5.20 Miles
1.24 - 6.44
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
2015
Good
Vernon
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Champion Valley Creek is a tributary to the Pine River, rising in Vernon County and flowing
south to the Pine River in Richland County. Only 0.9 miles of the stream are classified as
Class II trout waters although many of the remaining reaches of the stream in Vernon County
are thought to be capable of also supporting a Class II fishery. A rare aquatic species has been
found in the creek in past surveys. The stream has been channelized in the past and bank
erosion contributes excessive amounts of sediment to the stream. Cattle access may also be a
problem on the stream. Poor water quality in Champion Valley Creek has a negative impact
on the overall health of the sport fish population in the Pine River system. Champion Valley
Creek has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution and would benefit from
a nonpoint source pollution reduction project.
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
Champion Valley Creek is a tributary to the Pine River, rising in Vernon County and
flowing south to the Pine in Richland County. Only 0.9 miles of the stream are classified
as Class II trout waters (WDNR, 1980~). The stream is thought to be capable of
supporting a Class II fishery throughout much of the remaining reaches of the stream in
Vernon County (Eagan, 1985). Bank erosion contributes excessive amounts of
sediment to the stream and cattle access may also be a problem (Eagan, 1985~).
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Champion Valley Creek (WBIC 1233600) from the Richland-Vernon county line to the headwaters was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) 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
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 |
|---|
| 1233600 | Champion Valley Creek | 10029595 | Champion Valley Creek St. 2 - 2008 US of CTH H | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1233600 | Champion Valley Creek | 10014298 | Champion Valley Creek (S. Of Champion Ln And Cth H) | | | Map | Data |
| 1233600 | Champion Valley Creek | 10029594 | Champion Valley Cr US of Sunrise Ln | 1/1/2015 | 7/29/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1233600 | Champion Valley Creek | 10015247 | Champion Valley Baseline Fish | | | Map | Data |
| 1233600 | Champion Valley Creek | 10055347 | Champion Valley `1500M US of Grenwood Valley Confluence | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Champion Valley Creek is located in the Upper Pine River watershed which is 179.98 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.80%), grassland (29%) and a mix of agricultural (12.50%) and other uses (5.60%). This watershed has 404.04 stream miles, 92.10 lake acres and 3,397.98 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.
Champion Valley 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.