Water Detail - Du Charme Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01)

Du Charme Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01)

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Du Charme Creek (1634800)

Size

7.15 Miles

Segment

0 - 7.15

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.

2023

General Condition

Good

County

Crawford

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.

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 I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.

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

Du Charme Creek, located in southwest Crawford County, flows for approximately four miles in a westerly direction before reaching the Mississippi River. It has a gradient of 46.7 feet per mile. Du Charme Creek is now a Class I Trout stream (2008 Trout List update).

A fishery survey conducted in summer 2000 documented numerous forage fish species, very few bluegill and even fewer brown trout. The stream has not been stocked in the past with trout by the Wisconsin DNR, but was stocked with wild brook trout in October 2000 as part of a brook trout reintroduction program.

The stream was resurveyed in 2002 and results show Brook and Brown Trout as well as a mixture of forage fish. Access to Du Charme Creek is from one road crossing and the Upper Missippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Du Charme Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) Fish and Aquatic Life

Du Charme Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) Recreation

Du Charme Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) Fish Consumption

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

Rush Creek WT 2010 Map

Rush Creek WT 2010 ORW/ERW Map

Rush Creek WT 2010 Land Use Map

Rush Creek WT 2010 Map Outfalls and Dams

Rush Creek WT 2010 Wetland Map

Rush Creek Watershed Plan 2010 (BL01)

Rush Creek WT 2010 BL01 Wetlands Analysis

Rush Creek Map of Stations Tributary to Lake Pepin

DUCHARME CREEK 2008 TROUT BOOK DATA

DUCHARME CREEK FISH SURVEY 2001 FOR TROUT CLASS 2008

Crawford County Surface Water Resources 1972

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
721000	Mississippi River	10037907	Mississippi River / DuCharme Creek - Boat Access	6/7/2012	6/6/2023	Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10033506	DuCharme Creek in T18NR6WS18	10/8/2014	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10042739	Du Charme Creek off CTH D			Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10008944	Du Charme Creek #1 - Road Crossing 0.25 Below Matti Farm	10/19/2000	8/4/2011	Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10032329	Du Charme Creek 1/2 mile southeast of Eastman			Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10056916	Du Charme Cr on CTH D			Map	Data
1634800	Du Charme Creek	10047212	Du Charme Creek at Great River Road	9/10/2016	9/10/2016	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Du Charme Creek is located in the Rush Creek watershed which is 240.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.60%), grassland (16.20%) and a mix of agricultural (15%) and other uses (22.10%). This watershed has 551.06 stream miles, 1,906.88 lake acres and 9,793.93 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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

Du Charme 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.

Fisheries & Habitat

The first seven miles of Du Charme Creek are classified as Class I Trout streams. New Class I Trout Water, 2008 List, based on studies in 2002, which found the following species: BLUEGILL, BROOK TROUT(36), BROWN TROUT (5), COMMON CARP, FANTAIL DARTER, NORTHERN PIKE, SPOTFIN SHINER, WHITE SUCKER, and YELLOW BULLHEAD.

Date 2008