Willow Creek, Willow Creek Watershed (LW12)
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Willow Creek, Willow Creek Watershed (LW12)
Willow Creek (1220900)
2.28 Miles
24.82 - 27.10
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-Cold 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
Good
 
Richland, Sauk
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.
No
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.
No

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 I Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.
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

Willow Creek is a spring and drainage fed stream that enters the Pine River. The stream is
classified as an exceptional resource water (ERW) from above the Ithaca dam upstream to the
Richland-Sauk county line, a distance of about 16.9 miles. Downstream of the Ithaca dam the
stream is a warm water sport fishery. The stream supports the natural reproduction of brook
and brown trout and is considered a Class I trout stream above the Ithaca Dam. Baseline
monitoring was conducted in 2000 and it is recommended that the trout stream portion of
Willow Creek be increased to 21.8 miles of Class I trout water. There are a number of cattle
feedlots on or near the stream which might be affecting habitat and water quality and
sedimentation is a problem in some areas of the stream. The creek is a high priority for
nonpoint source pollution reduction. Habitat in the area surveyed is good although there are
some areas of the stream that could use some habitat work. Overall, water quality is generally
thought to be good.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Willow Creek is classified ERW from above the Ithaca dam upstream to the Richland-
Sauk county line, a distance of about 16.9 miles. Downstreanl of the Ithaca dam the
stream is a warm water sport fishery stream. The stream has 12.5 miles of Class I trout
waters and 5.7 miles of Class II trout water (WDNR, 1980). Water quality is generally
thought to be good (Eagan, 1980). There are a number of cattle feed lots on or near the
stream which are thought to be affecting habitat and water quality (WDNR, Kerr,
1991). Trout populations in the reach just below Loyd have drastically declined
since a high in 1986 (WDNR, Kerr, 1991). Habitat in the area surveyed is good.
Sedimentation is a problem in some areas of the stream (WDNR, 1991).

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Willow Creek, Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) Fish and Aquatic LifeWillow Creek, Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) RecreationWillow Creek, Willow Creek Watershed (LW12) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Willow Creek (WBIC 1220900) segment from Ithaca Dam to Hwy D 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
AIRR 148-13_Final Report [Japanese Knotweed Control]
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
WILLOW CREEK, RICHLAND COUNTY, SEXTONVILLE SD WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Watershed Mapping or Assessment
The Conservancy will develop a site conservation plan to guide them and other project partners with specific goals for the permanent protection, restoration and enhancements of important conservation projects. A full description of the project goals, objectives, and activities are in the grant application narrative, which is a part of this contract.

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
DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY: Willow Creek Protection into Perpetuity2004
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1220900Willow Creek10030058Upper Willow Creek along Harris Rd St. #81/1/20151/1/2015MapData
1220900Willow Creek10030056Willow Creek DS confluence of unnamed trib (WBIC 5031275)1/1/20151/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Willow Creek is located in the Willow Creek watershed which is 153.08 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.10%), grassland (22.50%) and a mix of agricultural (16.80%) and other uses (8.60%). This watershed has 339.41 stream miles, 64.58 lake acres and 3,605.43 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Natural Community

Willow Creek is considered a Cool-Cold 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 (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.