Becky Creek TMDL
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Purpose

Becky Creek is a cold water stream that flows out of the Blue Hills in the northwest portion of the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Watershed. Becky Creek is 8.0 miles in length with a drainage area of 10.74 sq.miles. Its designated use is a coldwater fishery for its entire length. The mouth of Becky Creek is located in northeast Atlanta Township with its headwaters located in southern Murry Township. The creek flows directly into the Chippewa River. Becky Creek’s watershed does not include any Indian County . Becky Creek is located within one of 11 subwatersheds that make up the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed. In the management plan for the priority watershed project, stream bank pasturing, county and township road maintenance and construction, riparian habitat degradation, upland sediment delivery, manure and nutrient runoff are identified in the watershed plan as sources of pollutants impacting Becky Creek.

Objective

Sediment may effect the fish community in a variety of ways that are deemed objectionable. In the downstream segment, mile 0 to mile 1.0, the sedimentation has reduced the depth of the water. This often causes the stream to widen, causing more sediment to enter the stream. The wide and shallow stream cross section allows more sunlight to enter the stream, elevating the temperature to where it may have a detrimental effect on the coldwater trout fishery. The substrate also does not provide suitable conditions for spawning and deeper, cooler holes are filled and lost. In addition, the eroding banks eliminate shading, food sources and cover. The loss of overhanging grasses eliminates the stream’s natural capacity to trap sediment along its edges and naturally narrow and deepen the water. In the impaired segment near mile 4.6, the trampled banks cause similar effects on the fish community, including making the stream wider, shallower and warmer. Presently, one mile of Becky Creek is classified as a Class I cold water stream with the remainder being class III. Although class I, class II and class III trout fisheries all fall within the coldwater designated use, in the early 1980’s the entire length of Becky Creek was considered a class I trout fishery.

Outcome

Specific to this TMDL, Becky Creek is part of a larger watershed project, the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed Project. As part of a financing plan for priority watershed projects, long-term state cost-sharing and local staff funding was committed to the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed Project. The Becky Creek priority watershed plan also contains critical site enforcement requirements. As described in the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed Plan, three trampled stream bank sites on Becky Creek were designated as critical sites. The owners of these lands are required to install best management practices to control these trampled sites. A copy of the watershed plan is attached to the TMDL.

Related Reports

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TMDL/303d Projects
Implement TMDL
Becky Creek TMDL
2005
Active
 
Reports and Documents
Becky Creek Photo
Becky Creek Photo
Becky Creek (Rusk Co. 2369600) Impaired Waters Documentation 2010 Assessment
IW DOCUMENTATION - 2009-2010.
USEPA Decision Document for the Approval of the BeckyCreek TMDL 2369600
'After a full and complete review, EPA finds that the TMDL for Becky Creek satisfies all of the elements of an approvable TMDL. This document addresses 1 TMDL for 1 waterboy for 1 pollutant addressing 2 impairments from the 2004 Wisconsin 303d list.'
Becky Creek 2369600 Sediment TMDL
Final TMDL Report. Sediment TMDL for Becky Creek. Initial Draft October 11, 2004. Revised Draft March 29, 2005. Final July 1, 2005.
 
Activities & Recommendations
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Becky Creek assessment in 2009 included the following components: - Continuous temperature monitoring at a site upstream of the impaired segment and a site within the impaired segment. - Fish community surveys of a 300 meter section within the impaired segment, and a 300 meter section upstream of the impaired segment. - Macroinvertebrate samples at a site upstream of the impaired segment and a site within the impaired segment. - Stream width and depth measurements of the upper 634 meters of the impaired segment, and an 823 meter segment upstream of the impaired segment. - A count of woody stems near the streambank in the upper 634 meters of the impaired segment (the formerly pastured area). - Photos of the stream channel in the impaired segment at 6 locations in 2009 and 2010. - Streamflow measurements at multiple sites on one date to assess the distribution of groundwater inputs. Other existing data for Becky Creek was also reviewed and incorporated into this report.
TMDL (USEPA) Approved
Becky Creek is a cold water stream that flows out of the Blue Hills in the northwest portion of the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Watershed. TMDL for sediment and temperature was approved in 9/05.
TMDL Development
TMDL Development for Becky Creek for sediment and temperature impairments. Becky Creek is a cold water stream that flows out of the Blue Hills in the northwest portion of the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Watershed. Becky Creek is 8.0 miles in length with a drainage area of 10.74 sq.miles. Its designated use is a coldwater fishery for its entire length.
TMDL Implementation
In the management plan for the priority watershed project, stream bank pasturing, county and township road maintenance and construction, riparian habitat degradation, upland sediment delivery, manure and nutrient runoff are identified in the watershed plan as sources of pollutants impacting Becky Creek. This information will be used for implementation of the TMDL. Implementation Plan is needed.
TMDL Implementation
Becky Creek is a cold water stream that flows out of the Blue Hills in the northwest portion of the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Watershed. Becky Creek is 8.0 miles in length with a drainage area of 10.74 sq.miles. Its designated use is a coldwater fishery for its entire length. The mouth of Becky Creek is located in northeast Atlanta Township with its headwaters located in southern Murry Township. The creek flows directly into the Chippewa River. Becky Creek's watershed does not include any Indian County . Becky Creek is located within one of 11 subwatersheds that make up the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed. In the management plan for the priority watershed project, stream bank pasturing, county and township road maintenance and construction, riparian habitat degradation, upland sediment delivery, manure and nutrient runoff are identified in the watershed plan as sources of pollutants impacting Becky Creek.
 
Watershed
Soft Maple and Hay Creeks
 
Waters
Becky Creek
Monitoring Data