Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)
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Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)
Duncan Creek (2150600)
8.50 Miles
0 - 8.50
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2022
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Chippewa
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

The Class I portion of Duncan Creek, the headwater area, is classified as an outstanding resource
water (ORW), which requires any new point source discharge to have effluent limits as stringent as
the water quality found in the creek. This area has few limiting factors or pollutant sources except a
few small barnyards near the streambank. The extreme upper reach of Duncan Creek near New
Auburn is a State Fishery Area. Below Lake Como, which is the first Duncan Creek impoundment
at Bloomer, the creek is a warm water fishery, although brown trout are often found in this section
(Kurz). Limiting factors and pollutants in this reach include streambank erosion due to cattle access,
sedimentation, and organic and nutrient loading from runoff and point sources of pollution. With
pollutant sources controlled and fish stocking, this stream reach could become a Class 11 trout
fishery. The lower five miles of Duncan Creek are limited by elevated stream temperatures,
streambank erosion, sedimentation, and organic and nutrient loading. This portion of Duncan
Creek has the potential to become a Class I1 trout stream if temperatures can be lowered (Schreiber
June, 1992).
The Bloomer wastewater treatment plant discharges to Duncan Creek about one mile below
Como Dam. To allow more accurate use of existing stream data when evaluating limits for the
Bloomer plant, district staff need additional data (LaLiberte 1994).
Bloomer's effluent increases phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations in Duncan Creek by 131
percent and 64 percent, respectively. This discharge likely aggravates water quality problems in the
downstream impoundments. The Bloomer facility currently discharges total phosphorus at a
concentration of 12 mg/l. Administrative Rule NR.217 will require phosphorus treatment to 1 mg/l
(Simonson) .

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.