Knapp Creek, Knapp Creek Watershed (LW08)
Return to Search
Knapp Creek, Knapp Creek Watershed (LW08)
Knapp Creek (1206400)
10.20 Miles
0 - 10.20
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2021
Good
 
Crawford, Richland
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

For about 15 miles above Excelsior, Knapp Creek is a Class I trout stream. The upper end of
Knapp Creek supports a very good wild trout fishery and has good potential and habitat.
Baseline data on this stream was collected in 2000.
A cursory habitat evaluation was conducted in 2001 and found the habitat in the stream to
range from poor in some locations to good in others. The habitat in the upper headwater
reaches of Knapp Creek are in good condition with little erosion and deposition of sediment
present. Banks in this area have some vegetative cover to offer bank stability. The rest of the
stream, with the exception of just below Jimtown Branch was determined to be in fair
condition with more erosion, increased deposition and decreased vegetative cover. The
habitat below Jimtown Branch is in poor condition and heavy erosion, and an obvious lack of
habitat are apparent.
Sedimentation is one of the main problems in parts of the stream. Water quality and habitat
may be threatened by the barnyards along the creek, although cattle grazing along the stream
has been reduced. There are WDNR fishing easements in the headwater reaches of Knapp
Creek. In addition, some state owned land and easements can be found at the mouth of Knapp
Creek. This area is known as the Knapp Creek Wildlife Area.

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

For about 12.7 miles above Excelsior, Knapp Creek is a Class II trout stream. The upper end of Knapp Creek supports a very good wild trout fishery and has good potential and habitat. It is recommended that the upper 12.7 miles in Richland County in addition to the upper 1.7 miles in Crawford County be upgraded to Class I trout water and exceptional resource water (ERW) based upon baseline data collected in 2000.

A cursory habitat evaluation was conducted in 2001 and found the habitat in the stream to range from poor in some locations to good in others. The habitat in the upper headwater reaches of Knapp Creek are in good condition with little erosion and deposition of sediment present. Banks in this area have some vegetative cover to offer bank stability. The rest of the stream, with the exception of just below Jimtown Branch was determined to be in fair condition with more erosion, increased deposition and decreased vegetative cover. The habitat below Jimtown Branch is in poor condition and heavy erosion, and an obvious lack of habitat are apparent.

Sedimentation is one of the main problems in parts of the stream. Water quality and habitat may be threatened by the barnyards along the creek, although cattle grazing along the stream has been reduced. There are DNR fishing easements in the headwater reaches of Knapp Creek. In addition, some state owned land and easements can be found at the mouth of Knapp Creek. This area is known as the Knapp Creek Wildlife Area.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

For about 11.8 miles above Excelsior, Knapp Creek is a Class II trout stream (WDNR 1980). Water quality is judged to be good (Eagan, 1985), though no data exists for the stream. Sedimentation is suspected to be a problem in some parts of the stream. At least one very bad barnyard exists adjacent the stream (Sorge, M., 1991). Other barnyards may be causing habitat and water quality problems. Cattle grazing the banks is a problem in other reaches of the stream (Sorge, M., 1991).

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.