Water Detail - West Branch Milwaukee River, East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed (MI06)

West Branch Milwaukee River, East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed (MI06)

Return to Search

West Branch Milwaukee River (40400)

Size

20.60 Miles

Segment

0 - 20.60

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.

Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

2020

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Impairment Unknown

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Dodge, Fond Du Lac, Washington

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

West Branch Milwaukee River, in the East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed, is a 21.25 mile river that falls in Dodge, Fond du Lac and Washington Counties. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

West Branch Milwaukee River, East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed (MI06) Fish and Aquatic Life

West Branch Milwaukee River, East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed (MI06) Recreation

West Branch Milwaukee River, East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed (MI06) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The West Branch Milwaukee River was evaluated in the 2016 cycle and high phosphorus levels were found. This water was put on the Impaired Waters List in the 2016 cycle. In the 2024 cycle this water will be added to the Milwaukee River TMDL, approved in 2018.

Date 2022

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

West Branch Milwaukee River, West Br. Milwaukee River Station #3 Up From Rustic Road, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

West Branch Milwaukee River, W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 150 Feet North Of Hwy 67 Bridge, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Milwaukee River Basin Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis: Total Phosphorus, Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix A - Tributary Information and Charts

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix B - Maps of Basin

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix C - CDM Smith Decision Memorandum

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix D - Load Duration Curves

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix E - Sediment Monitoring

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix F - Base Line Load

Milwaukee River TMDL Appendix G - Response To Comments

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

2015 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Milwaukee River_ West Branch at Sth 45 (Bi)

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Milwaukee River, West Branch at Sth 45 (Bi)

2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -West Branch Of Milwaukee River At Cth V

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.

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Monitor stream for temperature to confirm that it should not be listed.

Navigability Determination

T14N R18E ; West Branch Milwaukee River;

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
Milwaukee River TMDL	2012
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings	2000
Fond du Lac Navigability	2008
West Branch of Milwaukee River at CTH V	2007
West Branch of Milwaukee River at STH 45	2007

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10040454	West Branch Milwaukee River at Rustic Dr Near Campbellsport	7/6/2008	7/25/2009	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016529	Hd W Br Milwaukee #59 - 143 M Ds Cth K	9/28/1999	7/23/2014	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10010465	WB Milwaukee River US River Road	9/18/2003	9/18/2003	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10047483	Wetland [ID 20423695922]	9/14/2016	9/14/2016	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	203112	West Branch Milwaukee River at Drumlin Dr Near Lomira WI	9/22/1998	10/17/2001	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016473	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 40 Feet Upstream Of Spring Dr. East Of Hwy W	11/4/1985	11/4/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016885	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 150 Feet North Of Hwy 67 Bridge	5/22/1980	10/8/2020	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016421	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 200 Feet Downstream Of Spring Dr. West Of Elmore	11/4/1985	11/4/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016450	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 40 Feet Downstream Of Spring Dr. East Of Hwy W.	4/3/1985	4/3/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016505	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 30 Feet Upstream Of Hwy K Bridge	4/3/1985	4/3/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016422	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 200 Feet Downstream Of Spring Drive West Of Elmore	4/3/1985	4/3/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10008834	West Br. Milwaukee River Station #3 Up From Rustic Road	10/25/2000	10/25/2000	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10008838	West Br. Milwaukee River Station #1 Up From Sth 45			Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10008842	West Br. Milwaukee River Station # 2 Up From Pasture To Cth V	10/25/2000	10/25/2000	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	673107	Milwaukee River West Branch at Sth 45 (Bi)	5/22/1980	10/31/2015	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10016447	W. Br. Milwaukee R. - 50 Feet Downstream Of Spring Dr. Downstream Of Game Farm	4/3/1985	11/4/1985	Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10039502	West Branch Milwaukee River at River Dr			Map	Data
40400	West Branch Milwaukee River	10020925	West Branch Of Milwaukee River At Cth V	6/24/2006	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

West Branch Milwaukee River is located in the East and West Branches Milwaukee River watershed which is 266.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (35.50%), wetland (19.20%) and a mix of forest (17.90%) and other uses (27.40%). This watershed has 312.44 stream miles, 2,023.13 lake acres and 32,107.47 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.

Natural Community

West Branch Milwaukee River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map