Buffalo County, Wisconsin
BT02
1776000
0.00 - 8.49
8.49
Water is impaired due to one or more pollutants and associated quality impacts.
Notes
Swinns Valley Creek was put on the Impaired Waters List during the 1998 cycle for sediment and degraded habitat. Evaluations were done every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2024; in the 2020 cycle phosphorus was found to be too high, and this was confirmed in the 2022 and 2024 cycles.Pollutant
Total Phosphorus
Listed For
Fish and Aquatic Life
Impairments
High Phosphorus Levels
Current Use
Unsupported Aquatic Life
Listing Status
303d Listed
Attainable Use
WWFF - Warmwater Forage Fishery
Priority
Low
Designated Use
WWFF - Warmwater Forage Fishery
303(d) ID
2020-021
Listing Date
4/1/2020
Impaired Water Notes
This water was assessed during the 2020 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2020 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category).
Date
7/16/2019
Impaired Water Notes
This water was assessed during the 2022 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2022 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use.
Date
5/25/2021
Pollutant
Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
Listed For
Fish and Aquatic Life
Impairments
Degraded Habitat
Current Use
Unsupported Aquatic Life
Listing Status
TMDL Approved
Attainable Use
WWFF - Warmwater Forage Fishery
Priority
Not Applicable
Designated Use
WWFF - Warmwater Forage Fishery
303(d) ID
479
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
The only significant stream in the subwatershed is Swinns Valley Creek. Swinns Valley Creek is a 7.5-mile tributary of the Trempealeau River. The segment from the mouth (mile 0) to mile 5.2 is listed on the 303(d) list as impacted by sedimentation and loss of instream habitat. The Swinns Valley subwatershed is 15.8 sq. miles and drains south to the Trempealeau River west of Arcadia. The primary source of the impairment is cropland erosion. The stream is classified as a Warm Water Forage Fishery; however, the 1990 survey (1) found 11 brown trout ranging from 3-16.4 inches in length. Three different age classes of trout were found, including evidence of natural reproduction in the headwater area. Seven minnow and other forage species were also found. The stream HBI was 2.72, indicating no apparent organic pollution, and the Habitat Rating was "fair". The potential use of Swinns Valley Creek is a coldwater Class II trout fishery.
Date
12/26/2002
Impaired Water Notes
Middle Trempealeau River sediment TMDLs approved by the USEPA March 13, 2003.
Date
3/13/2003