Lafayette
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Flowing through east central Lafayette County, this seven mile long stream was once thought to have potential as a trout stream because of good feeder springs located in the drainage area (Surface Waters of Lafayette County). The existing use is a warm water forage fishery. The lower 6 miles is on the state’s list of impaired waters. Sampling conducted in 1980, 1990 and in 2001 indicated that the stream is home to a number of tolerant warm water species including white suckers, creek chubs, fathead minnows, and an occasional carp (Marshall, 1991; Sims, pers.comm). The goals of the priority watershed project were to reduce erosion and turbidity, reduce organic loading, increase aquatic diversity, and improve wildlife habitat. Recent observations indicate turbidity and sediment accumulation continue to be major problems on this stream (Sims, pers. com).
Fisheries surveys conducted in 2007 showed the stream to be a very poor coldwater fishery and only a fair warm water one. The fishery assemblage was dominated by habitat and/or oxygen tolerant species. Sampling conducted at Miller Road and Philippines Road in 2008 - after a year of record rains and river levels - showed the presence of young-of-the-year northern pike, and almost nothing else. It is surmised that adult pike took advantage of high water levels to migrate up from the East Branch Pecatonica River in the spring of 2008 to spawn. Young-of-the-year pike are voracious predators (Becker, 1983) and may have impacted the presence of other forage fish species.
Biologists noted the stream being impacted by agriculture: stream channel entrenchment, row crops with little buffer, banks trampled due to pasturing, and high rates of sedimentation. Macroinvertebrates indicate good water quality and marginal habitat. The environmental quality of Cherry Branch, as indicated by biological measures, appears to have changed little over the past 2 decades and should remain on the 303(d) list.
Date 2010
Author James Amrhein
Overview
Cherry Branch is a seven-mile stream that flows through east central Lafayette County. The 1967 Surface Waters of
Lafayette County noted it was once thought to have potential as a trout stream because of good feeder springs located
in the drainage area. Currently, Cherry Branch exists as a warm water forage fishery. The lower six miles of this
stream are on the 303(d) list because of habitat degradation and sedimentation from non-point source pollution. Fish
surveys conducted in 1980, 1990, and in 2001 indicate that the stream is home to a number of tolerant warm water
species including white suckers, creek chubs, fathead minnows, and an occasional carp. One fish survey conducted in
2001 at Philippine Rd found no fish present, but only frogs and crayfish. A macroinvertebrate sampling conducted at
Hwy N in 1990 produced an HBI of 4.153, which indicates very good water quality with possible slight organic
pollution. In conjunction with biological sampling of the stream, WDNR aquatic biologists made visual observations
that the stream bottom was mostly clay and silt (about 50 percent) and sediment accumulation continued to be a major
problem in the stream. It was also noted that sediment deposition in some areas has caused the stream to become wide
and shallow (width: depth 20:1). According to WDNR habitat ratings, both observations rate the habitat as fair.
Mitigation of erosion and improvement in habitat of this stream is undoubtedly desirable, but additional monitoring is
required to confirm the potential for this stream.
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
Flowing through east central Lafayette County, this seven mile long stream was once thought to have potential as a trout stream because of good feeder springs located in the drainage area (Surface Waters of Lafayette County). The existing use is a warm water forage fishery. The lower 6 miles is on the state�s list of impaired waters. Sampling conducted in 1980, 1990 and in 2001 indicate that the stream is home to a number of tolerant warm water species including white suckers, creek chubs, fathead minnows, and an occasional carp (Marshall, 1991; Sims, pers.comm). The goals of the priority watershed project were to reduce erosion and turbidity, reduce organic loading, increase aquatic diversity, and improve wildlife habitat. Recent observations indicate turbidity and sediment accumulation continue to be major problems on this stream (Sims, pers. com).
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Cherry Branch, T2N, R5E, Sections 14-9, Surface acres = 6.3, Miles = 5.8, Gradient = 27.8 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 313 mg/l, Volume of flow = 2.8 cfs.
In the past, Cherry Branch was classified and managed as a trout stream because of its spring-fed character. Current management is for forage fishes. Reevaluation is in order since there are several good feeder springs which are located in its direct drainage area. With favorable survey results, this stream may once again be stocked. In general bottom types consist of silt in the lower one-third and gravel in the upper two-thirds. The extent of erosion varies from light to moderate. With over half of the watershed area used for agricultural purposes, the game assets of this watershed are mostly of the upland variety although muskrats are common. Flowing in an easterly direction, Cherry Branch empties into the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. There is no land owned by the public in the watershed. Five road bridges provide access points.
From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1967
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
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
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.
TMDL Implementation
Contract for county staff to conduct on-site assessments in the Silver Spring, Cherry Branch, and Apple Branch sub-watersheds to develop TMDLs for these impaired waters.
TMDL Implementation
Source identification, load estimates and reduction goal development -- Silver Spring, Cherry Branch, and Apple Branch sub-watersheds
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 |
|---|
| 898500 | Cherry Br | 10021954 | Cherry Branch At Cth N | 10/25/2007 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 898500 | Cherry Br | 10012619 | Cherry Br. Pecatonica River - Philippine Rd. | 10/30/2007 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 898500 | Cherry Br | 10016054 | Cherry Cr. - Hwy 78 | 4/24/1990 | 10/31/2024 | Map | Data |
| 898500 | Cherry Br | 333214 | Cherry Branch - Cth N Sec. 15 | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 898500 | Cherry Br | 10029241 | Cherry Branch at Miller Lane | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Cherry Br is located in the Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers watershed which is 144.80 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (44.90%), agricultural (35.10%) and a mix of forest (16%) and other uses (3.90%). This watershed has 370.96 stream miles, 107.68 lake acres and 2,029.49 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.