Watershed - Upper Pine River (LW13)
Upper Pine River Watershed

Details

The 188.5 square mile Upper Pine River watershed lies mostly in north central Richland County with a small portion in Vernon County. Streams in the watershed have a high gradient and water quality is generally good. Nearly all of the streams in the watershed are cold water streams and can support trout and other cold water species. Like other watersheds in the Lower Wisconsin Basin, agriculture is the dominant land use in the watershed. Currently, the overall trend in Richland County is from intensive agriculture to hobby farming. The exception to this transition in land use is near the upper end of the Pine River. There are few wetland complexes in the watershed. Many of them are wet meadows adjacent streams that have been degraded by grazing or cultivation. One exception to this is a northern bog wetland complex near Hub City. This type of wetland is very rare in this part of the state. Despite the generally good water quality in the watershed and the transition from intensive agriculture to less intensive hobby farming, there are still some water quality, habitat and recreational use problems in the streams as a result of nonpoint sources of pollution. As a result of this nonpoint source pollution, some of the cold water and trout streams are in poor condition.

Date  2001

Population, Land Use

The watershed is estimated to have a population of around 4,975 people. The Village of Yuba is the largest municipality in the watershed and experienced 19.5% growth in the last decade from 77 people to 92.

Date  2001

Nonpoint and Point Sources

There are two permitted point source discharges in the watershed. The Hub City/Rockbridge Sewerage District discharges to the Pine River. In addition, Foremost Farms also has a permit to discharge to the Pine River and to groundwater.

Date  2001

Ecological Landscapes for Upper Pine River Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological Landscape in southwestern and west central Wisconsin is characterized by its highly eroded, driftless topography and relatively extensive forested landscape. Soils are silt loams (loess) and sandy loams over sandstone residuum over dolomite. Several large rivers including the Wisconsin, Mississippi, Chippewa, Kickapoo and Black flow through or border the Ecological Landscape. Historical vegetation consisted of southern hardwood forests, oak savanna, scattered prairies, and floodplain forests and marshes along the major rivers. With Euro-American settlement, most of the land on ridgetops and valley bottoms was cleared of oak savanna, prairie, and level forest for agriculture. The steep slopes between valley bottom and ridgetop, unsuitable for raising crops, grew into oak-dominated forests after the ubiquitous presettlement wildfires were suppressed. Current vegetation is a mix of forest (40%), agriculture, and grassland with some wetlands in the river valleys. The primary forest cover is oak-hickory (51%) dominated by oak species and shagbark hickory. Maple-basswood forests (28%), dominated by sugar maple, basswood and red maple, are common in areas that were not subjected to repeated presettlement wildfires. Bottomland hardwoods (10%) are common in the valley bottoms of major rivers and are dominated by silver maple, ashes, elms, cottonwood, and red maple. Relict conifer forests including white pine, hemlock and yellow birch are a rarer natural community in the cooler, steep, north slope microclimates. The Upper Pine River Watershed has a variety of good quality habitats and rare plant communities that are listed on the state's Natural Heritage Inventory, (NHI), which is kept by the Bureau of Endangered Resources. These communities include: dry cliff, hemlock relict, moist cliff, pine relict, southern dry-mesic forest, southern mesic forest, alder thicket, northern wet forest, shrubb-carr, and southern sedge meadow.

Date  2001

Wildlife and Habitat

In addition to these special communities, the watershed is also home for a variety of rare plant and animal species including; 2 species of fish, 12 plant species, 1 species of snake, and 1 mammal species. These plants and animals are also listed on the state's Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI).

Date  2001

Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Coe Hollow Creek
Status
Complete

Vernon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Vernon 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
2/1/1999
Waters Involved
Field Veterans Memorial Lake
Status
Complete

Vernon County: Lmi-Hillsboro Lake Improvement: The Vernon County Land Conservation Department proposes to reduce sedimentation to Hillsboro Lake by 1404 tons over a five year period through implementation of Best Management Practices approved, but unlikely to be funded at any time soon, by the state's Nonpoint Source Program. High Residue Management, Conservation Cropping Plans, Grassed Waterway, Critical Area Stabalization, Grade Stabalization Structures, Streambank Riprapping, Streambank Fencing, Stream Crossings and Streambank Shaping and Seeding.


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

Vernon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Vernon 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
Targeted Runoff - Rural Construction
Date
1/1/2007
Waters Involved
Melancthon Creek
Status
Complete

Richland County: Melancthon Creek: To cost-share installation of erosion control best management practices (BMPs) to reduce sediment delivery and sedimentation along Melancthon Creek, including measures to prevent unlimited livestock access to waters of the state.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2022
Waters Involved
Fancy Creek
Status
Complete

Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Com: Fancy Creek Floodplain Reconnection:

SWRPC is sponsoring a plan to restore a 1-mile stretch of Fancy Creek. This will include site assessment & hydrologic modeling to develop options to restore flow to the Fancy Creek channel & reconnect the floodplain.

Deliverables-per application:
Comparison of profile & elevations in the ditch & meander channel to be used in hydraulic modeling, geomorphic assessments, & conceptual design.
Data collected: longitudinal profiles, channel cross-sectional areas, & in-stream & floodplain sediment descriptions.
.csv file with all project survey data delivered.
Table with estimates for baseflow conditions & flood discharges (1.5yr, 10-yr, 100-yr, etc.) will be used in hydraulic modeling & conceptual design. An excel file with this data will be submitted.
conceptual model will assess project impact on 100-yr flood elevations & extent & determine project design (e.g. flood velocities & shear stress). The HEC-RAS model files & output
summaries delivered.
Site soils data will be used to determine stability of potential grade control structures & the erosion potential. Understanding of groundwater-surface water interactions will be used to design long-term monitoring. Investigation summaries delivered.
A plan for implementation will be created & summary delivered.
Project will deliver a conceptual plan of sufficient detail to describe the project to partners, permitting agencies, potential funding sources, & streams biologist. Estimate of project implementation costs and GIS figures included in conceptual plan.

Activities:
Topographic & Geomorphic Survey
Hydrology Assessment
Hydraulics Assessment
Hydrogeological Investigation
Coordination Meetings
Conceptual Design

This scope summarizes the project detail provided in the application & does not negate tasks/deliverables described therein. Data, records, & reports, including GIS-based maps, & digital images, must be submitted to the Department in a format specified by the regional Streams Biologist.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2001
Waters Involved
Pine River
Status
Complete

Richland County: Pine River Organizational Development & Education: Richland County Land Conservation Department will organize the Pine River Study and Information Network (PRISTINE) and develop PRISTINE's ability to collect information and educate the public about the unique character of the Upper Pine River Watershed.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2022
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Com: Fancy Creek Floodplain Reconnection:

SWRPC is sponsoring a plan to restore a 1-mile stretch of Fancy Creek. This will include site assessment & hydrologic modeling to develop options to restore flow to the Fancy Creek channel & reconnect the floodplain.

Deliverables-per application:
Comparison of profile & elevations in the ditch & meander channel to be used in hydraulic modeling, geomorphic assessments, & conceptual design.
Data collected: longitudinal profiles, channel cross-sectional areas, & in-stream & floodplain sediment descriptions.
.csv file with all project survey data delivered.
Table with estimates for baseflow conditions & flood discharges (1.5yr, 10-yr, 100-yr, etc.) will be used in hydraulic modeling & conceptual design. An excel file with this data will be submitted.
conceptual model will assess project impact on 100-yr flood elevations & extent & determine project design (e.g. flood velocities & shear stress). The HEC-RAS model files & output
summaries delivered.
Site soils data will be used to determine stability of potential grade control structures & the erosion potential. Understanding of groundwater-surface water interactions will be used to design long-term monitoring. Investigation summaries delivered.
A plan for implementation will be created & summary delivered.
Project will deliver a conceptual plan of sufficient detail to describe the project to partners, permitting agencies, potential funding sources, & streams biologist. Estimate of project implementation costs and GIS figures included in conceptual plan.

Activities:
Topographic & Geomorphic Survey
Hydrology Assessment
Hydraulics Assessment
Hydrogeological Investigation
Coordination Meetings
Conceptual Design

This scope summarizes the project detail provided in the application & does not negate tasks/deliverables described therein. Data, records, & reports, including GIS-based maps, & digital images, must be submitted to the Department in a format specified by the regional Streams Biologist.


Grant Details
River Protection Grant
Date
7/1/2004
Waters Involved
Bishop Br
Status
Complete

Vernon County Lwcd: Bishops Branch Restoration: Vernon County proposes to restore some 2600 linear feet of Bishops Branch, a tributary to the West Fork of the Kickapoo River, in the Town of Liberty.

Major project elements to include 1) placement of lunker structures, boulders, and rock weirs in the stream, 2) deepening of pools, 3) placement of riprap, and 4) revegitation of the streambank.


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.

Upper Pine River Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Vernon County Nonpoint Source BMPs
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.
6/4/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Vernon County NOD
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.
6/4/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Upper Pine River WatershedWatershed History Note

The City of Richland Center is located within the Willow Creek Watershed and the Upper Pine River Watershed. The city was originally platted in 1851. By 1854, Ira Haseltine, one of the city's founders, had erected a dam which provided water power to both a sawmill and a grist mill. The city primarily served an agricultural community until the railroad came to town in 1876, at which point the lumber milling industry took off, followed by the commercial cheese and dairy business. The historical development of Richland Center as an agricultural support community and retail trade center is reflected in its fine architectural heritage. Buildings dating from as early as the mid-1850's and 1860's still remain in the city. The greatest wealth and diversity shown in the city's architecture dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when Richland Center experienced rapid growth and prosperity. Richland Center was the birth place of Frank Lloyd Wright in 1867. The city organized one of the first local suffrage organizations in 1882, built a modern city hall in 1911 and on January 1. 1952, cable TV was installed in Richland Center where a group of citizens gathered to watch the Wisconsin Badgers play in the Rose Bowl. This was the second cable TV to be installed in the State of Wisconsin.

Date  2011