11.96 Miles
0 - 11.96
Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Mainstem
2016
Poor
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
Columbia
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Duck Creek is a tributary to the Wisconsin River. The creek runs through Wyocena and has been impounded at the junction of the North and Middle Branches of Duck Creek to create Wyona Lake in Wyocena. The creek supports a warmwater sport fishery. The creek receives point source discharges from Unimin, Chaquita Processed Foods and Grande Cheese.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
Duck Creek T12N, R9E, Section 21, Surface Acres = 58.4, Miles = 11.2, Gradient = 1.8 feet per mile.
That portion of stream from the Wyocena Millpond to the Wisconsin River
is called Duck Creek. The North Branch and Middle Branch constitute its origin.
A delta has formed at its junction with the Wisconsin River which provides good
waterfowl hunting. Bass and panfishes afford a limited fishery. Access is possible
from a county trunk and a state highway. About 2,960 acres of wetland adjoin
the stream.
From: Poff, Ronald J. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Columbia County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1965
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Duck Creek (1266300) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). This water was also assessed for temperature and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
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 |
|---|
|
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035580 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10029202 | Duck Creek at Duck Creek Road | 10/21/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035903 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035408 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10036036 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035795 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035170 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 113012 | Martin-Marietta Co Portage | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10043582 | Duck Creek at Grande Bridge | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 113158 | Wisconsin River - Portage-Columbia Generating Station | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10036271 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10035336 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10036123 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 113003 | Columbia County Hospital Stp | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10042179 | Duck Creek between Hwy 51 and Duck Creek Rd. | 7/31/2001 | 7/31/2001 | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10036090 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10036300 | Duck Creek - Area of Open Water | | | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10047499 | Portage Downstream Duck Creek Crossing | 10/28/2016 | 10/28/2016 | Map | Data |
| 1266300 | Duck Creek | 10020958 | Mid Br. Duck Creek County G Bridge East Of Wyocena | 6/6/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Duck Creek is located in the Duck Creek and Rocky Run watershed which is 140.89 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.10%), wetland (19.90%) and a mix of forest (18.40%) and other uses (18.60%). This watershed has 232.25 stream miles, 1,895.92 lake acres and 16,023.66 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.
Duck Creek is considered a Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Mainstem 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.
Warm Mainstem waters are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with relatively warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.