Rush Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01)
Return to Search
Rush Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01)
Rush Creek (1637000)
1.30 Miles
0 - 1.30
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.
Cool-Cold Mainstem
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.
2015
Unknown
 
Crawford
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.
No
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.
No

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 (Class I Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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
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.

Overview

Rush Creek flows for approximately 11 miles west toward the Mississippi River with an average gradient of 23 feet per mile. It drains steep forested hills and agricultural lands. Rush Creek is a Class III trout stream from HWY 35 upstream approximately 4 miles, then Class II for the remaining miles 7 miles upstream. The most recent fish survey, conducted in 1994, documented numerous minnow species, white sucker, burbot, rainbow, brook, and brown trout. The fishery is dominated by brown trout with scant numbers of rainbow and brook trout. Rush Creek had been stocked the year previous to the survey. Rush Creek continues to be stocked with brown, brook and rainbow trout. Bank erosion is light to medium, however some bends are steep and lack vegetation. In-stream cover for fish consists of some overhanging vegetation along with a few undercut banks.

Additional overhead cover and shoreline restoration work would likely improve the habitat and winter survival of trout in Rush Creek. Problems affecting Rush Creek are bank erosion, lack of in-stream cover, beaver activity, and flooding. The 1994 survey estimated the watershed comprised of 37% agricultural activity and approximately 62% forest and wooded wetland. Access to Rush Creek is from four road crossings, the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the Rush Creek State Natural Area, which surrounds the lower 2 miles of Rush Creek, and DNR owned easements. From: Koperski, Cindy. 2002. The State of the Bad Axe - La Crosse Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Rush Creek. T11N, R6W, Section 13. Surface Acres = 1.6, Miles = 1.4, Gradient = 57.1 feet per mile.
This clear, hard water stream flows in a southerly direction into Crawford County where it joins the Mississippi River. It is a Class III brown trout stream. During the winter aerial groundwater survey, open water was noted in the lower half of the stream in Vernon County. Rubble dominates the bottom types; there is considerable gravel, some sand, and small amounts of boulder, silt, and detritus. There are no road crossings in Vernon County. Wildlife value is insignificant.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W., 1973. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1973

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Rush Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) Fish and Aquatic LifeRush Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) RecreationRush Creek, Rush Creek Watershed (BL01) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Rush Creek (Tributary in S27 to the Crawford-Vernon county line) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2015 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Rush Creek St. 1 - Bridge On Rush Creek Road
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Rush Creek WT 2010 Map
Rush Creek WT 2010 ORW/ERW Map
Rush Creek WT 2010 Land Use Map
Rush Creek WT 2010 Map Outfalls and Dams
Rush Creek WT 2010 Wetland Map
Rush Creek Watershed Plan 2010 (BL01)
Rush Creek WT 2010 BL01 Wetlands Analysis
Rush Creek Map of Stations Tributary to Lake Pepin
Crawford County Surface Water Resources 1972

Recommendations

Water Quality Planning
BL01, Watershed Plan

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
Rush Creek (BL01) Watershed Planning2009
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1637000Rush Creek10013718Rush Creek Station 1-1976-Nw 1/4 Sw 1/4 Sec. 6-Starts At Hwy 35 Bridge.1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
5570806Unnamed10032958Unnamed8/6/20096/22/2010MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Rush Creek is located in the Rush Creek watershed which is 240.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.60%), grassland (16.20%) and a mix of agricultural (15%) and other uses (22.10%). This watershed has 551.06 stream miles, 1,906.88 lake acres and 9,793.93 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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

Rush Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem 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.