Schoolhouse Creek, Black and Hay Creeks Watershed (LC15)
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Schoolhouse Creek, Black and Hay Creeks Watershed (LC15)
Schoolhouse Creek (2135900)
3.63 Miles
0 - 3.63
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 Headwater, Cool-Warm 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.
2007
Unknown
 
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.
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.
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

Schoolhouse Creek is a nine-mile-long stream that originates in Jackson County and flows north to
Black Creek. Fairchild Pond is an 18-acre impoundment roughly midway between the headwaters
and mouth of the creek. Below the pond, the surrounding land is mainly forested. At the County
Highway H bridge, below Fairchild Pond, the in-stream habitat was limited by heavy sand deposits,
lack of coarse substrate and cover, and shallow pools, runs, and riffles. Bank vegetation was stable
with only small areas actively eroding. Upstream of Fairchild, the land use is predominantly
agricultural (Hazuga) .
Schoolhouse Creek was surveyed in 1994 and the fishery manager's recommendation for
classification is non-trout from Fairchild Pond dam downstream to Black Creek and Class I trout
from Fairchld Pond upstream to the headwaters in Jackson County (Talley, Johnson). Currently
the upper portions of Schoolhouse Creek are managed as Class I1 trout waters.
The Fairchild wastewater treatment plant once discharged to a tributary to Schoolhouse Creek. It
currently discharges to groundwater but may return to a surface water discharge as part of a
planned facility upgrade. Discharge options under consideration include: remain as a groundwater
discharge, discharge to Schoolhouse Creek below Fairchild Pond, discharge to Schoolhouse Creek
above Fairchild Pond (trout water), or discharge to a wetland that drains to an intermittent
tributary of Schoolhouse Creek above Fairchild Pond (LaLiberte).

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Schoolhouse Creek, Black and Hay Creeks Watershed (LC15) Fish and Aquatic LifeSchoolhouse Creek, Black and Hay Creeks Watershed (LC15) RecreationSchoolhouse Creek, Black and Hay Creeks Watershed (LC15) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Schoolhouse Creek (WBIC 2135900) from Fairchild Pond dam to the Eau Claire-Jackson county line 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
SCHOOLHOUSE CREEK, EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, FAIRCHILD STP WWTP USE DESIGNATION
SCHOOLHOUSE CREEK, EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, FAIRCHILD STP WWTP USE DESIGNATION

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.
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.
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
Schoolhouse Creek at Humbird Street in Fairchild2006
Schoolhouse Creek at Schoolhouse Creek2006
Schoolhouse Creek at Fairchild Dam Outlet2006
VILLAGE OF FAIRCHILD: Fairchild Pond Water Quality Management Plan2021
Schoolhouse Creek at HWY 102006
Fairchild Pond at Rod and Gun Club2006

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2136200Fairchild Pond10020173Fairchild Pond -- AccessMapData
2135900Schoolhouse Creek10012480Schoolhouse Creek At Fairchild Dam Outlet5/30/20069/10/2007MapData
2135900Schoolhouse Creek10011323Schoolhouse Creek - Schoolhouse Creek5/17/19959/11/2007MapData
2135900Schoolhouse Creek10020173Fairchild Pond -- AccessMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Schoolhouse Creek is located in the Black and Hay Creeks watershed which is 159.89 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (63.80%), agricultural (16.90%) and a mix of wetland (9.60%) and other uses (9.60%). This watershed has 289.15 stream miles, 1,005.46 lake acres and 19,247.91 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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

Schoolhouse Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm 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) 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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