7.71 Miles
0 - 7.71
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
Poor
Degraded Habitat
Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
Buffalo
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Jahns Valley Creek is an eight-mile creek that flows the length of the Jahns Valley Subwatershed; one of the smaller subwatersheds in the Waumandee Creek Watershed. Downstream sections of the creek have been widened and channelized. Pasture borders the majority of the stream with livestock permitted access to the creek, resulting in trampled stream banks in the downstream portion of Jahns Valley Creek.
Grazed woodlot and pasture contribute the majority of sediment to the creek. Sand and silt creek bottom, poor shading, and elevated water temperatures yield a poor fish habitat. Jahns Valley Creek supports a warm water forage fishery, with potential to support a Class III trout fishery. A fish survey conducted in 2001 found 7 brown trout out of 25 fish total. Speculation is that the brown trout found in the creek were stocked.
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
On 2006 303d list, TMDL approved 2005. Jahns Valley Creek is an eight-mile creek that flows the length of the Jahns Valley Subwatershed; one of the smaller subwatersheds in the Waumandee Creek Watershed. Downstream sections of the creek have been widened and channelized. Pasture borders the majority of the stream with livestock permitted access to the creek, resulting in trampled stream banks in the downstream portion of Jahns Valley Creek.
Grazed woodlot and pasture contribute the majority of sediment to the creek. Sand and silt creek bottom, poor shading, and elevated water temperatures yield a poor fish habitat1. Jahns Valley Creek supports a warm water forage fishery, with potential to support a Class III trout fishery. A fish survey conducted in 2001 found 7 brown trout out of 25 fish total. Speculation is that the brown trout found in the creek were stocked.
Date 2005
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
Recommendations
TMDL (USEPA) Approved
TMDL for Sediment Impaired Streams in the Waumandee Creek Watershed - Jahns Valley Creek. This TMDL project is designed to restore water resource substrate, which In most cases, the gravel substrate is extensively covered by sand, silt, and soft organic matter
preventing a suitable habitat for fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Filling-in of pools reduces the amount of available cover for juvenile and adult fish. Sedimentation of riffle areas reduces the reproductive success of fish by reducing the exposed gravel substrate necessary for
appropriate spawning conditions. Sedimentation also affects macroinvertebrate biomass (fish food source) which tends to be lower in areas with predominantly sand substrate than a stream substrate with a mix of gravel, rubble, and sand.
Management Plans
Sediment reduction from watershed sources, continued monitoring, and ongoing restoration and management of trout reproduction are the primary management goals for this water.
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 |
|---|
| 1810800 | Unnamed | 10009571 | Jahns Valley Creek #3-(Farm Rd Crossing Off Lisowski Rd) | | | Map | Data |
| 1810800 | Unnamed | 10021127 | Jahns Valley Creek | | | Map | Data |
| 1810800 | Unnamed | 10010319 | Jahns Valley Creek (Sth 88) | | | Map | Data |
| 1810800 | Unnamed | 10033943 | Jahns Valley Creek adjacent to CTH XX | | | Map | Data |
|
Monitoring Studies
Fish and stream surveys were done in 1989 and the fall of 2001. The 2001 survey found mostly forage species with a few stocked brown trout. A coldwater IBI score of 10 (poor) was found in 2001. An HBI score of 4.31 (very good) was found in 1990. Fish Management completed a survey in the mid to upper stream reach in 2001. No trout were found and the fish community was represented by three species including Johnny darter, creek chub and brook stickleback. SWIMs ID = 10009571 Fish Management completed a survey near the mouth at STH 88 in 2006. No trout were found and the fish community was represented by four forage species. SWIMs ID = 10010319 Date1/31/2008
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Waumandee Creek watershed which is 221.97 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (49%), agricultural (24.60%) and a mix of grassland (13.70%) and other uses (12.60%). This watershed has 508.29 stream miles, 3,011.30 lake acres and 8,253.68 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.
Jahns Valley Creek 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.
More Interactive Maps
Maps of Watershed