Outagamie, Winnebago
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Mud Creek, a 8-mile stream, originates in an urban area and continues through the southwestern corner of Appleton before discharging into the Fox River. Stream habitat was rated poor to fair. Streambank erosion is infrequent, however, there are some raw areas with high erosion potential during high flows (Gansberg 1998). The stream substrate is mostly rubble, gravel or other stable habitat but covered with a layer of fine clay sediment. Construction activities near the creek mouth appear to be contributing a significant amount of sediment to the creek. In July, a plume could be seen in the receiving waterbody from a particular construction site. Macrophytes are abundant but generally not over abundant. Filamentous algae is common on the rocky bottom substrate where exposed to sunlight. Macroinvertebrate samples indicate poor to fair water quality with fairly significant to very significant organic pollution. A brief survey was conducted in August 1992 in a stretch of creek near Spencer Road. One tolerant sport fish (green sunfish), two intermediate tolerance fish (Johnny Darter) and abundant tolerant forage species (emerald shiners, white suckers and brook stickleback) were present. Mud Creek receives a considerable amount of suspended solids during runoff events sampled. Chlorides were slightly elevated but ammonia and BOD-5 were within the acceptable ranges (Gansberg 1995).
Bougie, Cheryl A. 1999. Lower Fox River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Public Review Draft. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Cheryl Bougie
Historical Description
Mud Creek, T20N, R17E, Section 3 (2), Area = 3.2 acres, Length = 0.9 miles, Gradient = 1.0 foot/mile.
This very turbid, hard water stream lies almost entirely in Outagamie County with only the lower end lying in Winnebago County. This stream was, during the 1970 field survey, stagnant, having no measurable flow. The water
surface was covered by an oil film. Clay and hardpan are principal bottom materials. The stream contains a fishery similar to that of Little Lake Butte des Morts. Frogs and burrowing crayfish are common. In-stream cover is provided
by aquatic plants and a few undercut banks. A narrow strip of hardwood lines both banks except on the extreme lower end which is marsh. Public access is provided by one county highway and via navigable water from Little Lake
Butte des Morts.
From: 1975. Surface Water Resources of Winnebago County: Lake and Stream Classification Project.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1975
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Mud Creek, T21N, R17E, Sec. 32(15), Area = 7.9 acres, Length = 2.6 miles, M.P.A. = 157 ppm,
Gradient = 15.4 feet/mile.
Mud Creek is a very shallow and turbid hard water tributary to the Fox River. Bottom materials consist
of gravel, rubble, and silt. The upland area is mostly developed with homes, industries, and a golf course.
Aquatic vegetation and rocks are present in the stream. Crayfish and shrimp are the only observed aquatic
invertebrates. The stream is very sluggish and has little recreational potential. Two county roads provide public access.
From: Nelson, Linden M. and Ronald L. Fassbender. Surface Water Resources of Outagamie County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1972
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Mud Creek (WBIC 129500) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle and chloride sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM chronic and acute listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
Impaired Waters
Mud Creek has been on the impaired waters list since 1998 for Total Suspended Solids. This water is part of the Lower Fox River TP & TSS TMDL that was approved by the EPA in 2012.
Date 2013
Author Nicole Clayton
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
Recommendations
Navigability Determination
NW NE S30 T21N R17E; Mud Creek;
Navigability Determination
S10 T21N R17E; Mud Creek, trib;
Navigability Determination
S10 T21N R17E; Mud Creek, trib;
Monitor Targeted Area
Monitoring needed on upper segments of Mud Creek. All monitoring stations located in Segment 1, no stations/ monitoring data for Segments 2 or 3.
Standards Details
This water, from Outagamie County Airport STP to Casaloma Road.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 453246 | Mud Creek - Spencer Road | 7/13/1992 | 10/21/1999 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 713317 | Stroebe Island - W Bank | | | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10011423 | Mud Creek at Spencer St | 4/6/1992 | 10/2/2017 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10021170 | Mud Creek At End Of Timmer Lane Outagame County | 7/19/2007 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10049287 | Mud Creek 5m US Foot Bridge | 6/27/2017 | 10/2/2017 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10053738 | Mud Creek mouth fish survey | | | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 453048 | Mud Creek To Fox R - Butte Des Morts Util Dist Stp | 12/2/1976 | 7/7/1981 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 453258 | Mud Creek - County Highway Bb | 1/21/1997 | 10/14/2024 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10049218 | Mud Creek 40m us Hwy 41 | 7/5/2017 | 10/2/2017 | Map | Data |
| 129500 | Mud Creek | 10049216 | Mud Creek 40m US North Casoloma Dr. | 6/6/2017 | 9/27/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Mud Creek is located in the Fox River - Appleton watershed which is 39.37 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (37%), urban (30.70%) and a mix of agricultural (15.40%) and other uses (17.00%). This watershed has 70.84 stream miles, 55.67 lake acres and 183.96 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.