8.33 Miles
0 - 8.33
Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2024
Poor
High Phosphorus Levels, Degraded Habitat
Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
Washington
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Kohlsville River, a tributary to the East Branch of the Rock River in Washington County, is currently classified as a WWFF for its entire 9 miles, but has the potential to support trout on 3.5 stream miles (WDNR, 1994). Potential uses of the river are impaired by polluted runoff, hydrologic modifications and the dam at Kohlsville.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Kohlsville River (865400) was placed on the impaired waters list for total suspended solids in 1998 and total phosphorus in 2012. The TMDL for these two pollutants was approved by the U.S. EPA in 2011. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria 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). This water was also assessed for temperature and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. 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
Recommendations
TMDL Monitoring
One-year TMDL Monitoring of Kohlsville River. The Kohlsville River has been listed on the state's 303(d) impaired waters list since 1998 for Total Suspended Solids. In TMDL Development. Part of Rock River TMDL. SWAT Team work in 2006. Kohlsville River is a tributary to the East Branch of the Rock River in Washington County and is currently classified as a WWFF for its entire 9 miles, but has the potential to support trout on 3.5 stream miles (WDNR, 1994). Potential uses of the river are impaired by polluted runoff, hydrologic modifications and the dam at Kohlsville.
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 |
|---|
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673209 | Kohlsville River - Kr-1 Kohlsville R Downstream | 6/6/1981 | 7/21/1982 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10010018 | Kohlsville River -Above Hwy D | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10022037 | Kohlsville River - Upstream of Midland Drive | 10/22/2007 | 8/21/2024 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673212 | Kohlsville River - Kr-B Kohlsville R - P-Mid | 8/19/1981 | 12/7/1981 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673215 | Kohlsville River - Kr-E Kohlsville R - B-Mid | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673216 | Kr-F Kohlsville R Iver- B-Dn | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10008418 | Kohlsville R. : Midland Rd. Bridge | 11/14/1995 | 10/5/2006 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10029079 | Kohlsville River - Upstream of Aurora Drive | 8/26/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673213 | Kohlsville River - Kr-C Kohlsville R - P-Dn | 8/19/1981 | 8/14/2004 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10015943 | Kohlsville River - Downstream Of Townline Rd ~ 45 Feet | 11/14/1995 | 11/14/1995 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10016537 | Kohlsville River - Upstream Of Beechnut Dr. | 10/9/2002 | 10/9/2002 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10009907 | Kohlsville River Upstream Beechnut Drive | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10028734 | Kohlsville River At Hwy 41 | 5/19/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673210 | Kohlsville River - Kr-2 Upstream | 6/6/1981 | 9/15/1981 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673214 | Kr-D Kohlsville R - B-Up | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 673211 | Kohlsville River - Kr-A Kohlsville R - P-Up | 8/19/1981 | 10/4/2006 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10009905 | Kohlsville River - Beechnut Dr. | | | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10012348 | Kohlsville River At Aurora Road North | 11/14/1995 | 10/4/2006 | Map | Data |
| 865400 | Kohlsville River | 10016747 | Kohlsville River - Downstream Of Beechnut Dr. | 10/9/2002 | 10/9/2002 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Kohlsville River is located in the East Branch Rock River watershed which is 198.99 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (58.90%), grassland (17.20%) and a mix of wetland (11.90%) and other uses (12.00%). This watershed has 306.48 stream miles, 292.02 lake acres and 16,059.62 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.
Kohlsville River is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater 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) 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.