Water Detail - Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03)

Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03)

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Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16) (1645100)

Size

4.54 Miles

Segment

0 - 4.54

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, Coldwater

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.

General Condition

Good

County

Vernon

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

Hohlfield Creek, also known as Creek 20-16, is located in northwestern Vernon County. In past years this stream was also known as Huff Creek and Swain Hollow Creek. It flows in a southwesterly direction for approximately four miles before reaching Coon Creek west of Chaseburg. Hohlfield Creek has a slight gradient of 18 feet per mile and drains steep forested hillsides and agricultural valley land. Hohlfield Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.

From: Koperski, Cindy. 2002. The State of the Bad Axe - La Crosse Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) Fish and Aquatic Life

Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) Recreation

Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) 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

Coon Creek 2011 Dams & Outfalls Map

Coon Creek 2011 Land Use Map

Coon Creek WT 2011 OERW & Impaired Waters

Coon Creek WT 2011 Potentially Restorable Wetlands

Coon Creek WT 2011 Trout Streams

Coon Creek WT 2011 Wetlands Map

Coon Creek Watershed Plan 2011 (BL03)

Coon Creek WT 2011 Map

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	View Station	View Data
1645100	Hohlfeld Coulee Creek	10013260	Hohlfeld Coulee Creek (20-16) St. 1 - Bridge On K	Map	Data
1645100	Hohlfeld Coulee Creek	10009135	Creek 20-16 #3- Bridge On Schultz Rd.	Map	Data
1645100	Hohlfeld Coulee Creek	10009133	Creek 20-16 #2- 69 Feet Upstream Of Cty. K	Map	Data

Monitoring Studies

Hohlfeld Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.The most recent surveys, conducted in 2005 and 2007, documented both brook and brown trout populations in Hohlfield Creek. Access to the stream is possible from five road crossings.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Watershed Characteristics

Hohlfeld Coulee Creek is located in the Coon Creek watershed which is 238.20 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (44.60%), grassland (21.30%) and a mix of agricultural (16.50%) and other uses (17.60%). This watershed has 574.90 stream miles, 4,342.05 lake acres and 6,052.31 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.This water is ranked Medium Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Hohlfield Coulee Creek (20-16) is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater 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

A 1999 survey documented a streambed consisting mainly of sand and silt, with lesser amounts of gravel and rubble. The riparian land use was pasture and meadow. Fish cover consisted of overhanging vegetation and woody debris with aquatic vegetation and few undercut banks. A naturally reproducing brown trout population, a variety of aquatic invertebrates and minnows were noted. Hohlfield Creek was stocked with brown trout up until 1998. Since 1998, only brook trout have been introduced. Hohlfield Creek should be re-surveyed in a few years to determine the success of stocking wild brook trout. Access to the stream is possible from five road crossings.

Hohlf eld Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.The most recent surveys, conducted in 2005 and 2007, documented both brook and brown trout populations in Hohlfield Creek. Access to the stream is possible from fi ve road crossings.