Trempealeau
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
French Creek flows in a southerly direction until it reaches Beaver Creek between Ettrick and Galesville. The main stem of French Creek is generally shallow and wide in the lower half, while the upper half is narrower with steep banks. The upper portion contains some deep pools and has greater in-stream cover, usually provided by downed trees. The stream suffers from lack of habitat for fish and aquatic insects. The reduction of streambank erosion may create a stream capable of supporting a Class II trout fishery. Flooding in this sub-watershed aggravates exposed banks that contribute new sediment to the streambed. Many tributary streams are shallow and warm, but many contain gravel substrate in their upper reaches (WDNR, 1986).
Habitat surveys conducted on French Creek in 1996 documented little improvement since the 1986 surveys. Fishery surveys conducted in 1996 documented higher densities of adult brook trout since 1985 surveys. However, the number of stocked fish prior to the surveys was 75% higher in 1996. The surveys also documented an increase in the number of young of the year brook trout, which may be due to improved habitat conditons since 1985 (Hazuga).
From: Koperksi, Cindy. 1999. Black River Water Quality Management Plan (draft). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
French Creek, (WBIC) 1679500, in the Beaver Creek (BR02) Watershed in Trempealeau has an impaired stream reach from the confluence with Beaver Creek, upstream to CTH T and ending south of Iduna. (4 miles). The stream's existing use is a Coldwater Class II Trout Water and the designated or codified use is Defaul Fish and Aquatic Life. Biologists believe the the potential use of the stream is a Coldwater Class I Troutwater. French Creek is identified as Cold II (5.4 miles) in the 2002 Trout Stream book. Causes of impairment include habitat, sedimentation, and temperature from streambank pasturing, barnyard runoff, cropland erosion, and construction site erosion.
Recent Monitoring includes macroinvertebrate sampling at four sites during 1996 and 1986 found excellent HBI ratings at all sites. Fish and stream surveys conducted in December 1996 and 1985. Only forage fish were found in the downstream stations, and low densities of brook trout were found in the upper stations. The stream was last evaluated in December 1996. The Beaver Creek Priority Watershed Project-Water Resource Evaluation Monitoring Report (Hazuga 1997) summarizes the findings. Stream habitat surveys in 1996 found fair conditions (124-189 range of habitat scores).
This water is described in the Black River Basin Plan (1992) and the Black-Buffalo-Trempealeau Basin Report (2002). The location of supporting data (electronic and hard copy files) can be found at the WDNR Black River Falls Service Center. The date of review was 2002, with an update on 12/18/03.
Date 2003
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
French Creek, from its mouth to Wayside Lane (miles 0 to 2.47), was evaluated for temperature and biology in the 2016 and 2018 cycles respectively. Both were in good condition; this stream segment is on the Healthy Waters List.
French Creek, from Wayside Lane to the headwaters (miles 2.47 to 8.75), was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022; elevated phosphorus was identified in the 2020 cycle and confirmed in the 2022 cycle. This stream is on the Impaired Waters List.
Date 2022
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
Recommendations
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1679500 | French Creek | 10012585 | French Creek at Linrude Rd. | 4/17/1986 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1679500 | French Creek | 10008478 | French Creekat Dead End Road | 4/24/1986 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1679500 | French Creek | 10008474 | French Creek at Bakken Rd. Bridge | 10/20/2009 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1679500 | French Creek | 10038929 | French Creek - Bakken Rd. upstream Fish Station | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1679500 | French Creek | 623114 | French Creek - Hwy T Bridge Sec 3 | 4/24/1986 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
French Creek is located in the Beaver Creek and Lake Marinuka watershed which is 160.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (54.90%), agricultural (23.20%) and a mix of grassland (14.30%) and other uses (7.60%). This watershed has 375.97 stream miles, 229.76 lake acres and 3,765.47 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.