Adams
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Carter Creek is classified as a warm water sport fishery and a Class I, II, III trout fishery, depending on its stream segment. Roche-A-Cri State Park, Carter Creek Fishery Area and Colburn Public Hunting Grounds are in the vicinity of, or adjacent to, the creek. Beaver and beaver dams have cause severe problems, especially in the Colburn Public Hunting Grounds (Ironside, 2001). In-stream cover is poor and the reproduction potential is limited due to lack of spawning areas. Rough fish have access from the Wisconsin River via Little Roche-A-Cri Creek.
Biotic index sampling in 1979 indicated good and very good water quality. The town of Colburn is located in the upper watershed where wind erosion occurs (Adams County, 1987). This data may be of limited use due to changes in the watershed over 30 years. Nutrients and pesticides may be entering the creek (Schultz, 1989).
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Carter Creek, T17N, RSE, Section 1 Surface Acres = 26, Miles = 17.2
This is a clear, hard water tributary of Little Roche-a-Cri Creek which flows in
southwesterly direction. Sand is the dominant bottom type. Although the entire stream
is considered trout water (brook and brown trout), that portion flowing tlirough Colburn
Township is considered the best. Northern pike inhabit most of the stream, and yellow
perch have been found in the lower end. Marsh furbearers and beaver are present and
wood ducks nest along the stream. There are over 2,600 acres of adjoining wetland.
The aerial groundwater survey conducted February, 1963, found open water upstream
from CTH "G" and downstream from STH 13. A total of 5.2 miles of stream passes
through public land. Access is also possible from 12 road crossings.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen. 1966. Surface Water Resources of Adams County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1966
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Monitoring in the last 10 years show two "good" condition values in the upper stretch of Carter Creek. Macroinvertebrate values integrate local and regional water quality conditions.
Date 2011
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.
Reports
Recommendations
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Carter Creek - Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Monitor to Evaluate Stream Baseflow
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 |
|---|
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10022378 | Carter Creek at Cypress Rd | 5/12/2011 | 5/1/2021 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 013032 | Carter Creek at Sth 21 | 5/1/1979 | 8/29/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10054612 | Carter Creek at Cottonville Avenue | 8/19/2020 | 8/29/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10034065 | Carter Creek at 11th Ave | 12/8/1999 | 6/4/2001 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10022648 | Carter Creek Above 8th Dr. | 6/19/2009 | 10/20/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10022374 | Carter Creek ~400m Upstream Cypress Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10030202 | Carter Creek at Cree Ave | | | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10022649 | Carter Creek Below 8th Dr. | 7/30/2013 | 9/17/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1351200 | Carter Creek | 10010762 | Carter Creek at Chicago Ave | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Carter Creek is located in the Little Roche A Cri Creek watershed which is 196.20 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (55.60%), agricultural (23.20%) and a mix of wetland (9.70%) and other uses (11.50%). This watershed has 108.40 stream miles, 12,554.07 lake acres and 18,156.97 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.