Water Detail - Freeman Creek, Lower Big Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW17)

Freeman Creek, Lower Big Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW17)

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Freeman Creek (1427700)

Size

7.97 Miles

Segment

2.57 - 10.54

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.

Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold 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.

2018

General Condition

Good

County

Marathon

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

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.

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

Overview

Freeman Creek is presently classified as warm water game, and Class II and III trout waters. The Class II portion is not up to its potential use due to non-metallic mining and NPS pollution. This 4.6-mile portion could potentially be Class I trout waters. A biotic index sample collected in 1978 showed fair water quality.

Rotten granite (grus) mining occurs extensively in the Freeman Creek Watershed (Hadler-Mosinee deposit). Six different sites were either dewatering or discharging sediment-laden water to tributaries of Freeman Creek or Freeman Creek itself in 1986. A 1985 inspection of Freeman Creek (T27N, R5E, Section 13, S½, SE¼) identified a turbid sediment plume entering the creek via an unnamed tributary. It was concluded this sediment-laden water is damaging to the aquatic life in Freeman Creek.

One potential impact of rotten granite dewatering is that decreased stream flow, can occur in those segments of stream within the cone of depression caused by granite dewatering. This decreased flow may be occurring in Freeman Creek. There are at least five or six dewatering sites in Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, T27N, R06E and Section 24, T27N, R05E.

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Freeman Creek is presently classified as warm water game, and Class II and III trout waters. The Class II portion is not up to its potential use due to non-metallic mining and NPS pollution. This 4.6-mile portion could potentially be Class I trout waters. A biotic index sample collected in 1978 showed fair water quality.
Rotten granite (grus) mining occurs extensively in the Freeman Creek Watershed (Hadler-Mosinee deposit). Six different sites were either dewatering or discharging sediment-laden water to tributaries of Freeman Creek or Freeman Creek itself in 1986. A 1985 inspection of Freeman Creek (T27N, R5E, Section 13, S½, SE¼) identified a turbid sediment plume entering the creek via an unnamed tributary. It was concluded this sediment-laden water is damaging to the aquatic life in Freeman Creek.
One potential impact of rotten granite dewatering is that decreased stream flow, can occur in those segments of stream within the cone of depression caused by granite dewatering. This decreased flow may be occurring in Freeman Creek. There are at least five or six dewatering sites in Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, T27N, R06E and Section 24, T27N, R05E.

Kreitlow, James D. 1991. Upper Wisconsin River Central Sub-Basin Water Quality Management Plan. PUBL-WR-287-91-REV. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1991

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Freeman Creek, Lower Big Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW17) Fish and Aquatic Life

Freeman Creek, Lower Big Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW17) Recreation

Freeman Creek, Lower Big Eau Pleine River Watershed (CW17) 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

Freeman Creek, Freeman Creek at Burma Road, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Freeman Creek, Freeman Creek at STH153, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Monitoring Project Summary Flyer Big Eau Pleine River Citizen Monitoring

Recommendations

Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing

Freeman Creek - 1427700. Nutrient and sediment loading from the watershed causes severe summer algae blooms and contributes to low dissolved oxygen levels in the winter. WCR has scheduled TMDL monitoring for the flowage to begin in FY10 to address the impairment.

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
Big Eau Pleine River Citizen Monitoring - WCR_02_10	2009
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	10014890	Freeman Ck. Stock Burma Rd.			Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373393	Freeman Creek at Burma Road	6/26/1991	10/29/2018	Map	Data
5537498	Unnamed	373398	L and G Granite Pond - Ne1/4 Sec 12			Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373079	Freeman Creek at Sth 153	10/28/1975	6/26/1991	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	10015881	Freeman Cr - Riffle Area At Tractor Crossing -1/4 - 1/2 Mile Above Spring Brook Road	5/15/1991	5/15/1991	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373394	Freeman Creek at Hwy 107 South	9/24/1990	5/15/1991	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373122	Freeman Creek - S Of Ssth 153	11/13/1973	11/5/1974	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373188	Freeman Creek at Partridge Lane			Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	10029060	Freeman Creek at STH153	8/30/2017	11/22/2017	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373391	Freeman Creek at Springbrook Rd	10/26/1988	7/17/1991	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373392	Freeman Creek at Hwy 107 North	9/25/1990	9/25/1990	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373080	Freeman Creek at Cth P			Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373187	Freeman Creek - 1/4 Mi Ab Spring Bk	5/15/1991	5/15/1991	Map	Data
1427700	Freeman Creek	373189	Freeman Creek - 3/4 Mile Ab Hwy 153	5/15/1991	5/15/1991	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Freeman Creek is located in the Lower Big Eau Pleine River watershed which is 138.59 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (37.80%), forest (29.40%) and a mix of grassland (14.80%) and other uses (17.90%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 3,698.60 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.

Natural Community

Freeman Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold 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 (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.

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