3.64 Miles
0 - 3.64
Cool-Warm Headwater
2024
Poor
Low DO, Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus, Unknown Pollutant
Waukesha
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Poplar Creek is a tributary to the Fox River in Waukesha County. This segment of Poplar Creek is listed as impaired by low levels of dissolved oxygen caused by an unknown pollutant.
Date 2011
Author Maureen Mcbroom
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of Poplar Creek (Mouth to railroad tracks between Hwy 59 and Lincoln Rd.) showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Condition
Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.
Reports
Standards Details
A. From the treatment plant outfalls downstream to the Chicago & Northwestern railroad bridge [T6N R20E S9] (LAL);
B. From the railroad bridge downstream to the confluence of the Fox River (LFF). Facilities: Cleveland Heights school/New Berlin High School.
Date 2010
Author Aquatic Biologist
Management Goals
Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable
Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.
Monitoring
Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.
Grants and Management Projects
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 683329 | Poplar Creek - 100' Ds Barker Rd Br 10' From Rt Bank | 6/28/1993 | 6/28/1993 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 10030239 | Poplar Creek south 500 ft from I-94 S1 W212 | 9/18/2007 | 6/18/2013 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 683210 | Poplar Creek at Bluemound Road/Sth 18 | | | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 683227 | Poplar Creek 30M US of Sth 18 (Bi Survey) | 5/2/1980 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 10043144 | Poplar Creek Barker Road Bridge | 1/1/2015 | 10/20/2015 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 683103 | Poplar Creek - Berger Farms (Nps) - Site #1 | 6/17/1977 | 8/28/1977 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 683314 | Poplar Creek at Cth Y | 8/20/1990 | 10/16/2024 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 10047229 | Poplar Creek at Davidson Road | 9/10/2016 | 9/10/2016 | Map | Data |
| 772800 | Poplar Creek | 10040581 | Poplar Creek at Bluemound and Jennifer Dr | 9/27/2007 | 4/28/2010 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Poplar Creek is located in the Upper Fox River - Illinois watershed which is 151.08 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (35.10%), wetland (17%) and a mix of urban (14.20%) and other uses (33.70%). This watershed has 218.00 stream miles, 2,907.45 lake acres and 12,048.42 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.
Poplar River (Creek) is considered a Cool-Warm Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.
Cool (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.