10.18 Miles
0.32 - 10.50
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
1999
Unknown
Monroe
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Tarr Creek, located in central Monroe County, flows in a westerly direction for approximately 10 miles before reaching the La Crosse River. It has a slight gradient of 26 feet per mile. The entire stream lies within Fort McCoy; however, several tributaries originate outside the Fort. Several recreational impoundments are found on these tributaries. Tarr Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.
The most recent survey, conducted in 1999, documented good in-stream habitat and a healthy fish population consisting of brown trout and several forage fish species. Habitat improvements to Tarr Creek since 1997 included the installation of LUNKER structures, boulder retards, and channel reshaping. Brown trout numbers increased over 200% after in-stream habitat improved. Maintenance of sediment traps has reduced the sedimentation of critical trout habitat. Access to Tarr Creek is via Fort McCoy and several road crossings outside the Fort.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
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.
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 |
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| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020565 | Tarr Creek St. 2 road betw Motor Repair Shop &10th Ave | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020570 | Tarr Creek St. 7 Point Adjacent To Large Opening On Main Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10016549 | Tarr Creek Site 0604 - Samples Collected Below Confluencewith Stillwell Creek | 3/21/1995 | 3/21/1995 | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020572 | Tarr Creek St. 2 Eclipse Ave. Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020569 | Tarr Creek St. 6 X Rd. Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10017126 | Tarr Creek Site 0601 - Samples Collected At East Boundaryof Fort Mccoy At Fence Line | 11/11/1994 | 3/20/1995 | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10016297 | Tarr Cr. - Us Gate 5; Hwy 21 | 9/21/1999 | 9/21/1999 | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10017100 | Tarr Creek Site 0602 - Samples Collected Behind Statepatrol Headquarters. | 11/12/1994 | 3/20/1995 | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10016632 | Tarr Creek Site 0603 - Samples Collected Below 8th Streetbridge. | 11/4/1994 | 3/21/1995 | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020566 | Tarr Creek St. 3 S. 8th Ave. Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020567 | Tarr Creek St. 4 S. J St. (5 St.) Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020568 | Tarr Creek St. 5 Former Railroad Tressel | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10020571 | Tarr Creek St. 1 450ft Downstream Of Eden Ave. Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1662500 | Tarr Creek | 10016759 | Tarr Creek Site 0603 - All Samples Collected Down Streamof 8th Street Bridge. | 11/4/1994 | 11/4/1994 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Tarr Creek is located in the Upper La Crosse River watershed which is 126.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (62.40%), grassland (11.90%) and a mix of agricultural (9.80%) and other uses (16.10%). This watershed has 167.76 stream miles, 207.50 lake acres and 4,875.27 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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.
Tarr Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater 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 (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent,
mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.
Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.
Reclassified David Vetrano, John Noble, October 2003
Recent surveys show this stream is a high quality trout stream, having sufficient natural reporduction to sustain populations of wild trout at or near carrying capacity Consequently, this stream requires no stocking of hatchery raised trout. Tarr Creek originates outside the Fort McCoy property, but is included in this classification.
Date 2008
Author Aquatic Biologist