Whiteside Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
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Whiteside Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
Whiteside Creek (899700)
1.55 Miles
0 - 1.55
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Biological Community
Unknown Pollutant
 
Lafayette
Trout Water 
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Cold (Class II Trout)
Designated Use
Cold

Overview

This tributary to the East Branch of the Pecatonica is joined by the Apple Branch about 2 miles above its mouth. This lower section is managed as a warm water forage fishery although some sportfish species have been found in 1979 (Marshall, 1991). The middle 6 miles of stream is managed as a Class II trout fishery. The stream is impacted by bank erosion and organic loading which inhibit trout survival. The goals of the priority watershed plan were to improve trout habitat, and reduce erosion and organic loading (ibid).

Historically the stream contained both smallmouth bass and brown trout as the predominant game species, and a variety of eurythermal species. The 2007 and 2008 surveys showed brown trout at North Road, but almost no gamefish at the two downstream sites. Interestingly, mottled sculpin - a coolwater indicator - was not historically reported in Whiteside Creek, but were found at all 3 sites monitored in this contemporary study. Whiteside Creek, along with Apple Branch, showed the most promise as a cool/coldwater stream in the watershed even though the coldwater IBIs were still in the “poor” range.

Like other sites near the East Branch Pecatonica River, Whiteside Creek at State Highway 78 was impacted by high water levels and flooding in 2007 and 2008. As such, the fishery assemblage may have been affected. The U-shaped channel and silt bottom, possibly the result of repeated flooding, offer little in the way of habitat.

Date  2010

Author  James Amrhein

Historical Description

Whiteside Creek is a warm water-drainage stream flowing easterly into the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. About two miles above its mouth it is joined by Apple Branch which contributes 42 percent of its base flow. Not far from its headwaters it forks into two branches which are nearly equal in size. The land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural with meadow and firm pasture in the floodplain with woodlands and crops on the slopes and ridge tops. Gravel ls the bottom type commonly found throughout with rubble and silt present in some sections. Moderate bank erosion is common throughout
and severe flooding occurs after periods of heavy precipitation and during the spring thaw. Throughout its length, except in the" upper extremities", the stream is characterized by deep pools and stretches of fairly deep water. Presently, it is managed for smallmouth bass, which are common. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and brown trout are also present. Upland game assets include deer, squirrels, ruffed grouse, pheasants and quail. There are muskrats and some waterfowl near the mouth during the spring and fall.

Whiteside Creek, T2N, R5E, Sections 10-3, Surface acres = 10.6, Miles = 6.0, Gradient = 30 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 285 mg/l, Volume of flow = 1.0 cfs.

From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1967

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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
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.
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.
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.