024	Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	10032723	Shioc River below Black Creek mouth			Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	453280	Shioc River at Sth 168 (Cth F)	5/24/1979	11/7/1979	Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	10037809	Shioc River Upstream of Nichols WWTF	7/17/2012	10/18/2012	Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	10020743	Shioc River-Along Scott Rd Below Nichols			Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	453257	Shioc River - County Highway P	6/5/1979	10/30/1997	Map	Data
316800	Shioc River	10055971	Shioc River DS Newland Rd			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Shioc River is located in the Shioc River watershed which is 189.76 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (55.60%), wetland (20.40%) and a mix of grassland (12.30%) and other uses (11.70%). This watershed has 375.85 stream miles, 323.09 lake acres and 23,354.20 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Shioc 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.