Water Detail - Leggett Creek, Platte River Watershed (GP02)

Leggett Creek, Platte River Watershed (GP02)

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Leggett Creek (953900)

Size

8.07 Miles

Segment

0 - 8.07

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 Mainstem, 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.

2021

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Impairment Unknown

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids

County

Grant

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.

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.

Yes

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.

Restricted Aquatic Life

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

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

Leggett Creek is a tributary to the Platte River in central Grant County. Seven miles of the creek are considered to be a class II trout stream (WDNR, 1980). Its uses are impaired by nonpoint source pollution. This stream is very flashy and water levels can rise very quickly during runoff events. Therefore, streambank erosion is a problem as well as cropland runoff. Intense grazing next to the stream also adds to the erosion problem. A headwaters reach of Leggett Creek was added to the state’s impaired streams list in 1998 due to problems resulting from nonpoint source pollution. Leggett was one of the southwest Wisconsin streams monitored as part of an intensive rotational grazing study (Lyons, et.al., 2000). There is landowner support for streambank stabilization and improvement projects on Leggett Creek. A species listed on the state’s threatened and endangered species list is found in Leggett Creek (Lyons, 2000).

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area = 8.24 acres, Length = 6.8 miles, Gradient = 29 ft./mile, Flow = 11.8 c.f.s.

A spring-fed stream beginning on the south slope of the Military Ridge two miles east of Fennimore and flowing southeast to enter the headwaters of the Platte River six miles west of Livingston. This stream is sometimes referred to as "Schuppner Branch." The upper section of this stream is quite narrow with very few pools and little instream cover. About one mile of the central portion near the mouth of Newell Creek is considered brown trout water. A very good population of smallmouth bass is found in the wide, sluggish pools in the lower reaches. A beaver dam impounds the stream one mile above the mouth. Muskrat, mink, and migratory waterfowl are frequently seen. Pollution from the Preston cheese factory has entered the stream by way of Newell Creek in the past. Improvement of the soil and water control practices in the area could greatly benefit this stream's warm and cold water fishery. Public access is provided by the Platte River and four bridge crossings. Two dwellings adjoin the stream.

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Leggett Creek, Platte River Watershed (GP02) Fish and Aquatic Life

Leggett Creek, Platte River Watershed (GP02) Recreation

Leggett Creek, Platte River Watershed (GP02) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Leggett Creek (WBIC 953900) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and 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

Leggett Creek, Leggett Creek US confluence with Platte River at Sleepy Hollow Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

2002 Impaired Waters Delisting Documentation

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

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 Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
953900	Leggett Creek	223119	Leggett Creek - Cth E	4/15/1980	8/20/1992	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10021198	Leggett Creek At Grandview Rd	11/2/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10013219	Leggett Creek (South Of Weinbrenner Road)	1/6/2000	5/2/2001	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10010085	Leggett Creek - Leggett Creek Remap 056-X			Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10021199	Leggett Branch At Rock School Rd	11/2/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10010086	Leggett Creek - Legget Creek Remap 056-B	12/11/1984	12/11/1984	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10054842	Leggett Creek US confluence with Platte River at Sleepy Hollow Rd	5/17/2021	10/14/2021	Map	Data
953900	Leggett Creek	10012835	Leggett Creek -175m Downstream Of Cth E			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Leggett Creek is located in the Platte River watershed which is 197.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (43.30%), agricultural (30.70%) and a mix of forest (19%) and other uses (7.00%). This watershed has 455.07 stream miles, 21.45 lake acres and 1,303.48 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Leggett Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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.