Search USGS⌕ Search

Geology topics

Research about Wisconsin River

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Wisconsin River.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2019

Isolation by a hydroelectric dam induces minimal impacts on genetic diversity and population structure in six fish species

Reduced connectivity created by artificial barriers can influence the genetic integrity of isolated subpopulations by reducing local population sizes and altering patterns of gene flow. We investigated the genetic impacts of one such barrier, the Prairie du Sac dam, Wisconsin, USA, using microsatellite data from six fish species with varying life history traits sampled above and below the dam. Contrary to many past studies in other systems, we did not detect any significant differences in genetic diversity between populations found above and below the Prairie du Sac dam. Our results also revealed low genetic differentiation ( F ST = 0–0.008) between populations above and below the dam for all species. In fact, we found that more genetic variation was partitioned among sampling years than between above and below dam populations for all but one of the species. Results from coalescent simulations designed to model our study system indicated that the genetic impacts of the dam will likely be detectable approximately 40–60 generations after the dam was constructed, and that it is possible to largely mitigate these impacts with a fish passage strategy that facilitates a migration rate of ≥ 1% between above and below dam populations. In summary, our findings suggest the genetic impacts of dams can be relatively minimal on short time scales, and that fish passage strategies can significantly reduce genetic impacts if designed appropriately.

Wisconsin↗
USGS2002

Dioxins and congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls in three avian species from the Wisconsin River, Wisconsin

Sediments from the Wisconsin River, WI, USA are contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro- p -dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Wet weight concentrations of TCDD and PCBs in eggs were at background levels and highest in the piscivorous hooded merganser ( Lophodytes cucullatus ; geometric mean=7 pg/g TCDD and 0.92 μg/g PCBs) and lowest in the omnivorous wood duck ( Aix sponsa ) (<1 pg/g and 0.07 μg/g); concentrations in eggs of the insectivorous tree swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor ) were intermediate (<1 pg/g and 0.33 μg/g). Positive accumulation rates of TCDD (8–19 pg/day) and PCBs (0.4–0.7 μg/day) in tree swallow nestlings suggest that the Wisconsin River is the source of these contaminants for tree swallow nestlings. The lower representation of trichlorobiphenyls and tetrachorobiphenyls in hooded merganser eggs compared to wood duck or tree swallow eggs suggests that the hooded merganser or its diet has a greater ability to metabolize lower-numbered PCB congeners than wood ducks or tree swallows.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1992

Accumulation of mercury by aufwuchs in Wisconsin seepage lakes: Implications for monitoring

We examined temporal variation in the total Hg content of aufwuchs collected from artificial substrates in 11 seepage lakes in north-central Wisconsin and its relation to the Hg content of resident yellow perch Perca flavescens from the lakes. Dry weight concentrations of Hg in aufwuchs varied temporally, as follows: summer/fall 1985 > summer 1985 > spring/summer 1986. Areal concentrations of Hg during the 1985 sampling periods were greater than concentrations during the spring/summer 1986 period, but did not differ from each other. Although chlorophyll a accrual was correlated with the areal concentration of Hg in aufwuchs during each period of study, partial correlation coefficients between Hg in aufwuchs and the chlorophyll a, organic (ash-free dry weight), and inorganic (non ash-free dry weight) content of aufwuchs during spring 1986 were not significant. Thus, we were unable to quantify the partitioning of Hg among the organic (photosynthetic, heterotrophic, and detrital) and inorganic components of the aufwuchs . Concentrations of Hg in aufwuchs were not correlated with lake pH during any of the three periods, even though the Hg content of fish in these and other lakes in the region are strongly correlated with pH. Moreover, the only significant correlation between Hg in aufwuchs and Hg in age-2 yellow perch from the lakes were weak negative correlations for areal Hg concentrations in aufwuchs during summer 1985. The analyses of aufwuchs do not indicate potential accumulation of Hg in fish in these lakes.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1981

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the central Wisconsin River basin, Wisconsin

This report describes low-flow characteristics of streams in the central Wisconsin River basin where streamflow data have been collected and presents equations for estimating low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites. Included are estimates of low-flow frequency at 34 gaging stations, flow duration at 24 gaging stations, and low-flow frequency characteristics at 18 low-flow partial-record stations and 131 miscellaneous sites. Due to the large variability in low-flow characteristics, the central Wisconsin River basin was divided into four areas of similar geologic and topographic conditions. Separate equations are provided for each area to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites and at sites where one base-flow discharge measurement is available. The equations were determined from multiple-regression analyses that related the low-flow characteristics at gaging stations and at low-flow partial-record stations to basin characteristics. Drainage area (A), hydraulic conductivity (K), soil-infiltration capacity (l), forest cover (F), base-flow index (Bf), and drift thickness (H) were the most significant characteristics in explaining the variations in low flow at ungaged sites. The standard error of estimate (SE), provided for each equation, ranged from 10 to 140 percent. Equations with the lowest SB's were for the central sand plain area that contains relatively thick sand aquifers. The highest SB's were associated with equations for the area west of the Wisconsin River where thin glacial drift with fairly low permeability overlies crystalline rock. The low-flow characteristics determined for all types of sites in the central sand plain area have the lowest SE's compared to other basins in the State. This is due to the sand deposits which yield a high and uniform base flow.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1980

Streamflow model of Wisconsin River for estimating flood frequency and volume

A set of daily streamflow-routing models are used to simulate streamflow at 10 sites along the Wisconsin River for water years 1915-76, to determine the effects the reservoir system has on flood discharges. Streamflow is simulated under the following two conditions: (1) No reservoirs are in the system and (2) all of the present reservoirs are in place and operated with current rules. At Wisconsin Dells, 20 miles upstream from Portage, daily streamflow hydrographs are estimated for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year floods. These were determined from statistical analysis of the simulated daily streamflows for the condition of all reservoirs in place. The reservoirs have a significant impact on floods. The mean annual flood peak at Wisconsin Dells is lowered about 20% from 43,000 cubic feet per second for the simulated, unregulated condition to 34,000 cubic feet per second for the simulated, regulated condition. The 100-year flood peak at Wisconsin Dells is reduced about 10% (92,000 to 82,000 cubic feet per second) between the simulated, unregulated and simulated, regulated conditions. The 100-year flood peak at Wisconsin Dells, computed from the simulated, regulated streamflow data for the period 1915-76, is 82,000 cubic feet per second, including the effects of all the reservoirs in the river system, as they are currently operated. It also includes the effects of Lakes Du Bay, Petenwell, and Castle Rock which are significant for spring floods but are insignificant for summer or fall floods because they are normally maintained nearly full in the summer and fall and have very little storage for floodwaters. (USGS)

Wisconsin↗
USGS1978

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the lower Wisconsin River basin

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the lower Wisconsin River basin are presented. Included are estimates of low-flow frequency and flow duration at 11 gaging stations; low-flow frequency characteristics at 26 low-flow partial-record stations and 70 miscellaneous sites; and a list of low-flow discharge measurements at 155 miscellaneous sites where insufficient data were available to estimate low-flow characteristics. Relations are provided to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites and at sites where one base-flow discharge measurement is available. The relationships were determined from multiple regression analyses that related the low-flow characteristics at gaging stations and low-flow partial-record stations to basin characteristics. The standard error of estimate is provided for each method of estimating the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years and once in 10 years. Standard error provides the user with the expected degree of accuracy for each method. Low-flow characteristics estimated for the lower Wisconsin River basin have a high degree of reliability when compared with other basins in Wisconsin, Reliable estimates appear to be related to the relatively uniform geologic features in the basin.

Wisconsin↗