Trout Brook (Slawther Creek), Lower Pecatonica River Watershed (SP07)
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Trout Brook (Slawther Creek), Lower Pecatonica River Watershed (SP07)
Trout Brook (Slawther Creek) (918100)
1.47 Miles
0 - 1.47
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 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.
2015
Fair
 
Lafayette
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.
No
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.
No

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

This stream derives its water qualities from large springs located near its headwaters. Trout Brook, or locally known as Slawther Creek, is a major tributary to Wolf Creek and enters it just south of the town of Gratiot. The lower 2.3 miles was formerly designated as a Class III trout stream while the next 2.3 miles was a Class II trout stream (Wisconsin Trout Streams, 1980). With the most recent changes to the Wisconsin Trout Streams book (February, 2002), the lower 4.6 miles is now designated as a Class II stream. The stream continues to be stocked with brown trout. Attempts to encourage natural reproduction of brook trout prior to 1980 failed. The stream has not been monitored recently.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

As its name signifies, Trout Brook is a trout stream. Its trout water qualities are derived from large springs which are located near its headwaters. About 25 percent of the base flow comes from its only tributary which enters one mile above its mouth. Slawther Branch is a major tributary to Wolf Creek and enters it just south of the town of Gratiot. In general, the principal land use in the watershed is agricultural. Firm pasture is the usual vegetative cover in the floodplain while the uplands are in crops, with some woods. Sport fishery assets include brown trout which are stocked annually. There are also some brook trout, smallmouth bass and an abundant population of forage fishes. Wildlife in the watershed includes deer, squirrels, rabbits, pheasants, Hungarian partridge and quail. Muskrats are present in and along the stream. The stream is accessible from three town roads and there are no lands along the stream in public ownership.

Trout Brook (Slawther Creek) T1N, R4E, Sections 9-5, Surface acres = 4.1, Miles = 4.6, Gradient = 37.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 278 mg/l, Volume of flow = 4.0 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   Aquatic Biologist

Trout Brook (Slawther Creek), Lower Pecatonica River Watershed (SP07) Fish and Aquatic LifeTrout Brook (Slawther Creek), Lower Pecatonica River Watershed (SP07) RecreationTrout Brook (Slawther Creek), Lower Pecatonica River Watershed (SP07) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Trout Brook (Slawther Creek) (WBIC 918100) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

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
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Trout Creek Natural Community Validation notes 2017
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
An Assessment of Water Quality in The Lower Pecatonica River Watershed 2010 - 2011, Lafayette County

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 Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
918100Trout Brook10029731Trout Brook Station 1 at Dunbarton Rd1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
918100Trout Brook10031543Trout Brook at STH 7810/12/20101/1/2015MapData
918100Trout Brook10009251Trout Brook Station 17/16/20157/16/2015MapData
918100Trout Brook10016157Trout Brook - Dunbarton Road11/15/20027/30/2012MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Trout Brook is located in the Lower Pecatonica River watershed which is 134.23 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (60.60%), grassland (30.40%) and a mix of forest (7.60%) and other uses (1.20%). This watershed has 333.90 stream miles, 40.87 lake acres and 274.90 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.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

Trout Brook (Slawther Creek) is considered a 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) 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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