General Condition
Popple River was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chloride 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
Watershed Mapping or Assessment
Florence County Lakes and Rivers Association will use this grant for two primary tasks. The first will be to develop a comprehensive GIS database for the entire Pine and Popple River Watersheds. This will be accomplished by hiring a consultant to gather and assemble existing GIS data layers and collection of new field data by agency personnel and FCLARA volunteers. A primary focus of the data collection and mapping is to provide information for coldwater species habitat improvement in the river mainstems and tributaries. 1. Assemble existing databases for the Pine/Popple watershed from Local, Regional, and State agencies for use in a Geographical Information System. 2. Collect locational data for impounded reaches and groundwater inflow areas of the Pine/Popple rivers and tributaries. 3. Monitor instream water temperature at numerous locations and assemble a database of temperatures along with location of measurements. The second goal is to build organizational capacity of FCLARA and strengthen their efforts to restore the wild rivers ecosystems. 1. Develop an organizational strategic plan. 2. Obtain Federal 501(c)(3) recognition. 3. Train FCLARA volunteers in river data collection methods and techniques. 4. Education to raise public awareness about the organization and the river planning project. 5. Dissemination of information about cold-water fisheries to FCLARA members, local government and the general public. Deliverables: 1. GIS databases on compact disk including the stream monitoring data collected by the project. 2. Completed application process to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status for FCLARA. 3. FCLARA strategic planning report.
Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
Rhinelander Water Resources Biologist and LTEs will review previous data/files and collect biological information (electrofishing surveys & macroinvertebrate samples), qualitative habitat measures, and seasonal continuous temperature monitoring data on 16 proposed stream sites within the Woods Creek Watershed (HUC 12 40301080106) in Florence County, Wisconsin.
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 |
|---|
| 652900 | Popple River | 10020187 | Popple River -- Access at Carry-In Access Along Twin River Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10020081 | Popple River -- Access at Goodman Grade Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10009257 | Popple River: 40 M Upstream Pine River Confluence | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10020082 | Popple River -- Access | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10037275 | Popple River -- Access at W River Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10037278 | Popple River -- Access at Morgan Lake Rd / Hwy 139 | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10050783 | East Bank of Popple River near 5004164 | 8/12/2010 | 8/12/2010 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10017236 | Popple River-At Sth 139. | 5/30/1979 | 11/6/1979 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10012887 | Popple River - 20m Above Fr2398 (Twin River Rd) | | | Map | Data |
| 5004266 | Unnamed | 10050956 | Wetland between Maple Dr and Morgan Lake Rd | 8/16/2010 | 8/16/2010 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10037284 | Popple River -- Access at Washburn Falls Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 193993 | Popple River At Morgan Lake Rd Near Fence WI | 5/30/1979 | 10/12/2002 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10020188 | Popple River -- Access | | | Map | Data |
| 5004278 | Unnamed | 10050956 | Wetland between Maple Dr and Morgan Lake Rd | 8/16/2010 | 8/16/2010 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10030654 | Popple River - PE 1A WOODS CREEK PROJECT - 2250' DOWNSTREAM OF EQUIPMENT LANDING | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10012886 | Popple River - 658m Below Hwy 101 | | | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10019107 | Popple River -- Access at STH-101 | 7/29/2004 | 5/19/2022 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 10030303 | Popple River (ds from Newald Tower Rd) | 7/2/2009 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 652900 | Popple River | 193003 | Popple River - Near Morgan Lake Rd Fr 2159 (Town Of Fence) | 2/14/1994 | 11/12/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Popple River is located in the Popple River watershed which is 231.25 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (66.70%), wetland (30%) and a mix of grassland (1.90%) and other uses (1.30%). This watershed has 236.00 stream miles, 1,757.82 lake acres and 35,875.22 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.