Watershed - Green River and Crooked Creek (LW07)
Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed

Details

The Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed is approximately 122 square miles and is located in Grant County. Streams in this watershed are tributary to the Wisconsin River. The watershed is in the unglaciated, or driftless, region of the state and lies on the north slope of Military Ridge. Most streams are spring fed and have a high gradient and as a result, streams exhibit generally good water quality and have a high recreational use potential. The dominant land cover in the watershed is broad-leaf deciduous forest. Agriculture is a major land use in the watershed and counts for approximately 37% of total land cover in the watershed. There are some larger grassland areas as well. The only municipal discharger to surface water in the watershed is the city of Boscobel. There are also two industrial dischargers in the watershed. Portions of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway are in this watershed.

Date  2001

Population, Land Use

Overall population in the watershed is low and growth is not rapid. In fact, the village of Woodman experienced a 20% decrease in overall population over the last decade, while Boscobel experienced a 12.6% increase between 1990 and 2000.

Date  2001

Nonpoint and Point Sources

The City of Boscobel wastewater treatment plant discharges treated wastewater to the Wisconsin River. One industrial discharge from Milk Specialties discharges treated wastewater to Crooked Creek. The primary water resource problem in the watershed results from nonpoint sources of pollution such as barnyard runoff, overgrazing along streams, and streambank and cropland erosion. As a result of these sources of pollution, this watershed is ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source reduction projects. In addition, the portion of the watershed in the Lower Wisconsin River Valley is considered an atrazine prohibition area. These areas indicate that elevated levels of atrazine, an herbicide used on corn, has been found in some tested private water wells. Soils are permeable and have allowed atrazine to reach groundwater in some locations.

Date  2001

Ecological Landscapes for Green River and Crooked Creek 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 Green River and Crooked Creek 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. The communities found in the watershed include: dry prairie, dry-mesic prairie, pine relict, sand barrens, southern mesic forest, emergent aquatic, floodplain forest, and southern sedge meadow. In addition to these special communities, the watershed is also home for a variety of rare plant and animal species including; 5 species of birds, 7 species of dragonflies, 11 species of fish, 4 species of mayflies, 12 species of mussels, 24 species of plant species, and 1 species of snake. These plants and animals are also listed on the state's Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI).

Date  2001

Recreational Opportunities

The Woodman and Boscobel Units of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, (LWSR), are in this watershed. These units combined have 5,224 acres of public land, and 1,926, and 1,342, acres respectively. The Woodman unit has a boat launch and fishing with disabled access while the Boscobel Unit offers fishing and dog training. Other wildlife areas in the watershed include the Mount Hope Pond Conservation Area and the Semrad Slough. Trout fishing is available at the 200-acre conservation area and fishing and birdwatching are the primary recreational opportunities on the 278-acre slough.

Date  2001

Watershed Documents
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Kickapoo River
Status
Complete

Crawford County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Crawford 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: 1. 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
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Crawford County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Crawford 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: 1. 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
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Castle Rock Ditch
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Cruson Slough
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Lake Du Bay
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Little Pine Creek
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Wisconsin River
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2023
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Friends Of The Lower Wi Riverway (Flow): Swe - Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium: Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) is sponsoring a project to hold a Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium in 2023.

Project final deliverables include:

Press releases and articles about the event will be copied for inclusion in the final report. The meeting agenda and program will be included, along with a list of land/watershed conservation organizations. A final symposium report will include information on symposium attendance, attendee survey rating responses and comments on the success or limitations of the symposium. The report will also include a compilation of presentations summaries/abstracts. Photographs of the event will be delivered with the final report and include file names and attribution information.

Specific project activities include:

FLOW will plan a one day educational symposium in fall of 2023, to include technical - scientific presentations and citizen - organization watershed restoration and aquatic monitoring presentations. To give greater understanding of the connection between land and water quality, land/waterway restoration strategies for wetland and water quality improvement, and inform people about the unique biological, physical and cultural features of the LWR Basin. A web page will promote the event and invitations will be sent to NGO's, NRCS and LWCD in the basin.

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


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2023
Waters Involved
Wisconsin River
Status
Complete

Friends Of The Lower Wi Riverway (Flow): Swe - Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium: Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) is sponsoring a project to hold a Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium in 2023.

Project final deliverables include:

Press releases and articles about the event will be copied for inclusion in the final report. The meeting agenda and program will be included, along with a list of land/watershed conservation organizations. A final symposium report will include information on symposium attendance, attendee survey rating responses and comments on the success or limitations of the symposium. The report will also include a compilation of presentations summaries/abstracts. Photographs of the event will be delivered with the final report and include file names and attribution information.

Specific project activities include:

FLOW will plan a one day educational symposium in fall of 2023, to include technical - scientific presentations and citizen - organization watershed restoration and aquatic monitoring presentations. To give greater understanding of the connection between land and water quality, land/waterway restoration strategies for wetland and water quality improvement, and inform people about the unique biological, physical and cultural features of the LWR Basin. A web page will promote the event and invitations will be sent to NGO's, NRCS and LWCD in the basin.

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


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.

Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
1179900 name Wisconsin River TMDL ID 530 Start Mile 268 End Mile 289.17
11/21/2011
Proposed
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Crooked Creek Temp
Date
Status
Landowner found logger on bank after flood event, and he reinstalled it in the stream in late august, so I think we should delete the temperature data in SWIMS for 2015. AU: 13224; Station ID: 10030032
5/1/2018
Proposed
Projects
 
TMDL (USEPA) Approved
Snowden (Big Patch) Branch TMDL
Date
Status
The sediment TMDL was approved September 12, 2006.
5/1/2010
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
TMDL Implementation
Castle Rock & Gunderson Creek TMDL
Date
Status
The Castle Rock and Gunderson Creek TMDL was created to address phosphorus, sediment, and for at least one creek biological oxygen demand. The TMDL was approved and is in implementation through projects funded by the Clean Water Act Section 319 Program.
6/28/2004
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Green River and Crooked Creek WatershedWatershed History Note

The City of Boscobel, located in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, is located in the Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed. Boscobel is home to two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of them, the Boscobel Hotel, was built in 1863. The original building was built by Adam Bobel, who was born in Prussia, and emigrated to the United States in 1853 and moved to Boscobel in 1861. After serving in the Civil War, he returned to Boscobel, with a partner, and constructed the two-story limestone building, which is now the south portion of the existing hotel. In 1881, there was a fire which gutted the inside, but left the walls standing. The hotel was rebuilt and became known as the Central House. In 1898, when the hotel was fully occupied due to a lumbermen’s convention, two travelling salesmen, John Nicholson and Samuel E. Hill, ended up sharing a room. During their stay, the men discussed the need for an organization for commercial travelers that would provide "mutual help and recognition for Christian travelers". The following year, William Knights joined the men which resulted in the formation of the Christian Commercial Travelers' Association of America. Its members were called Gideons; the name comes from the Old Testament Book of Judges, and refers to a man who was willing to do whatever God asked of him. Eventually, Gideon Bibles were placed in hotel rooms all over the country. The Gideons identify the Boscobel Hotel as the location of its founding. Today, the hotel is still in use as a restaurant and Room 19, where the idea of the Gideons was conceived, is preserved and marked with a special plaque.

Date  2010