Water Detail - Rock Cut Creek, Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed (SC18)

Rock Cut Creek, Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed (SC18)

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Rock Cut Creek (2748200)

Size

3.46 Miles

Segment

0.23 - 3.69

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.

Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Headwater

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.

2015

General Condition

Good

County

Douglas

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.

Yes

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.

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

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.

Cold

Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Rock Cut Creek, in the Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed, is a 3.69 mile river that falls in Douglas County. This river is a Class II Trout Water under the Fisheries Program. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Rock Cut Creek, Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed (SC18) Fish and Aquatic Life

Rock Cut Creek, Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed (SC18) Recreation

Rock Cut Creek, Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers Watershed (SC18) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Rock Cut Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate 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

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

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.

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
Rock Cut Creek south of Brancel Rd Bridge	2007
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Upper St. Croix Lake Protection Grant App/Proposal	2010
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Community Approach to Lake Planning,etc.-#4	2007
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Community Approach to Lake Planning, etc.-#3	2007
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Upper St. Croix Lake Association 2020 CBCW	2020
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: AIS Education, Prevention & Monitoring on Upper St. Croix Lk & Headwaters of St. Croix River	2010
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR: Upper St. Croix Lk Yellow Iris Early Detection/Response 2013-2015	2013
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Upper St Croix Lk 2016 CBCW Project	2016
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: AIS Education, Prevention & Monitoring on Upper St. Croix Lake & Headwaters of St. Croix River	2010
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: A Community Management Approach: Grant 5	2007
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: AIS Education, Prevention & Monitoring Project	2013
VILLAGE OF SOLON SPRINGS: AIS Control for Evasion of Watermilfoil	2007
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: AIS Control & CBCW Project	2015
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Upper St Croix Lake Association 2019 CBCW	2019
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: A Community Approach to Data Collection, Lake Modeling & Strategic Planning, Phase 1	2006
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: A Community Approach to Data Collection, Lake Modeling, & Strategic Planning, Phase 2	2006
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Eurasian Watermilfoil Monitoring on Upper St. Croix & Headwaters	2008
UPPER ST CROIX LAKE ASSOCIATION: Upper St Croix Lake Association 2018 CBCW	2018

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2748200	Unnamed	10021118	Rock Cut Creek - Trib To Upper St.Croix Lake - South Of Brancel Rd. Bridge	5/19/2006	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2748200	Unnamed	10038558	Rock Cut Creek at Brancel Rd. (RC01)	6/4/2006	5/13/2015	Map	Data
2748200	Unnamed	10038289	Un-named trib to Upper St Croix (22 M upstream)	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2748200	Unnamed	10044115	Rock Cut Cr at Business Hwy 53 - 50M DS	1/1/2015	5/13/2015	Map	Data
2748200	Unnamed	10044118	Rock Cut Cr at E Tom Green Rd - 5-10M DS	1/1/2015	6/5/2015	Map	Data
2748200	Unnamed	163372	Un Creek (T45n R12w S24 Seswswne) -	3/13/1995	8/23/1995	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers watershed which is 277.89 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (83.90%), wetland (9.50%) and a mix of open (4.30%) and other uses (2.40%). This watershed has 153.93 stream miles, 7,654.41 lake acres and 13,694.48 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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

Rock Cut Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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