Water Detail - Warner Creek, Middle Kickapoo River Watershed (LW05)

Warner Creek, Middle Kickapoo River Watershed (LW05)

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Warner Creek (1195700)

Size

10.59 Miles

Segment

0 - 10.59

Natural Community

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.

Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater

Year Last Monitored

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.

2024

General Condition

Good

County

Vernon

Trout Water

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.

Yes

Outstanding or Exceptional

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.

Impaired Water

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.

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

Attainable Use

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Designated Use

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.

Cold

Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Warner Creek, located in central Vernon County, flows in a westerly direction for 8.6 miles
before reaching the Kickapoo River between Ontario and La Farge. This stream has a gradient
of 32 feet per mile and drains forested hillsides, agricultural valleys and ridgetops as well as a
portion of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Wetlands surround the lower segment of Warner
Creek in the Reserve. Warner Creek is a Class II trout stream for its entire length.
The most recent survey, conducted in 1990, documented brown trout and numerous forage
fish species. The stream bottom was dominated by sand and gravel. In-stream cover consisted
of woody debris, undercut banks and overhanging grasses. Warner Creek should be
resurveyed after conclusion of the Middle Kickapoo River Priority Watershed Project in 2004.
WDNR records indicate Warner Creek has been stocked with brown trout regularly since
1960. Access to Warner Creek is from ten road crossings and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin.
PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Overview

Warner Creek
Warner Creek is a short, spring-fed tributary to Millville Creek. The creek is considered a Class II trout fishery. The creek experiences nonpoint source pollution from cropland erosion, streambank pasturing and streambank erosion.

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Warner Creek, T14N, R2W, Section 34. Surface Acres -12.5, Miles = 8.6, Gradient = 32.5 feet per mile.
A clear, hard water stream that flows in a westerly direction and is a tributary of the Kickapoo River. It is managed as Class II brown trout water. A large variety of forage fish are present. During the winter aerial groundwater survey, scattered open water areas were observed from around the junction of Warner Branch downstream. The banks of the stream are badly eroded. Sand and rubble are the dominant bottom types with some silt and gravel present as well as a little hardpan. Several road crossings provide access. Beaver are present and muskrat are significant. Wood ducks and teal nest along the stream and migrant puddle ducks use the water.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W., 1973. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1973

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Warner Creek, Middle Kickapoo River Watershed (LW05) Fish and Aquatic Life

Warner Creek, Middle Kickapoo River Watershed (LW05) Recreation

Warner Creek, Middle Kickapoo River Watershed (LW05) Fish Consumption

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1195700	Warner Creek	633176	Warner Creek - Near Rockton WI	8/23/2001	9/14/2012	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10015902	Warner Creek - 50 Ft. Above Bridge On Valley Rd.-South Of Valley Wis. U.S.A	4/20/1994	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	633056	Warner Creek - Nw1/4ofse1/4ofnw1/4s35	5/14/1980	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	633075	Warner Creek - On Valley Road	9/4/1991	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10049466	Warner Creek at Big Valley Rd	6/13/2024	10/8/2024	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10035022	Warner Creek - Warner Ave Bridge	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10048415	Warner Creek 300ft US Big Valley Road	5/21/2017	9/16/2024	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10035023	Warner Creek - CTH P/Elm Ave	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1195700	Warner Creek	10015901	Warner Creek - 50 Ft. Upstream Of Bridge Onvalley Road - Approx. 0.25 Mile South Ofvalley	4/20/1990	4/20/1990	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Warner Creek is located in the Middle Kickapoo River watershed which is 246.53 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (55.20%), grassland (24.30%) and a mix of agricultural (15.30%) and other uses (5.20%). This watershed has 585.18 stream miles, 145.14 lake acres and 3,360.69 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.

Natural Community

Warner Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold 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 (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.

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