Winnebago
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Historical Description
Waukau Creek, T18N, R14E, Section 23 (1). Area = 14.5 acres, Length = 12.0 miles, Gradient = 9.7 feet/mile.
This stream was nearly dry during the summer of 1970. Waukau Creek drains Rush Lake and is a tributary to the Fox River. Fisk Creek joins Waukau Creek near Rush Lake. A resident fishery consisting of suckers and other forage species is
present. During spring high water, northern pike, walleyes, and carp migrate up Waukau Creek to spawn
in Rush Lake. In the village of Waukau, the stream is diverted through a carp holding impoundment.
Water can be diverted around this pond. Silt, gravel, and rubble are major bottom materials. Upland hardwoods,
firm pasture, shrub swamp, and open marsh are predominant stream bank types. Wildlife values are
limited to those provided by the few waterfowl and furbearers found in adjacent wetlands. Public
access is available from three county highways, one town road, and one state highway.
From: 1975. Surface Water Resources of Winnebago County: Lake and Stream Classification Project.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1975
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Waukau Creek (140700) from its mouth to the unnamed pond east of Hwy 116 was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). This water was also assessed for chlorides and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM chronic and acute listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 140700 | Waukau Creek | 10047827 | Waukau Creek at HWY 116 | | | Map | Data |
| 141900 | Unnamed | 10007490 | Unnamed Lake (T18 R14E S23) | 7/27/1999 | 7/9/2001 | Map | Data |
| 140700 | Waukau Creek | 713285 | Waukau Creek at Cth E USGS Site ID 04073970 | 8/3/1995 | 10/1/2024 | Map | Data |
| 140700 | Waukau Creek | 10029306 | WAUKAU CREEK AT SENN RD UPSTREAM | 9/1/2011 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 140700 | Waukau Creek | 10016240 | Waukau Creek - 0 | 9/23/1996 | 9/23/1996 | Map | Data |
| 140700 | Waukau Creek | 713314 | Waukau Creek - Cth E Nr Omro | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Waukau Creek is located in the Fox River watershed which is 119.76 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.60%), wetland (18.40%) and a mix of grassland (13.90%) and other uses (10.10%). This watershed has 236.73 stream miles, 3,102.34 lake acres and 13,826.50 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. 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.