Kuenster Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04)
Kuenster Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04)
Kuenster Creek (957900)
1 Miles
0 - 1
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2002
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Biological Community
Unknown Pollutant
 
Grant
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Kuenster Creek is a spring fed tributary to Rattlesnake Creek. Almost 100% of its drainage area is used for agricultural purposes. In addition, stream bank erosion is also a major problem. The stream is wide and shallow which leads to warmer water temperatures during the summer (Smith and Ball, 1971). Similar to most streams in this watershed, Kuenster Creek experiences dissolved oxygen levels below water quality standards during or immediately after runoff and storm events.

The fishery of the stream is dominated by pollution tolerant forage fish species. An occasional smallmouth bass is found in its lower reaches (Wang et.al., 1996). Fish distribution and population surveys were done during the 1990's to develop fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores and stream water quality ratings. The IBI ratings, indicators of environmental degradation, for Kuenster Creek ranged from fair to very poor. Habitat quality was also rated for Kuenster and ranged from excellent to fair over the six-year period of study (Wang et.al., 1996). A recent macroinvertebrate study found that the stream to have fair water quality and nearly 20% of the macroinvertebrates sampled were mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies. Despite this, over 60% of the macroinvertebrates sampled were midges, which often indicate ecological disturbances including those that can be attributed to non-point sources of pollution such as soil erosion (Gamman, 1983; Marshall, 1999). In addition, a study done by USGS on Kuenster Creek showed the stream carries a median unit-area load (tons per square mile) of sediment of 332 tons per square mile with a maximum load of 1,010 tons of sediment per square mile. The same study showed the stream receiving a median unit-area load of 957 pounds of phosphorus per square mile with a maximum loading of 3,960 pounds per square mile (Corsi, et.al, 1997). Based on these results, it can be assumed that water quality and fisheries in Kuenster Creek are affected by non-point sources of pollution that reach the stream

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area = 11.2 acres, Length = 8.4 miles, Gradient = 21 ft./mile, Flow = 1.5 c.f.s.

A spring-fed stream beginning two miles east of Glen Haven to flow in a southerly direction for two miles and then turning directly east to enter the central portion of Rattlesnake Creek. About 95 percent of the land in the watershed is used for agricultural practices. Bank erosion is quite common. Most of the stream is wide, flat, and open with gravel and rubble being the dominant bottom materials. Water temperature remains high during the summer. The forage species that comprise the fishery include white suckers, common shiners, and creek chubs. Crayfish are abundant. A limited smallmouth bass fishery may exist in the lower reaches.

A total of 88 acres of fresh meadow wetland adjoins the upper reaches. Game assets include muskrats, raccoon, squirrels, and white-tailed deer. Six bridge crossings provide access and ten rural dwellings adjoin the stream.

Date  1972

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Kuenster Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) Fish and Aquatic LifeKuenster Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) RecreationKuenster Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Kuenster Creek (957900) from mile 1 to its headwaters was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; the regional biologist recommended listing for degraded biological community based on current and historical Poor mIBI scores. This water is considered impaired and not meeting its Fish and Aquatic Life use.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

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

Watershed Characteristics

Kuenster Creek is located in the Lower Grant River watershed which is 129.75 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (56%), grassland (25.40%) and a mix of forest (16.50%) and other uses (1.90%). This watershed has 310.53 stream miles, 33.46 lake acres and 298.95 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Kuenster Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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