Water Detail - Hunting River, Lily River Watershed (WR19)

County

Langlade

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.

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.

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.

Overview

The Hunting River is wooded and mainly undeveloped with a large portion of the frontage in state or Langlade County ownership. Beaver control has been initiated by Antigo area fish management staff. The Elcho WWTP is located in a spring area and discharges into an unnamed tributary to the Hunting River. Although no water quality problems have been documented, local citizens are concerned.

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

Hunting River, Lily River Watershed (WR19) Fish and Aquatic Life

Hunting River, Lily River Watershed (WR19) Recreation

Hunting River, Lily River Watershed (WR19) Fish Consumption

General Condition

This portion of Hunting River from Fitzgerald Dam Road to the headwaters was evaluated for temperature in 2018 and 2020, however in-stream construction was recently conducted. Further monitoring is warranted before a conclusion is made on the state of water quality in this stream.

Date 2019

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

Hunting River, Fitzgerald Dam Road to T33NR11ES01, Langlade County, OERW Evaluation

Hunting River, mouth to source, Langlade County, OERW Evaluation

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Hunting River Stream Connectivity Project Deliverables Report for River Protection Program

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

HUNTING RIVER, LANGLADE COUNTY, ELCHO WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Temperature exceedances were found at station 10029929, but this was determined to be unrepresentative of the stream. Further temperature monitoring should be done to see if there are exceedances at a representative station.

Habitat Restoration - Instream

The Town of Elcho is sponsoring a project to restore aquatic connectivity to the Hunting River. Project final deliverables include: Post construction monitoring would occur to document changes in water levels and flows after the new road crossing is installed. Success would be documented in part by comparing the water velocities, flow characteristics, and riverbed composition at the new road crossing to make sure they match the conditions in the natural river channel at a natural reference reach beyond the influence of the road. A stream and water elevation profile would also be tied to the local benchmarks to document the elimination of the impounding condition as well as culvert perch to allow for reestablishment of natural channel morphology and sediment transport. Instream water monitoring device data would also be evaluated to document any changes in upstream water temperatures. Specific project activities include: To design a road stream crossing that will meet the deliverables above and to replace the current culverts with an adequately sized and set road crossing during the 2016 field season.

Restore Hydrology, Morphology

The Town of Elcho is sponsoring a project to restore aquatic connectivity to the Hunting River. Project final deliverables include: Post construction monitoring would occur to document changes in water levels and flows after the new road crossing is installed. Success would be documented in part by comparing the water velocities, flow characteristics, and riverbed composition at the new road crossing to make sure they match the conditions in the natural river channel at a natural reference reach beyond the influence of the road. A stream and water elevation profile would also be tied to the local benchmarks to document the elimination of the impounding condition as well as culvert perch to allow for reestablishment of natural channel morphology and sediment transport. Instream water monitoring device data would also be evaluated to document any changes in upstream water temperatures. Specific project activities include: To design a road stream crossing that will meet the deliverables above and to replace the current culverts with an adequately sized and set road crossing during the 2016 field season.

Restore Hydrology, Morphology

The Town of Elcho is sponsoring a project to restore aquatic connectivity to the Hunting River. Project final deliverables include: Post construction monitoring would occur to document changes in water levels and flows after the new road crossing is installed. Success would be documented in part by comparing the water velocities, flow characteristics, and riverbed composition at the new road crossing to make sure they match the conditions in the natural river channel at a natural reference reach beyond the influence of the road. A stream and water elevation profile would also be tied to the local benchmarks to document the elimination of the impounding condition as well as culvert perch to allow for reestablishment of natural channel morphology and sediment transport. Instream water monitoring device data would also be evaluated to document any changes in upstream water temperatures. Specific project activities include: To design a road stream crossing that will meet the deliverables above and to replace the current culverts with an adequately sized and set road crossing during the 2016 field season.

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Station at Hwy T shows temperature exceedances for several months in 2018. Please review. I disagree for listing based on many factors. 1) thermistor location is poor for this segment of river, just as you stated for the assessment unit above Fitzgerald dam Rd. 2) where in the channel is the thermistor deployed? It is very easy to deploy it in the wrong part of the channel which can easily produce elevated temperatures. 3)what is the thermistors accuracy? has the data set been adjusted to reflect the accuracy? 4)Is the thermistor checked against a certified thermometer on a yearly basis to check it's accuracy? 5)is the thermistor deployed with a sunshield? Research studies done in cold mountain streams show thermistors unshielded can easily record temperatures over 1 degree C warmer than shielded thermistors placed adjacent to them. This alone should be reason enough not to list. 6)Not being my study, there are too many factors I am unaware of that I cannot agree with listing the Hunting River for this assessment unit. We as the biologists should not be required to review and possibly list streams using studies and data we have no control over.

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
Hunting River upstream of Hwy T	2009
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings	2000
TOWN OF ELCHO: Restoring Aquatic Connectivity on the Hunting River	2016

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
383400	Hunting River	10052227	HUNTING RIVER 2019 HAB WORK BELOW PAGES BRIDGE			Map	Data
383400	Hunting River	10029929	Hunting River upstream of Hwy T	7/29/2008	5/4/2023	Map	Data
383400	Hunting River	10048615	Hunting River at Field Road	5/20/2017	10/28/2017	Map	Data
383400	Hunting River	10029853	Hunting River- Pages Bridge Upstream			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Hunting River is located in the Lily River watershed which is 209.47 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (72.20%), wetland (18.90%) and a mix of open (4.20%) and other uses (4.80%). This watershed has 161.31 stream miles, 4,248.79 lake acres and 18,178.21 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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

Hunting 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.

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