General Condition
This water was assessed during the 2014 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data clearly met 2014 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. No biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological condition. Biological data from 2013 shows fish ibi data for coldwater IBI is poor (20). This is a coldwater ibi value.
Date 2015
Author Lisa Helmuth
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
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.
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
Monitoring Projects
WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
---|
2744100 | Lower Ox Creek | 10040563 | Ox Hole at the mouth of Ox Creek | 7/31/2008 | 7/31/2008 | Map | Data |
2744100 | Lower Ox Creek | 10029783 | Lower Ox Creek 1400 meters N of confluence with St Croix River | 6/13/2005 | 6/1/2008 | Map | Data |
2744100 | Lower Ox Creek | 10038575 | Ox Creek at St. Croix River (OX00) | 4/2/2006 | 4/2/2006 | Map | Data |
2744100 | Lower Ox Creek | 10038586 | Ox Creek downstream of Lower Ox Lake (OX07) | 7/6/2009 | 7/6/2009 | Map | Data |
2744100 | Lower Ox Creek | 10038587 | Ox Creek at the Narrows (OX08) | 7/6/2009 | 7/6/2009 | Map | Data |
|
![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=SC18)
Watershed Characteristics
Lower Ox Creek is located in the Upper St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers watershed which is 277.89 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (83.90%), wetland (9.50%) and a mix of open (4.30%) and other uses (2.40%). This watershed has 153.93 stream miles, 7,654.41 lake acres and 13,694.48 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.