Green
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Buckskin School Creek is located in western Green County and is part of the Jordan and Skinner Creek watersheds.
The six-mile long stream flows to the south, merging with Bushnell Creek northwest of Monroe to form Skinner
Creek. The entire stream is listed on the 303(d) list for degraded habitat resulting from sedimentation from
agricultural non-point source pollution and stream bank erosion.
In 2004, a qualitative habitat stream survey was performed at Buckskin Road, which yielded a score of 191, suggesting fair habitat quality. A more thorough habitat evaluation was conducted near the mouth of the stream, at the CTH J crossing, and found that habitat quality for this section of the stream also was fair based on substrate composition (50% fines). This is consistent with the land use as the lower half of the stream runs through heavily pastured farmland, subject to sedimentation, while the upper half flows through a fairly well buffered corridor with very little agriculture.
A 2004 fish survey at CTH J found nine minnow species, with southern redbelly dace and central stonerollers being
the most abundant. Sixteen brassy minnows, a cool-water indicator, were found during the survey as well. Buckskin
School Creek currently supports a warm water forage fishery, but it is believed to have the potential to become a Class
II trout stream. However, current data is not sufficient to determine overall potential of this stream. While mitigation
of erosion and improvement in habitat of this stream is desirable, further monitoring is required to determine the
realistic potential for this stream.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
Originating in a farm pond, this creek flows southward and joins Bushnell Creek to form Skinner Creek. The creek currently supports warm water forage fish but has the potential to be a Class II trout stream. It is degraded by agricultural non-point source pollution and stream bank erosion. The stream has not been monitored in the last 10 years.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.
Originating from a farm pond, this small stream flows southward, converges with two small unnamed streams and finally joins Bushnell Creek forming Skinner Creek. The lower portion of the creek flows through pastured
land and experiences severe bank erosion. Several areas have also been straightened by ditching. Muck, silt and gravel are the principle bottom types, although boulders and rubble are also present. The water generally runs clear-
In the past. trout were stocked in Buckskin School Creek as part of the management program for Bushnell Creek. Although an occasional trout may still enter Buckskin School Creek from Bushnell. its deteriorating trout habitat and siltation restricts current management to forage fish. Wildlife habitat is poor. but there is a significant muskrat population. Public access and ownership is limited to three road crossings.
Fish Species: Central stoneroller. hornyhead chub. common shiner. southern redbelly dace. bluntnose minnow. fathead minnow. creek chub. white sucker. brook stickleback. fantail darter. Johnny darter.
Surface Acres = 2.2, Length = 4.5 r.1iles, Gradient = 34 ft./mi. , Base Discharge 5.9 cu. ft./sec.
Date 1980
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
TMDL (USEPA) Approved
Buckskin School Creek TMDL Approved
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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| 897300 | Buckskin School Creek | 233228 | Buckskin School Creek - Buckskin School Creek (Bridge) | 6/2/2003 | 11/7/2003 | Map | Data |
| 897300 | Buckskin School Creek | 10012072 | Buckskin School Creek - Upstream Of Cty. Rd. J | 10/14/2004 | 10/18/2018 | Map | Data |
| 897300 | Buckskin School Creek | 233227 | Buckskin School Creek - Buckskin School Creek | 6/2/2003 | 11/7/2003 | Map | Data |
| 897300 | Buckskin School Creek | 10010344 | Buckskin School Creek - Buckskin School Creek Remap 066-X | | | Map | Data |
| 897300 | Buckskin School Creek | 10010345 | Buckskin School Creek - Buckskin School Creek Remap 066-B | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Buckskin School Creek is located in the Jordan and Skinner Creeks watershed which is 94.06 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (41.80%), grassland (41.30%) and a mix of forest (11.80%) and other uses (5.20%). This watershed has 234.78 stream miles, 48.73 lake acres and 1,559.08 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.