Water Detail - Balsam Creek (Big Balsam), Black and Upper Nemadji River Watershed (LS02)

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam), Black and Upper Nemadji River Watershed (LS02)

Return to Search

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam) (2841400)

Size

16.51 Miles

Segment

3.17 - 19.68

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 Headwater

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

General Condition

Excellent

County

Douglas

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.

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.

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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.

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

This stream originates in wetlands on the state border and flows about 18 miles to where it meets the Nemadji River. From the headwaters to falls at T46N R15W S29 NENE the river is classified as supporting a reproducing trout fishery and has been listed as an exceptional resource water in NR102 for its numerous brook trout. The 15-foot falls are a migratory barrier for trout, thus all brook trout upstream of the falls are thought to be from native populations. From the falls downstream about 12 miles until a town road crossing, the stream is classified a Class II brook and brown trout fishery, becoming a Class III trout fishery from that road crossing to where the creek empties into the Nemadji.

The upper part of the creek flows through swampy areas and has a stream bed composed mainly of clay and silt. Downstream, the stream flows through deep ravines and can be flashy. The bottom types become predominantly sand, gravel, clay and boulders. Historically, cattle have had access to the stream in upper parts of the watershed and compounded in-stream pollution and erosion problems. Principal tributaries to this creek are Little Balsam Creek, Empire Creek and two unnamed Class I trout streams.

Date 2010

Author Aquatic Biologist

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam), Black and Upper Nemadji River Watershed (LS02) Fish and Aquatic Life

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam), Black and Upper Nemadji River Watershed (LS02) Recreation

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam), Black and Upper Nemadji River Watershed (LS02) 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

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

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10011229	Balsam Creek - Station 3 - 75 Meters West Off Big Balsam Rd.	6/8/2004	11/12/2004	Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10011181	Balsam Creek at Patzau Foxboro Rd	6/8/2004	6/8/2004	Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10011227	Balsam Creek - Station 1 - 45 M. Upstream Of Co. Hwy B	6/8/2004	11/12/2004	Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10011228	Balsam Creek - Station 2 - 25 M. Upstream Of Patzau-Foxboro Rd.	6/14/2004	11/12/2004	Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10051612	S. Foxboro-Chaffey Rd - Cemetary			Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10051613	Remote Location off Douglas Cty Forest Land			Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10007599	Balsam Creek at Deadham Rd	6/8/2004	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10051521	Big Balsam Creek - Gandy Dancer Trail			Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10051614	Remote Location Douglas County Forest Land - Gandy Dancer Trail			Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10007598	Balsam Creek at Cth B			Map	Data
2841400	Balsam Creek	10051611	South Foxboro-Chaffey - Farm			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Balsam Creek is located in the Black and Upper Nemadji River watershed which is 125.62 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (62%), wetland (30.30%) and a mix of grassland (6.10%) and other uses (1.60%). This watershed has 254.49 stream miles, 219.11 lake acres and 19,504.82 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam) is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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.