Elk Creek, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13)
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Elk Creek, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13)
Elk Creek (2120800)
4.01 Miles
0 - 4.01
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
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.
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Dunn
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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

Elk Creek is a Class I trout stream for nearly 14 miles above Elk Creek Lake and Class 11 for 3.6
miles below the lake. The Class I portion of Elk Creek is listed as an outstanding resource water
(ORW) in NR 102, Water Quality Standards for Wisconsin Surface Waters. The state's
antidegradation policy prohibits new point source discharges to ORWs unless the effluent water
quality is better than background water quality found in the stream.
In Elk Creek, polluted runoff contributes to the degradation of critical trout habitat. Significant
streambank erosion was identified in 1978 above the lake at 19 sites in Dunn County and 35 sites in
Chlppewa County. About 80 percent of the sites in Dunn County were stabilized by a Trout
Unlimited project. Several barnyards located on the stream degrade water quality and fishery
habitat. Cropping close to the streambank is also a problem. Elk Creek has the potential to
improve as an excellent trout fishery if polluted runoff is controlled. As with Big Elk Creek, the
tributaries to Elk Creek contribute sediment, which could be controlled with best management
practices (Dwoznik, Holzer) .
The Chippewa County portion of Elk Creek is designated as a State Fishery Area. WDNR has
acquired strearnbank easements and fenced the stream to protect the bank from erosion (Holzer).
Control of sources of polluted runoff, such as cropping close to streams, would benefit the majority
of Elk Creek's reaches.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Elk Creek, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13) Fish and Aquatic LifeElk Creek, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13) RecreationElk Creek, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Elk Creek, from its mouth to inlet of Elk Creek Lake (mile 0-4.01) was put on the impaired waters list in 2012 for high phosphorus levels; this impairment was confirmed in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 cycles.

Elk Creek [outlet of Elk Creek Lake to last crossing of Dunn/Eau Claire county line (mile 5.4-8.74)]: This segment is attaining its designated use is not considered impaired. This segment was proposed to be identified as a new Category 2 water in 2018.

Elk Creek [Dunn/Eau Claire county line to 10th Ave. (mile 8.63-8.97)]: The 2018 assessment results show this segment is attaining its designated uses or there is not enough information to assess condition. This segment is not considered impaired.

Elk Creek, from 10th Ave. to headwaters (mile 8.97-25.33), was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022. In these evaluations fish and bug community health remained good, but phosphorus levels were too high in the 2020 cycle.

Date  2022

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

Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Elk Creek 300 m west (downstream) from County Hwy T
2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Elk Creek at 35th Street
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Elk Creek, Elk Creek at 35th Street, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Rivers TP Summary 2012

Recommendations

Fisheries Trout Stream Habitat Maintenance and Development
The Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited (former Ojibleau Chapter) proposes to continue its work toward restoration of trout habitat on Elk Creek in Chippewa County. Major project elements to include: 1) streambank restoration- 2) installation of instream structure- 3) water monitoring- 4) information and education.
Fisheries Trout Stream Habitat Maintenance and Development
The Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited (former Ojibleau Chapter) proposes to continue its work toward restoration of trout habitat on Elk Creek in Chippewa County. Major project elements to include: 1) streambank restoration, 2) installation of instream structure, 3) water monitoring, 4) information and education.
Fisheries Trout Stream Habitat Maintenance and Development
Trout Unlimited- Ojibleau Chapter- in conjunction with the TU National- Xcel Energy and DNR Fisheries Management proposes to continue progress toward restoration of streambanks and trout habitat within Elk Creek in Chippewa County. Major project elements to include: 1) surveys and monitoring- 2) rock placement- 3) construction and placement of lunker structures- 4) replanting- 5) printing- postage and signs.
Fisheries Trout Stream Habitat Maintenance and Development
Trout Unlimited, Ojibleau Chapter, in conjunction with the TU National, Xcel Energy and DNR Fisheries Management proposes to continue progress toward restoration of streambanks and trout habitat within Elk Creek in Chippewa County. Major project elements to include: 1) surveys and monitoring, 2) rock placement, 3) construction and placement of lunker structures, 4) replanting, 5) printing, postage and signs.
Control Streambank Erosion
Elk Creek, a tributary to the Lower Chippewa River, in south eastern Dunn county, is classified as an Outstanding Water Resource by the WDNR. This stream supports a healthy brook and brown trout population and offers excellent angling opportunities. Elk Creek flows through a glacial lacustrine deposit overlain by sand and gravel outwash. This situation causes widespread slope instability and therefore natural streambank erosion. This project would stabilize one of the worst eroding sites on this portion of the stram and overhead bank covers would provide additional habitat for trout. Sediment delivery to Elk Creek Lake would be reduced.

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
TROUT UNLIMITED-WI CLEAR WATERS CHAPTER: Elk Creek Restore '092008
DUNN COUNTY: Elk Creek Streambank Stabilization2000
TROUT UNLIMITED-WI CLEAR WATERS CHAPTER: Elk Creek Restore2007
ELK CREEK LAKE R & P DISTRICT: Elk Creek Lake PRD-Elk Creek Lake Riprap Lined Waterway2021

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2120800Elk Creek10009302Elk Creek-1 50m Upstream Cth C1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
2120800Elk Creek10034433ELK CREEK - 445 M DOWNSTREAM FIRST RIFFLE BELOW ELK CREEK LAKE DAM1/1/20158/29/2024MapData
2120800Elk Creek10030619Elk Creek at 960th Street/Cresent Ave.10/13/20091/1/2015MapData
2120800Elk Creek10015734Elk Creek - Cth C Directly Under Bridge10/14/200210/7/2024MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Elk Creek is located in the Muddy and Elk Creeks watershed which is 237.94 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (48.60%), forest (21.80%) and a mix of grassland (16.80%) and other uses (12.80%). This watershed has 313.30 stream miles, 590.92 lake acres and 11,999.60 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Elk Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem 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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