Bayfield
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This is a major spring feeder stream to North Fish Creek, formed by a number of small spring-fed tributaries that originate on the south edge of the Moquah Barrens. The stream is a high quality Class I trout fishery that includes migratory species of trout and salmon. The soils in this watershed are the typical red clay and land use is more than 60 percent agricultural, with wooded pasture along streambanks. Creek banks generally lack cover and are damaged by grazing and cattle crossings. Sources of water pollution are primarily barnyards and poor land use practices. The watershed supports abundant white-tailed deer, bear, beaver, mink and ducks. Topographic maps indicate gravel pits have been excavated in the headwaters area of the stream, which is just outside the bounds of the Chequamegon National Forest. The potential exists for the forested areas of the headwaters to be harvested. The creek was a target of a red clay study that proposed land management projects to limit erosion. The creek served as a northern Wisconsin sample site for studying the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in surface waters.
During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, one rare species of macroinvertebrate was found in Pine Creek and overall taxa richness was moderate (5-24 species) (Epstein 1997). Bank erosion was a significant pollutant source and significant silting affected habitat quality at survey sites.
From: Turville-Heitz, Meg. 1999. Lake Superior Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Pine Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus 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
General Condition
Pine Creek (2888600) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and biological (macroinvertebrate and fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting this designated use and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
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
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 |
|---|
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059207 | Pine Creek DS of CTH G | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059065 | Pine Creek site 8a | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059067 | Pine Creek site 8b | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059059 | Pine Creek site 5 | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 043057 | Pine Creek - In Sec 13 T47n R6w | 10/6/1979 | 10/17/1994 | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059182 | Pine Creek US of Cross Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059051 | Pine Creek Site 2 | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10029316 | Pine Creek starting 978 feet below Little Pine confluence | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059180 | Pine Creek DS of Cross Road | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10029317 | Pine Creek at Old Highway 2 bridge | 4/21/2014 | 2/3/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059063 | Pine Creek site 7 | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059210 | Pine Creek US of CTH G | | | Map | Data |
| 2888600 | Pine Creek | 10059056 | Pine Creek site 4 | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Pine Creek is located in the Fish Creek watershed which is 156.55 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (60.80%), grassland (19.40%) and a mix of wetland (9.10%) and other uses (10.70%). This watershed has 292.51 stream miles, 3,880.64 lake acres and 4,418.55 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium 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.