Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W), South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06)
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Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W), South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06)
Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W) (2071800)
5.52 Miles
0 - 5.52
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
 
Dunn, 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

Sandy Creek is a 12-mile-long tributary to Tiffany Creek and is managed as a Class I trout fishery
in the upper 5.2 miles and as a Class I1 trout fishery in the lower 6.8 miles. Water resource
problems include bank erosion, especially in wooded areas, streambank pasturing, ditchtng and
sedimentation. The Class 11 section of this creek has the potential to improve to a Class I stream
with the control of nonpoint pollution sources (Schreiber).

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Sandy Creek -T30N, R15W, Sec. 3 to T30N, R15W, Sec. 24, Surface Acres = 2.7, Miles = 5.5, Gradient = 19 feet per mile.
Flows southeast into Dunn County and the Hay River drainage system. This stream is managed for brook trout. A small spring feeder stream enters from Section 13, Township 30 North, Range 15 West. This feeder is considered to be a forage-minnow stream. It has no public frontage other than the access that may be had from the 5 road bridges.

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

Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W), South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) Fish and Aquatic LifeSandy Creek (T30N, R15W), South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) RecreationSandy Creek (T30N, R15W), South Fork Hay River Watershed (LC06) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Sandy Creek (WBIC 2071800) from its mouth upstream to CTH X 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

Sandy Creek at 50th St_NC.Ver_Stn_10011822_SSN_515080141_Report
Trout_Reclassification_Notice_2020_Yallaly_WD
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Sandy Creek at 310th St_NC.Ver_Stn_10011829_SSN_515078679_Report
Sandy Creek at 50th St_NC.Ver_Stn_10011822_SSN_515080141_Report
Sandy Creek at CTH Q_NC.Ver_Stn_10011818_SSN_515079978_Report
Sandy Creek at Sandy Creek Rd_NC.Ver_Stn_10011825_SSN_515080142_Report
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

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
2071800Sandy Creek10011822Sandy Creek - 3-Sandy Creek. 50' U.S. Of 50th St.1/1/20159/29/2015MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10037537Sand Creek DS of 150th Ave6/25/20121/1/2015MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10011825Sandy Creek - 5-Sandy Creek. 50' U.S. Of Sandy Creek Rd.1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10011824Sandy Creek - 4-Sandy Creek. 50' U.S. Of Sandy Creek Rd.MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10011818Sandy Creek - 1-Sandy Creek. 50' U.S. Of Cth Q1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10011819Sandy Creek - 2-Sandy Creek. 50' U.S. Of 50th St.4/22/19944/22/1994MapData
2071800Sandy Creek10010803Sandy Creek - Sandy Creek 6 Cth X10/6/19981/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Sandy 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

Sandy Creek (T30N, R15W) 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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