Iowa
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This small trout stream flows northeasterly and feeds into the Dodge Branch. While classified as a Class II trout stream and currently stocked with brown trout, it is a limited trout fishery. An evaluation survey of the middle section of the stream from Town Line Road upstream to the south line of Section 24, conducted in 1994, showed the stream to be navigable for this entire distance. The stream contained veronica and watercress. Shallow runs and pools were separated by gravel riffles. Numbers and diversity of benthos increased from the downstream portion to the upstream portion and good numbers of forage fish were present. The limiting factor for fish appeared to be lack of permanent cover (Van Dyke, 1994). A 2000 baseline survey showed that this stream is a degraded cold water fishery, containing no top level predators but some sculpin, that may be declining to a warm water forage fishery. This is due to impacts by woodlot pasturing and streambank pasturing which are degrading the habitat and adding nutrients to the stream. The stream would likely not benefit from habitat efforts due to temperature limitations (Sims, pers. comm.).
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Lynch Branch - Mouth location T5N R4E Section 18 -13, Surface area = 1.8 acres, Length = 2.6 miles, Gradient = 50.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 276.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 1.5 cfs.
Lynch Creek is a small spring fed tributary of Dodge Branch which flows northeasterly, entering about midway in its length. Its gradient is close to average for Iowa County streams and is subject to severe flooding and subsequent heavy bank erosion, especially in its lower sections. Over 80 percent of its drainage basin has been cleared for farming purposes which is probably the major cause for rapid runoff of precipitation. The Department of Natural Resources manages it for brown trout which are stocked every year to supplement the fishery. Surveys show that other fish species present include bluntnose and stoneroller minnows; creek and hornyhead chubs; johnny and fantail darters; redbelly dace, hogsuckers, and common shiners. Aquatic game assets are restricted to some muskrats near the mouth. There is no public land along this stream. Presently, it can be reached from a town road crossing.
From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1968
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
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 |
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912700 | Lynch Br | 10048595 | Lynch Branch - private drive Fitzsimons Road | | | Map | Data |
912700 | Lynch Br | 10038298 | Lynch Branch upper end by pond | | | Map | Data |
912700 | Lynch Br | 10008026 | Lynch Br. Station 1 | 11/10/2000 | 11/10/2000 | Map | Data |
912700 | Lynch Br | 10014320 | Lynch Branch-Baseline Survey (atTownline Road) | 9/20/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
912700 | Lynch Br | 10008037 | Lynch Branch Station 2 | 11/10/2000 | 11/10/2000 | Map | Data |
912700 | Lynch Br | 10041182 | Lynch Creek ~1960ft US of Unnamed trib(5037921) confluence | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Lynch Br is located in the Upper East Branch Pecatonica River watershed which is 140.18 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (52.10%), agricultural (22.10%) and a mix of forest (20.70%) and other uses (5.10%). This watershed has 395.65 stream miles, 61.72 lake acres and 834.33 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.