Chipmunk Creek (3-6), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03)
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Chipmunk Creek (3-6), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03)
Chipmunk Creek (3-6) (1648100)
8.97 Miles
0 - 8.97
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.
2017
Fair
 
La Crosse, 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.
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 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

Chipmunk Coulee Creek, also known as Creek 3-6, is located in northwestern Vernon County. It flows in a southwesterly direction for approximately 5.5 miles before reaching the Mississippi River between La Crosse and Stoddard. This stream has a gradient of 54 feet per mile and drains steep forested hillsides, agricultural land, and expanding rural subdivisions. Chipmunk Coulee Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.

Date  2011

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Chipmunk Creek (3-6), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) Fish and Aquatic LifeChipmunk Creek (3-6), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) RecreationChipmunk Creek (3-6), Coon Creek Watershed (BL03) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Chipmunk Creek (also known as Creek 3-6) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate 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
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

Recommendations

Habitat Restoration - Instream
Chipmunk Coulee Creek would benefit from the acquisition of streambank easements and in-stream habitat restoration. Access is possible from four road crossings and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.
Fish Management, Access
The DNR should continue stocking trout and restoring in-stream habitat from Coon Valley to Chaseburg. Coon Creek between Chaseburg and the Mississippi River would benefit from the acquisition of streambank easements and instream habitat restoration. Consequently, the DNR should extend the Coon Creek Fishery Area to include Coon Creek downstream of Chaseburg to the Mississippi River.

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
Coon Creek (BL03) Watershed Planning2010

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1648100Unnamed10008996Chipmunk Coulee Station 1 - Old Hwy 35 BridgeMapData
1648100Unnamed633047Un Creek - Chipmunk Coulee.Ne1/4ofne1/4sec24/29/19808/11/2011MapData
726550Wigwam Slough100559Wigwam Slough8/17/20078/19/2017MapData
1648100Unnamed10008998Chipmunk Coulee Station 3 - End Of Walking Trail Manske Prop.MapData
1648100Unnamed10008997Chipmunk Coulee Station 2 - 1000 Ft Below Walking BridgeMapData
1648100Unnamed10022056Chipmunk Coulee Cr. St. 3 - Manske Park Below LunkersMapData
1648100Unnamed10022058Chipmunk Coulee Cr. St. 5 - Bendel Rd. Bridge CrossingMapData
1648100Unnamed10020579Unnamed (Chipmunk Coulee Cr) at R. Herold Rd10/29/20091/1/2015MapData
1648100Unnamed10022057Chipmunk Coulee Cr. St. 2 - 30m Downstream Of Kleinertz Bridge1/1/20151/1/2015MapData

Monitoring Studies

The most recent habitat survey, conducted in 2009, documented a stream bottom consisting mainly of sand and clay with lesser amounts of silt, gravel, detritus and rubble. Riparian land use was comprised of mostly woodland with
some home development and meadow areas. Aquatic insects were also collected in 2009 and the Macroinvertebrate Index of Biological Integrity (MIBI) score was determined to be poor (1.69). Seven fish collections have occurred in this stream since 2007 with game fish such as brown trout, brook trout, tiger trout (brook and brown trout hybrid), northern pike, green sunfi sh, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed being found. The coldwater Fish Index of Biological Integrity (FIBI) was calculated for the fish collections, resulting in four fair and three good scores, indicating water quality adequate to support a cold water fishery. Chipmunk Coulee Creek would benefit from the acquisition of streambank easements and in-stream habitat restoration. Access is possible from four road crossings and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.

Date  2011

Author  Christopher Pracheil

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed 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.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

Chipmunk Creek (3-6) 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

The most recent survey documented a stream bottom consisting mainly of sand and clay with lesser amounts of silt, gravel, detritus and rubble. Riparian land use was comprised mostly of woodland with some home developments and very little meadow area. Fish cover was primarily woody debris with some overhanging vegetation and undercut banks. A variety of aquatic invertebrates were collected as well as numerous minnow species. Game species collected included brown trout, brook trout, tiger trout (brook and brown trout hybrid), northern pike, green sunfish, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Chipmunk Coulee Creek would benefit from the acquisition of streambank easements and in-stream habitat restoration. There are no Wisconsin DNR stocking records for this stream. Access is possible from four road crossings and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist