Vaughn Creek, Potato River Watershed (LS11)
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Vaughn Creek, Potato River Watershed (LS11)
Vaughn Creek (2906300)
9.55 Miles
8.96 - 18.51
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater, Cool-Warm Headwater
Year Last Monitored
2014
Suspected Poor
 
Iron
Trout Water 
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
LFF
Designated Use
Cold

Overview

This stream is Class III trout water in its lower reaches near the confluence with the Potato River, and a Class II trout fishery in its upper reaches until it becomes largely bounded by wetlands. Wisconsin Trout Streams identifies the boundary between the two classes as occurring at the stream crossing in Section 9 in Ashland County. This road crossing actually occurs in Section 10. In Ashland County, the stream flows through the Bad River Indian Reservation. Unstable bottom conditions and wildly fluctuating water levels limit this portion of the stream as a trout water. The Iron County portions of the river are also subject to stream flow fluctuations, with low flows a common problem. The community of Saxon discharges effluent to Vaughn Creek just a few miles from the headwaters in an area of wetlands. Prior to the construction of the wastewater treatment plant, water quality sampling indicated combined septic tank effluent from Saxon harmed the creek. The stretch of this creek from the outfall in T46N R1W S1 NE to the west boundary of the section is recommended for inclusion in NR 104 as a limited forage fishery. Upstream of this reach, primarily wetland flow, is probably only supporting a limited forage fish community. We have no recent data on this stream. Much of the watershed is forested with a likelihood for varying approaches to forest management that could threaten the stream.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, no species of macroinvertebrate were found and overall taxa richness was moderate (5-24 species) (Epstein 1997). At the survey site, streambank erosion is a significant pollutant source, with urban inputs a threat; silt is a significant factor affecting habitat quality.

Turville-Heitz, Meg. 1999. Lake Superior Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Streams capable of supporting small populations of forage fish or tolerant macro-invertebrates that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically limited due to naturally poor water quality or habitat deficiencies. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 3 mg/L.
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.
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.