Water Detail - Rattlesnake Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04)

Rattlesnake Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04)

Return to Search

Rattlesnake Creek (957300)

Size

21.11 Miles

Segment

0 - 21.11

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.

Warm Mainstem, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem

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

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Degraded Biological Community

Pollutants include

Unknown Pollutant

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.

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.

WWSF

Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Rattlesnake Creek is a spring and seepage stream that begins southeast of Bagley and flows southwest to enter the Grant River near Beetown. Almost 100% of its drainage area is used for agricultural purposes. The stream has experienced problems with non-point source pollution. A study done by USGS on Rattlesnake Creek showed the stream carries a median unit-area load (tons per square mile) of sediment of 200 tons per square mile with a maximum load of 837 tons of sediment per square mile. The same study showed the stream received a median unit-area load of 821 pounds of phosphorus per square mile with a maximum loading of 3,670 pounds per square mile (Corsi, et.al, 1997).

Historically, it was a good smallmouth bass stream (Smith and Ball, 1971). However, while investigations during the 1980's showed that Rattlesnake had good to excellent smallmouth bass habitat, the stream had a very low population of smallmouth bass (Forbes, 1985). The population of smallmouth bass in the creek tends to fluctuate. The key factor in this fluctuation seems to be major runoff events that result in dissolved oxygen levels that fall below state water quality standards. These low dissolved oxygen levels are thought to be caused by runoff from barnyards in the watershed (Wang, et.al., 1996).

Recent observations, however, have indicated that the bass fishery has improved (Kerr, 1998; Wang et.al., 1996). The IBI ratings, indicators of environmental degradation, for Rattlesnake Creek were generally fair. Macroinvertebrate monitoring indicate a range in water quality from “fair” to “poor” (Marshall, 1999). Overall macroinvertebrate sampling found nearly 25% of the macroinvertebrates to be mayflies, stoneflies or caddisflies while approximately 55% of the samples were midges (Marshall, 1999). In addition, stream habitat was rated as being good to excellent (Wang et.al., 1996).

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 = 38.73 acres, J.ength = 21.3 miles, Gradient = 16 ft./mile, Flow = 12.3 c.f.s.

A seepage and spring-fed stream beginning five miles southeast of Bagley and flowing southeast to enter the Grant River two miles south of Beetown. The portion of st:ream between North Andover and Highway 61 is very picturesque with high limestone outcrops. Many meanders, steep-.cut banks, and deep slow-moving water characterizes the lower reaches of the stream. It is considered to be a fairly good smallmouth bass stream, but only a low density of srnallmouth were found during an electroshocking inventory in 1958. Forage species are commen to abundant throughout and they have been taken by commercial bait dealers in the past. Channel catfish and rough fish are also present in the lower reaches. Aquatic game assets include muskrat, mink, beaver, and a few migratory waterfowl. The various upland game species are also common throughout the watershed. Rapid runoff and subsequent severe bank erosion are major problems. Many portions of the stream have been straightened in an effort to protect valuable farmland destroyed by stream bank erosion. Better soil and water control practices are needed in order to prevent further depletion of stream habitat due to stream straightening. A severe fish kill from undetermined causes was reported on this stream during the summer of 1971. Public access is possible from the Grant River and 11 bridge crossings. A total of 16 dwellings are located along the banks.

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Rattlesnake Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) Fish and Aquatic Life

Rattlesnake Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) Recreation

Rattlesnake Creek, Lower Grant River Watershed (GP04) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Rattlesnake Creek (957300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; the regional biologist recommended listing for degraded biological community based on current and historical Poor mIBI scores. This water is considered impaired and not meeting its Fish and Aquatic Life use.

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

2016 mIBI Assessments for Middle Grant, Lower Grant, and Galena Watersheds

A Final Report of Water Quality in the Middle and Lower Grant River Watersheds - 2012

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
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10010498	Rattlesnake Creek - 2			Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10038481	Rattlesnake Creek along Rattlesnake Road - Farm lane at 9973 Rattlesnake Rd	8/21/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10016893	Rattlesnake Cr At Hwy 133 - Hwy 133 Downstream Approx 100 Feet First And Second Riffles	4/8/1990	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223211	Rattlesnake Creek - Maine Rd.	4/16/1980	4/8/1990	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223264	Rattlesnake Creek - Rattlesnake Creek At Hwy 81	10/15/1989	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10040151	Rattlesnake Creek 0.5mi W of Hwy 81	9/11/2013	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10010503	Rattlesnake Creek 4	10/16/1990	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10016892	Rattlesnake Cr. At Hwy 133 - Hwy 133 Downstream Approx 100 Feet First Riffle	10/24/1984	10/15/1989	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223213	Rattlesnake Creek - Glassmaker Rd.	4/16/1980	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10049098	Rattlesnake Creek - 40m US Rattlesnake road bridge			Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223261	Rattlesnake Creek at Muskallounge Rd Near North Andover WI	6/2/1992	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223248	Rattlesnake Creek at Atkinson Rd	10/9/1987	1/1/2015	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	223249	Rattlesnake Creek - Near Beetown WI	10/13/1988	6/12/1991	Map	Data
957300	Rattlesnake Creek	10016110	Rattlesnake Creek - US betw. Hwy 81 & next rd crossing (Site D)	10/13/1988	10/13/1988	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Rattlesnake Creek is located in the Lower Grant River watershed which is 129.75 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (56%), grassland (25.40%) and a mix of forest (16.50%) and other uses (1.90%). This watershed has 310.53 stream miles, 33.46 lake acres and 298.95 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.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

Rattlesnake Creek is considered a Warm Mainstem, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

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.