7.30 Miles
0 - 7.30
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
2019
Unknown
Richland
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Byrds Creek, a tributary to the Wisconsin River, is considered a Class II trout stream. Water
quality and in-stream habitat are affected by barnyard runoff and intense grazing adjacent the
stream. The creek has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution reduction.
Water resources staff believe this stream has the potential to produce a good population of
trout if these nonpoint sources of pollution were corrected. The creek was assessed as a part of
2000 baseline monitoring. A cursory habitat evaluation conducted in the summer of 2001
found good habitat in the lower reaches of the stream and fair habitat in the middle and upper
portions of the stream. The creek is threatened by sources of nonpoint pollution including
streambank erosion. Overall, there is some sediment deposition that can cover good quality
stream bottom.
From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
Byrds Creek, a tributary to the Wisconsin River, is considered a Class II trout stream
(WDNR 1980). Water quality and in-stream habitat are affected by barnyard runoff
intense grazing adjacent the stream. Water Resources staff believe this stream has the
potential to produce large numbers of trout in the nonpoint sources of pollution were
corrected (Sorge, 1991 - 1992).
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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 |
|---|
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10040748 | Byrds Creek ~2300 feet US of Cozy Lane | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10052736 | Byrds Cr US Thingvold Ln | 7/15/2019 | 11/4/2019 | Map | Data |
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10029615 | Byrds Cr. Station 3 along Byrds Creek Valley Dr | | | Map | Data |
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10008043 | Byrd Creek Station 1-Hach Rd | 11/13/2000 | 11/13/2000 | Map | Data |
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10029613 | Byrds Cr. Station 1 at Byrds Creek Valley Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 1215500 | Byrds Creek | 10029614 | Byrds Cr. Station 2 along Byrds Creek Valley Dr | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Byrds Creek is located in the Mill and Indian Creeks watershed which is 130.32 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (53.20%), grassland (22.40%) and a mix of agricultural (19.20%) and other uses (5.10%). This watershed has 313.19 stream miles, 179.45 lake acres and 1,834.87 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.
Byrds Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent,
mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to 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.