Elk Creek Lake, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13)
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Elk Creek Lake, Muddy and Elk Creeks Watershed (LC13)
Elk Creek Lake (2121000)
57.31 Acres
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
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.
2018
Good
 
Dunn, Eau Claire
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.
No
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Elk Creek Lake is a small impoundment on Elk Creek in Durn and Eau Claire counties. A major
restoration project was completed in the late 1980s. The project included in-lake dredging, upstream
streambank stabilization, dam restoration, fish restocking, and aquascaping with native aquatic
vegetation. Sedimentation continues to be a water quality concern since 72 percent of the watershed
is in agriculture and has a sedimentation rate estimated at 15,000 cubic yards per year (U.S.EPA,
Findley Engineering).
Because of water quality concerns, this lake is a high priority for receiving a lake planning and/or
protection grant. It also ranks high as a potential small-scale priority watershed project as a part of
the Elk Creek subwatershed. Elk Creek upstream of this impoundment is trout water threatened by
polluted runoff (see discussion under Elk Creek). A self-help volunteer on ths lake would be
beneficial in documenting some water quality trends.
Before major rural residential development occurs, a land use assessment and water quality
monitoring should be conducted.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1962, Surface Water Resources of Dunn County Elk Creek Lake T27N, R11W, Sec. 13 (Partly in Eau Claire County)

A softwater, drainage impoundment on Elk Creek. It has a navigable inlet and a 23-foot head dam (Dairyland Power Cooperative) on its outlet (24 cfs). Managed as a two-story trout and bass-panfish flowage, its fish populations include brook, brown and rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, white crappies, pumpkinseed, yellow bullheads and white suckers. An access with limited parking and a swimming area without facilities is available at the south end of the flowage. A one-half mile of public frontage. There is a one-acre county park used for picnicking on the west side of the flowage near the inlet. Undeveloped platted parks and roadways make up balance of the frontage designated for public use. Thirty-six cottages and dwellings make up its private development. An acre of wetlands near the inlet provides habitat for muskrats and nesting mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks.

Surface Acres = 46.3, S. D. F. = 2.62, Maximum Depth = 24 feet

Date  1962

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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

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

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
AIS Early Detection 2015 Data Form Elk Creek 2121000
Elk Creek Lake, Eau Claire County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (1)(32 mpts)
Elk Creek Lake, Eau Claire County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (2)(32 mpts)
Elk Creek Lake, Eau Claire County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (32 mpts)
Elk Creek Lake, Eau Claire County - Garmin Text File
Lake Bathymetry Map for Elk Creek Lake

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
ELK CREEK LAKE R & P DISTRICT: Elk Creek Lake Dam Operational Manual1991
ELK CREEK LAKE R & P DISTRICT: Elk Creek Lake PRD-Elk Creek Lake Riprap Lined Waterway2021
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10032744Elk Creek at Dunn/Eau Claire county lineMapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10018377Elk Creek Lake -- Carry In Only Elk Creek LakeMapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10014943Elk Creek Lake_General Lake StationMapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10002319Elk Creek Lake8/7/20018/19/2017MapData
2120800Elk Creek10032744Elk Creek at Dunn/Eau Claire county lineMapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*173236Elk Creek Lake - Deep Hole5/16/20027/23/2002MapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10051946County Road E @ Elk Creek 10/4/201810/4/2018MapData
2121000Elk Creek Lake*10018376Elk Creek Lake -- Access5/21/20098/4/2010MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Elk Creek Lake* 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.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

Elk Creek Lake is considered a Impounded Flowing Water 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.

This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.