Clark
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Spooner Creek is a three mile tributary to the Black River. The stream flows through forested areas with some developed land. The gradient of the stream is the steepest in this watershed at 38.1 feet/mile. A recent habitat survey documented low base flow and shallow depths in riffles, runs, and pools. A wash water discharge from a quarry near Spooner Creek may be influencing the aquatic insect populations. Macroinvertebrate samples taken above and below the discharge indicated a decrease in water quality below the discharge. The Spooner Creek fishery is unknown at this time (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
Spooner Creek T24N, R2W, S15, Surface Acres = 1,0, Miles = 2.1, Gradient = 38.1 feet per mile.
Spooner Creek is a light brown colored, medium hard water stream that flows southeast into the Black River. It is primarily a forage fish species stream. About 55 percent of the watershed area is wooded or wild land. Furbearers, including beaver, are present. There is no public frontage adjacent to the stream. Access is possible from three road crossings.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Clark County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1965
Author Aquatic Biologist
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
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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1748700 | Spooner Creek | 10010221 | Spooner Creek - Spooner Creek | 4/16/1996 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=BR09)
Watershed Characteristics
Spooner Creek is located in the O'Neill and Cunningham Creeks watershed which is 161.85 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (39.90%), forest (31.20%) and a mix of grassland (16%) and other uses (12.90%). This watershed has 329.34 stream miles, 86.59 lake acres and 9,581.29 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.