Bears Grass Creek, Lower Eau Claire River Watershed (LC14)
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Bears Grass Creek, Lower Eau Claire River Watershed (LC14)
Bears Grass Creek (2130300)
9.82 Miles
6.12 - 15.94
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.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
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.
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.
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.
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

Bears Grass Creek is a 10.2-mile tributary of the Eau Claire River located in the Lower Eau Claire River Priority Watershed. The priority watershed project was initiated in 1983 and was completed in December 1993 (Schreiber 1993). For this project, Bears Grass Creek was split into two subwatersheds, each with different management goals. The upper subwatershed (upstream of CTH V) was managed as a Class III brook trout fishery and the project objective was to increase trout reproduction and survival. The lower subwatershed (downstream of CTH V) supports a forage fishery and the project objective was to improve the diversity of the aquatic community including insects, fish and plants. Implementation of the project involved installation of barnyard management controls, fencing to exclude livestock, riprap, sloping and seeding, and stream crossings (Schreiber 1993). According to the final project report from 1993, the first objective (to increase trout reproduction and survival) was not met in the upper Bears Grass Creek because natural reproduction would not improve until sediments were scoured and gravel riffle areas were exposed. The second objective (to improve the diversity of the aquatic community including insects, fish and plants) was also not met in the lower portion because the improvement in the diversity of more tolerant aquatic macroinvertebrates did not represent improved water quality conditions (Schreiber, 1993).

Date  2007

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

Several changes have occurred in Bears Grass Creek since initiation of the priority watershed
project. The stream corridor has noticeably improved, with streambank erosion due to cattle access
almost non-existent. However, elimination of several beaver dams appears to have resulted in
downstream sediment redistribution, virtually eliminating cover and gravel riffle areas in some
reaches. Remaining extensive sediment deposits may be a result of a variety of causes including the
low stream gradient and consequent lack of scouring, and continuing sources of new sediment from
cropland runoff (Schreiber 1993).

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Bears Grass Creek, Lower Eau Claire River Watershed (LC14) Fish and Aquatic LifeBears Grass Creek, Lower Eau Claire River Watershed (LC14) RecreationBears Grass Creek, Lower Eau Claire River Watershed (LC14) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Bears Grass Creek (2130300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category).

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Chippewa and EauClaire Counties trout class changes news release Feb20, 2012
Chippewa and EauClaire counties trout class checklist Feb20, 2012
BEARS GRASS CREEK MONITORING REPORT, 2004-2005
Chippewa and EauClaire counties trout survey data 2004

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

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
Bears Grass Creek at CTH V2010
Bears Grass Creek - 100 Feet Upstream Of Sth 12 Bridge(#Bg 2a)2010

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2130300Bears Grass Creek10031105Bears Grass Creek at CTH V3/31/20101/1/2015MapData
2130300Bears Grass Creek10016612Bears Grass Creek - Bg 2- Started 150 Feet Below Privateaccess Bridge And Worked Upstream 100 Feet.11/4/19864/24/1995MapData
2130300Bears Grass Creek10011951Bears Grass Creek - Bears Grass Creek 3- Cth VMapData
2130300Bears Grass Creek10011948Bears Grass Creek - 2- Cth Jj5/30/20141/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Bears Grass Creek is located in the Lower Eau Claire River watershed which is 216.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (44.70%), agricultural (30%) and a mix of grassland (16.20%) and other uses (9.00%). This watershed has 414.24 stream miles, 937.46 lake acres and 10,770.45 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

Bears Grass Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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) 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.

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