Adams
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This is a clear, hard water, spring-fed stream that has a predominantly sand and silt bottom. It flows in an easterly direction into Marquette County. The gradient does not exceed 10 feet per mile. The fishery consists primarily of brook trout, but a small rainbow trout population is present. A Wisconsin Conservation Department cold water research station is located on the stream in Marquette County and various research programs have been conducted since 1952. Anglers may fish the stream by permit only. Wood ducks nest along the stream. Much of the stream in Adams County is in public ownership. A town road crosses the stream at the county line.
Lawrence Creek, T17N, R7E, Section 36 Surface Acres = 3.0, Miles = 1.1.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen. 1966. Surface Water Resources of Adams County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1966
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
A moderate-gradient stream which originates at the base of terminal moraine hills in Adams County and flows easterly to Lawrence Pond. Below the pond the stream is considered as Westfield Creek. Instream spring seepage and short spring feeders contribute significantly to the volume and quality of the stream. Brook trout constitute the fishery. There is a small population of rainbow trout also. The Conservation Department has conducted various research programs on this stream since 1952 and currently manages the fishery under a permit system. About 1.8 miles of stream are in public ownership as part of 824 acres owned by the Department.
Lawrence Creek, T16N, R8E, Section 5, Surface Acres = 5.5, Miles = 1.9, Gradient = 10,0 feet per mile.
From: Poff, Ronald J. and Threinen, C.W., 1963. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Marquette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Lawrence Creek (miles 0-1.98) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) and temperature 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
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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| 167100 | Lawrence Creek | 10041816 | Lawrence Creek at 1st Ave (County Line) | 7/14/2005 | 4/26/2024 | Map | Data |
| 167100 | Lawrence Creek | 10016703 | Lawrence Creek - 400 Ft. Upstream Of 1st Ave. Cul-Verts | 4/14/1995 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Lawrence Creek is located in the Montello River watershed which is 134.50 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.40%), agricultural (27.10%) and a mix of wetland (15.30%) and other uses (11.00%). This watershed has 156.65 stream miles, 768.66 lake acres and 11,663.70 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.