Water Detail - Main Creek, Main Creek Watershed (UC05)

Main Creek, Main Creek Watershed (UC05)

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Main Creek (2217100)

Size

20.16 Miles

Segment

0 - 20.16

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-Warm Mainstem

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

General Condition

Good

County

Rusk

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.

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.

Yes

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.

WWSF

Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

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.

WWSF

Overview

Main Creek is a low to moderate gradient, warm water stream subject to extreme flow
variations. Common fish species iound in the stream include northern pike, rock bass,
and various rough fish. The stream originates at the confluence of its Middle and North
Forks, and then flows southwest to the Holcombe Flowage on the Chippewa River. The
upper reaches of Main Creek flow through predominately forested land, while
agricultural land is common along the lower sections. Pasture and cropland account for
about half of the land usage bordering the stream. Long stretches of the stream
experience heavy sediment deposition. Holcombe Lake is an upper reach of the
Holcombe Flowage and receives the inflow from both Main Creek and the Jump River.
Monitoring of Holcombe Lake has identified highly eutrophic conditions, which indicate
high nutrient loading from these streams. The village of Conrath wastewater treatment
plant discharges to Main Creek.

Date

Author Aquatic Biologist

Main Creek, Main Creek Watershed (UC05) Fish and Aquatic Life

Main Creek, Main Creek Watershed (UC05) Recreation

Main Creek, Main Creek Watershed (UC05) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Main Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish 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

Main Creek, Main Creek - (atCloverland Rd), Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO MAIN CREEK, HACKETT CREEK, RUSK COUNTY, FLAMBEAU CORRECTIONAL CENTER WWTP, WI DAIRIES COOP (CONRATH) WWTP, USE DESIGNATION

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

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2217100	Main Creek	10012353	Main Creek at Holcombe Flowage			Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10036401	Main Creek - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553125	Main Creek at Cth G	10/9/1997	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10012963	Main Creek - (atCloverland Rd)	1/1/2015	9/28/2017	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553037	Main Creek - 250 Yds Bl Conrath Dairy	2/27/1975	10/27/1975	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553038	Main Creek - Cth I Above Conrath	2/27/1975	5/5/1993	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10032402	Main Creek at Conrath			Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10035302	Main Creek - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10035254	Main Creek - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10029153	Main Creek - Rangeline Road	1/1/2015	11/4/2015	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553124	Main Creek at Cth P	10/9/1997	10/9/1997	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10038192	Main Creek 75m US Broken Arrow Rd	8/15/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	10040914	Main Creek 40 m US CTH B	7/25/2013	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553045	Main Creek - Tn Rd Ab Holcombe Flowge	2/26/1975	10/9/1997	Map	Data
2217100	Main Creek	553126	Main Creek at Broken Arrow Road	10/22/2010	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Main Creek is located in the Main Creek watershed which is 157.26 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (38.50%), wetland (33.60%) and a mix of agricultural (16.60%) and other uses (11.30%). This watershed has 219.28 stream miles, 160.14 lake acres and 23,722.27 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Main Creek is considered a Cool-Warm Mainstem 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.