Details

Major portions of this watershed were logged in the late-1800's. Dense stands of large pines survived on islands in the extensive wetland areas of this watershed until the lumbermen found ways to access and transport the large logs using both a permanent and temporary rail system (Eswein). Forest and wetland dominate the Morrison Creek watershed landscape. The majority of the Black River State Forest lies within this watershed as does portions of the Winnebago Indian Reservation. Cranberries are the major crop in the Morrison Creek watershed. Because of this, many streams have been impounded to divert water for their operations. Since most of the streams in this watershed historically contained forage fisheries, thermal changes in streams resulting from the discharge of impounded water are not considered a major problem. Only Valentine Creek and a portion of Levis Creek are classified trout streams.

Date  1999

Population, Land Use

The Wazee Area Wastewater Commission came into existence due to the need to serve the Ho-Chunk community and a new prison with sanitary sewer. This new wastewater treatment plant began discharging to the Black River in 1995 and is the only point source discharge in the watershed. Within the Black River Falls State Forest, the Black River Correctional Center discharges to a septic system. The increase in population at the facility has approximately doubled the amount of wastewater to the treatment system than it was designed to handle. The increased flows do not allow the septic system to properly treat the waste. The Black River Correctional Center should work with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Commerce to determine whether an upgrade or a new wastewater treatment facility is necessary (Pietz).

Date  1999

Ecological Landscapes

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.

Date  2010

Wildlife and Habitat

Numerous aquatic dependent species of concern have been documented in this watershed. Other species may be present but not yet documented.

Date  1999

Lakes and Impoundments

Impaired Waters

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.

A large portion of the Black River State Forest is located within the Morrison Creek watershed. The area of the Black River State Forest was logged heavily in 1850. Fires repeatedly burned the area until the early 1900's. The Homestead Act made this land available to people seeking farmland. Their dreams of fertile land were not realized and many farmers sold their property to the U.S. Resettlement Administration in the 1930's. The U.S. Forest Service in 1940 made an agreement with the Wisconsin Conservation Department to manage the area for forestry and wildlife purposes. CCC crews were instrumental in providing labor for resource projects. They planted trees and constructed earthen dams to establish flowages for waterfowl. In 1957, the land was granted to the State of Wisconsin and established as a state forest. The Ho-Chunk Sovereign Nation also owns land within this watershed. The tribe officially changed its name from the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe to the Ho-Chunk Sovereign Nation (meaning People of the Big Voice) in 1994. In 2001 there were 6,159 tribe members. The tribe does not have a formal reservation, but they own 4,602 acres across Wisconsin and Minnesota. The administrative center is in Black River Falls in Jackson County.

Date  2010