DNR Approval Letter, LO-0002 and Plan Update Document.

CHAPTER 4: WATERSHED NARRATIVES

A report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Bad Axe - La Crosse River Basin Land and Water Partners and other stakeholders.

Water Resources

Chapter 2 Land Resources BAL

PRIORITY ISSUES AND PARTNERSHIPS

First chapter of several BAL

Artesian Well Bad Axe LaCrosse Basin

Basin Planning

Beach closings due to unsafe bacterial levels in rivers and in some impoundments are of concern. Due to the topographic constraints of many farms in the basin, many barnyards and feedlots are immediately adjacent to streams. If not properly managed, these areas can contribute large amounts of bacteria laden manure to a stream.

Increased runoff volumes from expanding urban areas in the basin threaten not only the quality but also the future existence of adjacent trout streams. The change in stormwater runoff volume as well as when and how much of it reaches an adjacent stream can degrade the in-stream habitat and water temperatures necessary for trout survival.

A trend in the agricultural community of increased dairy herd size threatens both surface and groundwater quality in the basin if the manure generated at these large dairy operations is not properly managed. It is crucial to build manure storage facilities according to the proper design specifications in order to protect groundwater. Another crucial component of proper manure management is having enough land to spread these large volumes of manure. Since many fields in the coulee region are located adjacent to streams, coordinating the proper day and time to spread liquefied manure is extremely important. Frozen ground conditions, impending rainstorms, and the ability to immediately incorporate manure into the ground must all be seriously considered when determining when, how and where to spread.

Nutrient enrichment of the Mississippi River and impoundments in the basin, causing nuisance algae blooms, originates from the lands draining to them. Due to the topographic constraints of many farms in the basin, many barnyards, feedlots and cropped fields are immediately adjacent to streams. If not properly managed, these areas can contribute large amounts of nutrient laden manure and chemical fertilizer to a stream.

Streambank erosion is a common sight in the Bad Axe - La Crosse River Basin. Some eroding streambanks are raw vertical banks created by the past accumulation of sediment in the valley and the stream naturally cutting into the bank. Other eroding streambanks result from unrestricted access of large animals which trample sloped streambanks and consume the soil retaining plants. The addition of sediment to streams in the basin threatens to eliminate existing in-stream habitat for fish and aquatic insects.

Disturbance of steep slopes in the basin for building single family homes is becoming more common. The destabilization of already fragile hillsides can lead to movement of soils off site to nearby streams or wetlands. Landslides, which can contain extremely large rocks, have occurred on destabilized slopes during heavy rains.

Development encroaching into the extensive lower La Crosse River wetland complex threatens not only the flood control function, but also the diversity of plant and animal species residing within. Requests to fill one acre here and a half acre there of the La Crosse River marsh contributes to the cumulative reduction in total area.

The permitting, design and construction of stream crossings is often met with resistance since the crossing must be designed to pass large stream flows. New landowners to La Crosse County are mostly unaware of the building restriction on slopes steeper than 30% in the county. People living in the Bad Axe - La Crosse River Basin should have a good understanding of why these and other restrictions are necessary.

Increased development pressures in rural townships not adequately prepared for the accompanying decisions and long range implications of changing land use patterns has taxed some township staff and elected officials. Local officials must seriously consider what their township should look like in the future and what it will look like based on current land ownership and land use trends.

If new markets for cranberries are created, expansion of new cranberry operations into the La Crosse River Basin is expected. The need for impounded water in a cranberry operation will likely affect any coldwater streams in the basin by the release of warm water. A closed water system where no stream is impounded would have the least impact to the basin's trout streams.

If new markets for cranberries are created, expansion of new cranberry operations into the La Crosse River Basin is expected. The need for impounded water in a cranberry operation will likely affect any coldwater streams in the basin by the release of warm water. A closed water system where no stream is impounded would have the least impact to the basin's trout streams.

Invasion of the exotic purple loosestrife threatens the plant and animal diversity that currently exists in the extensive wetland complex of the La Crosse River and many other waterbodies and wetlands in the basin. When purple loosestrife becomes established, it out competes native wetland vegetation, which in turn reduces biological diversity of plants, animals and insects.

The practice of grazing livestock in some wooded areas of the basin was resumed recently due to a change in tax codes. This grazing practice was proven not only inadequate for the support of livestock but also destructive to the absorptive capacity of soils in the driftless area.