Kenosha
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Root River, also known as Center Creek, has its origin on the one-quarter section line between the northeast and northwest one-quarters of Section 15, Township 2 North, Range 21 East, Town of Paris. From its origin it flows southerly for about 5.5 miles, to STH 50; then southeasterly for about two miles, to its confluence with the Des Plaines River, just west of IH 94-USH 41 in the southeast one-quarter of Section 12, Township 1 North, Range 21 East, Town of Bristol. The Creek has a perennial stream length of about 5.6 miles.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Root River, in the Des Plaines River Watershed, is a 9.42 mile river that falls in Kenosha County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
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
Data analysis, report production
The goal is to create stable professional leadership to work with Council members to advance the mission and vision of the council and implement the vision of the Back to the Root - an Urban River Revitalization Plan. The final report will include a detailed report of all activities associated with the project. Activities involve developing a communication and marketing plan, strengthening partnerships within the community, expanding volunteers, educational outreach, and becoming an independent River Management Organization.
Rivers Planning Grant
Root-Pike WIN is applying for a river planning grant in the amount of $6,328. However, project ranking and budget limitations have reduced the grant award to $3,773 The purpose of the project is to update Root-Pike WIN's planning strategies to reflect the future needs and direction of the organization. This will allow the group to successfully continue their mission to protect, restore, and sustain the Root-Pike watershed ecosystem. The primary goal is to create a strategic plan that will ensure the growth and effectiveness of Root-Pike WIN. The methods used to create the strategic plan will include planning and facilitating two professional meetings and gather information for planning efforts. The development of the strategic plan will come from the information gathered during the planning, organizational assessment, and strategic planning sessions. The strategic plan will be included with the final project report to the WDNR.
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 |
|---|
| 737200 | Root River | 10043647 | Root River (Center Branch) at 38th Street | 5/29/2015 | 5/2/2016 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 303071 | Center Branch Root River - Des Plaines R | 4/21/1998 | 12/15/1998 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 10043646 | Root River (Center Branch) at STH 142 | 6/5/2012 | 7/24/2015 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 10032016 | Root River (Strawberry Creek) 50 feet east of 144th Ave. in Bristol | 11/14/2008 | 10/16/2015 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 10015837 | Root River-Center Br Des Pla - 600 Yards Upstream Of 124th. | 5/15/1998 | 5/15/1998 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 303046 | Des Plaines River C Br at Sth 50(Bi) | 5/19/1979 | 5/19/1979 | Map | Data |
| 737200 | Root River | 10009332 | Root River (Center Branch) At Hwy 50 | 10/16/1979 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Root River is located in the Des Plaines River watershed which is 133.34 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.90%), suburban (11%) and a mix of wetland (8.90%) and other uses (22.30%). This watershed has 216.36 stream miles, 755.01 lake acres and 7,194.07 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.