Whitewater Creek, Whitewater Creek Watershed (LR14)
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Whitewater Creek, Whitewater Creek Watershed (LR14)
Whitewater Creek (813900)
8.08 Miles
0 - 8.08
Natural Community
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2025
Good
 
Jefferson, Walworth
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
WWSF
Designated Use
WWSF

Overview

Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.

Whitewater Creek flows north out of Whitewater Lake to its confluence with the Bark River. From Whitewater Lake to Tripp Lake at Whitewater, water quality is considered good. A portion of this reach, from Bluff Creek downstream to Willis Ray Road (1.9 miles) has the potential to become Class II trout water; additional land acquisition and habitat improvement would be necessary to achieve this potential use.

The reach from Tripp Lake to the Jefferson County line flows through Cravath Lake and the city of Whitewater. Water quality was historically degraded by poorly treated effluent from the old Whitewater wastewater treatment plant, which was upgraded in 1982. As the quality of the effluent improved, the quality of the river, now judged as fair, improved as well. Today the primary problems include the lack of comprehensive stormwater management planning for the city of Whitewater and old or outdated floodplain zoning maps. The City of Whitewater has recently expanded its sewer service area, which will result in increases in impervious surface areas and enhanced stormwater volumes. Whitewater Creek and its riparian areas should be protected by updated floodplain zone maps, conservancy zoning of sensitive lowland and adjacent areas, and comprehensive stormwater management planning that emphasizes water quality and reducing peak storm water flows (WDNR).

The reach from the Jefferson County line to its confluence with the Bark River flows through agricultural land where water quality is affected by runoff contaminated with solids, pesticides, fertilizer, and other agricultural by-products. About seven miles of tributary streams are ditched and straightened and most wetlands are drained. The fishery consists of forage fish and panfish; rough fish are problematic in the lower end of the stream.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.