Whitewater Stream Conditions

CURRENT CONDITIONS  

May 6, 2013 (Monday)  10:00 am

General Watershed Conditions

(Observations taken at bridge crossings.)

Main Branch Whitewater

> Cty Rd 30 just E of Hwy 74:  Water Clarity - MUDDY, Flow - MODERATE

North Branch Whitewater

> Hwy 74, 0.5 mi S of Elba just above the Middle Branch:  Water Clarity - MUDDY, Flow - MODERATE

> Fairwater bridge, 0.6 mi W of Hwy 74:  Water Clarity - MUDDY, Flow - MODERATE

Middle Branch Whitewater

> Immediatley W of Hwy 74 on Cty Rd 39/2:  Water Clarity - CLOUDY, Flow - MODERATE

> Cty Rd 26 first bridge E of Hwy 74:  Water Clarity - CLOUDY, Flow - MODERATE

South Branch Whitewater

> Cty Rd 26 second bridge E of Hwy 74:  Water Clarity - MUDDY, Flow - MODERATE

> Cty Rd 37 first bridge S of Hwy 74:  Water Clarity - MUDDY, Flow - MODERATE

Watershed condition: Wet

(Click on this link for stream conditions in the Root River System:  Lanesboro Area Fisheries Stream Conditions)

DESCRIPTION OF INFORMATION

This site is an attempt to provide up to date info on stream conditions in the Whitewater Area. Because conditions change so quickly we will describe the stream conditions at the time of the update but make no guarantees about "how fishable" the streams will be when you arrive in the area. Some like to fish when the water is clear and some like it muddy.   Also remember that one branch of the Whitewater can be fast and flooding while another branch is clear and flowing normally.

Stream conditions will be described in 2 parts:  water clarity and flow.  Water clarity will be described as muddy, cloudy, or clear.  And flow will be judged in relation to what would be the normal base flow at the present time of the year.

Watershed condition, which directly influences the streams, may be described as; wet, dry or normal.  One of the many factors that impact watershed condition is the recent precipitation and also weather trends.
 

One final point to keep in mind.  Whitewater watershed is primarily used for agricultural cropping purposes so vegetative cover can be quite variable. Vegetative cover also has a lot to do with how streams react to rainfall. With more row crops being planted in the area it will take less rainfall to muddy the water. This is especially true in spring from after soil preparation until the crops are well established. Unfortunately, that is also when much of our rainfall occurs. While the streams can muddy quite rapidly in winter and early spring when temps rise, they usually clear up just as quickly when temps drop back down below freezing.