Watershed - Upper Yellow (Wood Co.) River (CW05)
Upper Yellow (Wood Co.) River Watershed

Details

The Upper Yellow River Watershed is located in the counties of Wood, Clark and Marathon. The Upper Yellow River Watershed includes the upper reaches of the Yellow River to the Dexter Lake Dam. This watershed was ranked using the Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed Selection Criteria. Based on surface and ground water data, the overall ranking is high. This overall ranking establishes the watershed as a high priority for future grant eligibility through the Nonpoint Source Program. In 1993, a nonpoint source control plan was approved for the Upper Yellow River Watershed. The anticipated completion date was December 2003 (Haynes, 1994). Surface water erosion is a problem in the watershed. The heavy silt loam soils and steep slopes promote rapid runoff. The Wood County Erosion Control Plan ranked the Upper Yellow River Watershed the highest priority for NPS control management practices.

Date  2002

Nonpoint and Point Sources

This watershed was ranked using the Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed Selection Criteria. Based on surface and ground water data, the overall ranking is high. This overall ranking establishes the watershed as a high priority for future grant eligibility through the Nonpoint Source Program. In 1993, a nonpoint source control plan was approved for the Upper Yellow River Watershed. The anticipated completion date was December 2003 (Haynes, 1994). Surface water erosion is a problem in the watershed. The heavy silt loam soils and steep slopes promote rapid runoff. The Wood County Erosion Control Plan ranked the Upper Yellow River Watershed the highest priority for NPS control management practices. Animal waste runoff from barnyards or pasturelands occurs on the main tributaries of the Yellow River. A 1985 preliminary inventory identified 40 barnyards with approximately 2,000 head of cattle, within 1,000 feet of the major tributaries of the Yellow River.Rapid surface water runoff can carry manure nutrients to these streams because of the poorly drained soils (Aron, 1979). Biotic index values for those streams sampled indicated fair to poor water quality.

Date  2002

Ecological Landscapes for Upper Yellow (Wood Co.) River Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Upper Yellow River (Wood County) Watershed is located in two ecological landscapes: the Central Sand Plains and the Forest Transiton. The Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape, located in central Wisconsin, occurs on a flat, sandy lake plain, and supports agriculture, forestry, recreation, and wildlife management. The Ecological Landscape formed in and around what was once Glacial Lake Wisconsin, which contained glacial meltwater extending over 1.1 million acres at its highest stage. Soils are primarily sandy lake deposits, some with silt-loam loess caps. Sandstone buttes carved by rapid drainage of the glacial lake, or by wave action when they existed as islands in the lake, are distinctive features of this landscape. The historic vegetation of the area included extensive wetlands of many types, including open bogs, shrub swamps, and sedge meadows. Prairies, oak forests, savannas and barrens also occurred in the Ecological Landscape. An area of more mesic forest with white pine and hemlock was found in the northwest portion, including a significant pinery in eastern Jackson County. Today, nearly half of the Ecological Landscape is nonforested, in agriculture and grassland. Most of the historic wetlands were drained early in the 1900s and are now used for vegetable cropping. The forested portion is mostly oak-dominated forest, followed by aspen and pines. A minor portion is maple-basswood forest and lowland hardwoods. The Forest Transition Ecological Landscape lies along the northern border of Wisconsin's Tension Zone, through the central and western part of the state, and supports both northern forests and agricultural areas. The central portion of the Forest Transition lies primarily on a glacial till plain deposited by glaciation between 25,000 and 790,000 years ago. The eastern and western portions are on moraines of the Wisconsin glaciation. The growing season in this part of the state is long enough that agriculture is viable, although climatic conditions are not as favorable as in southern Wisconsin. Soils are diverse, ranging from sandy loam to loam or shallow silt loam, and from poorly drained to well drained. The historic vegetation of the Forest Transition was primarily northern hardwood forest. These northern hardwoods were dominated by sugar maple and hemlock, and contained some yellow birch, red pine and white pine. Currently, over 60% of this Ecological Landscape is non-forested. Forested areas consist primarily of northern hardwoods and aspen, with smaller amounts of oak and lowland hardwoods. The eastern portion of the Ecological Landscape differs from the rest of the area in that it remains primarily forested, and includes some ecologically significant areas. Throughout the Ecological Landscape, small areas of conifer swamp are found near the headwaters of streams, and associated with lakes in kettle depressions on moraines. Ground flora show characteristics of both northern and southern Wisconsin, as this Ecological Landscape lies along the Tension Zone.

Date  2010

Watershed Documents
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2009
Waters Involved
Dexter Lake
Status
Complete

Golden Sands Rc&D: Regional Ais Specialist 2: Golden Sands RC&D seeks continued funding for coordination of AIS prevention and control on public access lakes in Portage, Wood and Waushara Counties through June of 2010. The project would fund staff wages and operating expensives inlcuding mileage, field and office supplies, training, web fees and signage. Project deliverables to inlude: 1) Project and AIS control planning, 2) volunteer training and workshops, 3) AIS surveys, infestation investigation, mapping, and control, 4) Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspections, 5) development and presentation of outreach materials, and 6) updated water access inventories.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2009
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Golden Sands Rc&D: Regional Ais Specialist 2: Golden Sands RC&D seeks continued funding for coordination of AIS prevention and control on public access lakes in Portage, Wood and Waushara Counties through June of 2010. The project would fund staff wages and operating expensives inlcuding mileage, field and office supplies, training, web fees and signage. Project deliverables to inlude: 1) Project and AIS control planning, 2) volunteer training and workshops, 3) AIS surveys, infestation investigation, mapping, and control, 4) Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspections, 5) development and presentation of outreach materials, and 6) updated water access inventories.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2009
Waters Involved
Yellow River
Status
Complete

Golden Sands Rc&D: Regional Ais Specialist 2: Golden Sands RC&D seeks continued funding for coordination of AIS prevention and control on public access lakes in Portage, Wood and Waushara Counties through June of 2010. The project would fund staff wages and operating expensives inlcuding mileage, field and office supplies, training, web fees and signage. Project deliverables to inlude: 1) Project and AIS control planning, 2) volunteer training and workshops, 3) AIS surveys, infestation investigation, mapping, and control, 4) Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspections, 5) development and presentation of outreach materials, and 6) updated water access inventories.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2013
Waters Involved
Big Bass Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 7: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase II efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Develop lake management plans, 2) Establish planning committees, 3) Review and revise shoreland zoning ordinance, 4) Hold one-day water forum, and 5) Develop guide for Zoning Board of Adjustment members.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Marathon County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Big Eau Pleine River
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Marathon County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Buena Vista Creek
Status
Complete

Wood County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Wood County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2005
Waters Involved
Coon Fork Flowage
Status
Complete

Clark County Land Conservation Committee: Lmi-Coon Fork Watershed Bmps: Clark County proposes to contact riparian property owners within its portion of the Coon Fork Lake watershed and offer to design and cost-share on management practices that will reduce non-point source run-off into the impoundment. Major project elements include: 1) Land owner contacts, 2) BMP design and establishment of cost-share agreements, 3) BMP installation, 4) Information/Education.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Hay Creek
Status
Complete

Clark County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Clark County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.



Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/12/2010
Waters Involved
Mission Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 2: Marathon County proposes to conduct detailed studies of 11 lakes in the Eastern part of Marathon County for the purpose of classifying them and developing plans for their future management. major project elements in this phased project include: 1) data collection, 2) outreach, 3) management planning and 4) plan implementation.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
4/15/2017
Waters Involved
Mission Lake
Status
Complete

Deer Lake Conservancy Inc: Lower Rock Creek Acquisition: The Deer Lake Conservancy has purchased 32.10 acres of undeveloped property on Deer Lake in Polk County. The parcel includes approximately 500 feet of shoreline, a riparian wetland and has Rock Creek flowing through the property. The property is adjacent to existing Conservancy owned property. Trails will be developed connecting with existing trails of the adjacent property.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2012
Waters Involved
Mud Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 5: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase _ efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Water quality sampling and analysis, 2) Fisheries and aquatic species analysis, 3) Habitat, shoreland and paleolimnological surveys, 4) cultural surveys and outreach, 5) build-out assessment and monitoring.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2012
Waters Involved
Mud Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 6: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase 1 efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Water quality sampling and analysis, 2) Fisheries and aquatic species analysis, 3) Habitat, shoreland and paleolimnological surveys, 4) Cultural surveys and outreach, 5) Build-out assessment and monitoring.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Nepco Lake
Status
Complete

Wood County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Wood County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Sherwood Lake*
Status
Complete

Clark County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Clark County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.



Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/12/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 2: Marathon County proposes to conduct detailed studies of 11 lakes in the Eastern part of Marathon County for the purpose of classifying them and developing plans for their future management. major project elements in this phased project include: 1) data collection, 2) outreach, 3) management planning and 4) plan implementation.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
4/15/2017
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Deer Lake Conservancy Inc: Lower Rock Creek Acquisition: The Deer Lake Conservancy has purchased 32.10 acres of undeveloped property on Deer Lake in Polk County. The parcel includes approximately 500 feet of shoreline, a riparian wetland and has Rock Creek flowing through the property. The property is adjacent to existing Conservancy owned property. Trails will be developed connecting with existing trails of the adjacent property.


Grant Details
Urban Nonpoint - Stormwater Planning
Date
1/1/2003
Waters Involved
East Branch Yellow River
Status
Complete

City Of Marshfield - Dpw: Stormwater Planning Projects: to cost-share @70% development of stormwater plan, utility district analysis, stormwater ordinances and I & E program.


Grant Details
Urban Nonpoint - Stormwater Planning
Date
1/1/2003
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

City Of Marshfield - Dpw: Stormwater Planning Projects: to cost-share @70% development of stormwater plan, utility district analysis, stormwater ordinances and I & E program.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Upper Yellow (Wood Co.) River Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Rothschild - Stormwater Management Plan Update
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; other updated ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Marathon County Barnyard Runoff Control Project
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a barnyard runoff control system, critical area stabilization, diversions, heavy use area protection, roofing, roof runoff systems, and underground outlets.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
WI Rapids Storm Water Management Plan Update
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated storm water management plan for the developed urban area.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Fenwood Creek Watershed Project
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution through the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) addressing sediment and nutrient loading and to address violations of the NR 151 Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions relating to: sheet, rill, and wind erosion; tillage setback; manure storage facilities-new/significant alterations; manure storage facilities-closure; manure storage facilities-existing failing/leaking; process wastewater handling; clean water diversions; nutrient management; prevention of overflow from manure storage facilities; prevention of direct runoff from a feedlot or stored manure into waters of the state; prevention of unlimited livestock access to waters of the state; and remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
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.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
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.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
Monitor Aquatic Biology
Monitor biology on WBIC: 1372300
Date
Status
Conduct biological (mIBI or fIBI) monitoring on Beaver Creek, WBIC: 1372300, AU:5735909
5/21/2016
Proposed
Projects
 
Monitor Aquatic Biology
Monitor biology on WBIC: 5013943
Date
Status
Conduct biological (mIBI or fIBI) monitoring on Unnamed, WBIC: 5013943, AU:3987646
5/21/2016
Proposed
Projects
 
Monitor Baseline Survey
 
Date
Status
EPA Pilot for Yellow River Watershed
6/1/2011
Proposed
Projects
 
Monitor Fish Community
Unnamed AU 18329 fIBI
Date
Status
AU 18329, poor fIBI, Station 10033574
1/1/2018
Proposed
Projects
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Eau Pleine Flowage Priority Restoration Followup Monitoring
Date
Status
Monitoring - the Department started a multi-year water quality study in 2009 to develop a TMDL for the river and flowage. Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is a 6348 acre lake located in Marathon County.
1/1/2013
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Big Eau Pleine TMDL
Date
Status
The Big Eau Pleine Flowage is listed on the Federal 303 (d) list for violations of the state dissolved oxygen and pH water quality standards. The Big Eau Pleine River is also on the list for dissolved oxygen levels below the water quality standard. Both listings are a result of excessive nutrient loading, primarily phosphorus, to the river and flowage.
1/1/2013
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
TMDL Development
Mead Lake TMDL
Date
Status
TMDL Development for Mead Lake in Clark County, WI. Mead Lake is highly eutrophic and exhibits excessive concentrations of phosphorus and chlorophyll (a measure of algal densities) in its surface waters during the summer months (USACE 2005). Sediment and phosphorus enters the lake via the South Fork Eau Claire River, from nonpoint sources of pollution.
7/1/2007
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Urban Growth Planning
Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County
Date
Status
SSA Planning and Updates for Wisconsin Rapids
4/1/2011
In Progress
Projects
 
Water Quality Modeling
City-Wide Water Quality Model Update and BMP Feasibility
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: water quality model, BMP feasibility analysis.
1/1/2015
In Progress
Projects
 
Upper Yellow (Wood Co.) River WatershedWatershed History Note

The City of Pittsville is located along the Yellow River in Wood County. The city is named after the Pitts family who arrived from Pennsylvania sometime in the mid 1800s to settle in the area. Lumberman cleared the land and the farmers followed. In 1952, Governor Kohler declared Pittsville to be the geographical center of Wisconsin.

Date  2010