Tiffany Creek, South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06)
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Tiffany Creek, South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06)
Tiffany Creek (2070500)
1.35 Miles
11.71 - 13.06
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 Mainstem, Coldwater
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
Excellent
 
St. Croix
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

The upper 5.4 miles of this creek are a Class I trout fishery with abundant natural brook trout
reproduction. The next 12.6 miles are managed as a Class I1 trout fishery. Portions of the stream are
affected by streambank erosion, ditching, streambank pasturing, and elevated water temperatures.
Tiffany Creek is occasionally degraded by urban runoff and fertilizer spills in Glenwood City. The
upper two miles of the Class II section of this creek may be improved to Class I status with
reductions in nonpoint source pollution (Schreiber).
The Glenwood wastewater treatment plant discharges to a natural wetland draining into Tiffany
Creek. A portion of the headwater area is classified as a variance water for limited aquatic life. It is
uncertain if ammonia standards are being met in Tiffany Creek (LaLiberte). Allied Processors Inc.
has a permit to discharge to Tiffany Creek, however it ceased the discharge in late 1994. The
company intends to discharge to Tiffany Creek only in emergency situations.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Tiffany Creek Flows east into Dunn County and the Hay River drainage system. Of the stream's 4.2 miles length, 2.4 miles of the lower portion near Dunn County are trout water; brook trout are common here. A forage-minnow feeder stream, 1.3 miles long enters Tiffany Creek from a sedge-cattail marsh in Section 26. An artificial impoundment (3 foot head) is located at its headwaters and is used as a swimming pool in Glenwood City. An 8-acre marsh wetland area provides habitat for muskrat. A Girl Scout maintained wayside park is situated on Tiffany Creek just off County Highway 128. Public access to this stream may be had from four road bridges. -T30N, R15W, Sec. 34 to T30N, R15W, Sec. 25. Surface Acres = 2.0, Miles = 4.2, Gradient = 15 feet per mile

From: Sather, LaVerne M. and Threinen, C.W., 1961. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of St. Croix County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1961

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Tiffany Creek, South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) Fish and Aquatic LifeTiffany Creek, South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) RecreationTiffany Creek, South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Tiffany Creek (WBIC 2070500) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and 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

Glenwood City WWTP discharge, Wetland drainage to Tiffany Creek (WBIC 2070500) classification visit, St. Croix Co.
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Tiffany Creek East of Treatment Plant_NC.Ver_Stn_10011861_SSN_515078829_Report
Tiffany Creek at 320th St_NC.Ver_Stn_10010776_SSN_515078749_Report
Tiffany Creek at CTH Q_NC.Ver_Stn_10011858_SSN_515078835_Report
Tiffany Creek at US HWY 170_NC.Ver_Stn_10011859_SSN_515078722_Report
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
TIFFANY CREEK, DUNN COUNTY, ALLIED PROCESSORS WWTP USE DESIGNATION
TIFFANY CREEK, WETLAND TRIBUTARY, ST. CROIX COUNTY, GLENWOOD CITY POTW 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

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2070500Tiffany Creek10011863Tiffany Creek - 13-Tiffany Creek. 50' U.S. Of Confluence Of South TiffanyMapData
2070500Tiffany Creek10010776Tiffany Creek - Tiffany Creek 12 320th St.1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
2070500Tiffany Creek563096Tiffany Creek at 320th Ave. Bdg1/5/199512/7/1995MapData
2070500Tiffany Creek10012744Tiffany Creek 13b ~250 Meters Downstream Of South Fairgrounds DriveMapData
2070500Tiffany Creek10012745Tiffany Creek 13cMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Tiffany Creek is located in the South Fork Hay River watershed which is 181.99 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (33.70%), forest (30.60%) and a mix of grassland (29.10%) and other uses (6.60%). This watershed has 399.14 stream miles, 412.20 lake acres and 6,405.93 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Tiffany Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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.

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