Water Detail - Larson Coulee Creek, Lower La Crosse River Watershed (BL04)

Larson Coulee Creek, Lower La Crosse River Watershed (BL04)

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Larson Coulee Creek (1652700)

Size

3.11 Miles

Segment

0 - 3.11

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 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.

2013

General Condition

Good

County

La Crosse

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 (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

Larson Coulee Creek, located in central La Crosse County, flows for approximately 3.5 miles in a southerly direction before reaching the La Crosse River near West Salem. It has a moderate gradient of 40 feet per mile and drains agricultural valley land and steep wooded hills. Larson Coulee Creek is a class Class I trout stream above CTH M for about 0.5 miles and Class II for approximately 3 miles below CTH M.

A 1971 fish survey documented abundant spring flow in the headwaters of Larson Coulee Creek where watercress provided cover for young brook trout. The lower portion of the creek contains very little cover for fish. Approximately 60% of the shoreline was in agricultural use and 40% was considered wild or wooded. The addition of in-stream habitat may sufficiently improve Larson Coulee Creek to a Class I brook trout stream. Streambank pasturing and barnyard runoff contribute to problems seen in Larson Coulee Creek. Since the most recent fishery survey of Larson Coulee Creek was conducted in 1971, an updated survey should be conducted to determine the current status of the stream. Larson Coulee Creek has been stocked regularly with brook trout by the WDNR since 1960. Access to Larson Coulee Creek is from WDNR owned easements and five road crossings.

Water chemistry testing of streams throughout La Crosse County was initiated by the La Crosse County Land Conservation Department in 1998. Baseflow conditions were targeted for testing as the most likely to show normal water quality conditions. Sampling takes place four times annually when no rainfall or snowmelt has occurred during the previous 72 hours. Between 1998 and 2001, Larson Coulee Creek met the county phosphorus goal in approximately 20% and the county fecal coliform bacteria goal in nearly 50% of the samples taken. These data indicate a nutrient load that is likely also contributing to high bacterial counts. The county ranks Larson Coulee Creek fairly low in priority compared to other streams for efforts to reduce phosphorus and bacterial contamination. La Crosse County should continue baseflow sampling of Larson Coulee Creek to determine water quality trends.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Spatial Notes

From the mouth to the upper crossing of CTH M (class 2); from CTH M up 0.5 miles (class 1).

Date 1980

Author Aquatic Biologist

Larson Coulee Creek, Lower La Crosse River Watershed (BL04) Fish and Aquatic Life

Larson Coulee Creek, Lower La Crosse River Watershed (BL04) Recreation

Larson Coulee Creek, Lower La Crosse River Watershed (BL04) 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.

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1652700	Larson Coulee Creek	10014098	Larson Coulee Creek 1275 Ft DS of Erickson Rd Bridge			Map	Data
1652800	Unnamed	10010091	Creek 28-3 Jordson Coulee St. 1 (Mouth Larson Coulee)			Map	Data
1652700	Larson Coulee Creek	10010093	Larson Coulee Creek - Larson Coulee Station 1 Bridge On H. Asmus Rd.	5/13/1998	8/21/2013	Map	Data
1652700	Larson Coulee Creek	10013110	Larson Coulee St. 1-05 Lower Bridge Crossing On Cty Hwy M			Map	Data
1652700	Larson Coulee Creek	10010094	Larson Coulee Creek - Larson Coulee Station 2 Erickson Rd. Bridge	10/3/2002	10/3/2002	Map	Data
1652700	Larson Coulee Creek	10010095	Larson Coulee Creek - Larson Coulee Station 3 - Bridge On Cth M			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Larson Coulee Creek is located in the Lower La Crosse River watershed which is 145.46 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (42.30%), agricultural (14.80%) and a mix of urban (10.30%) and other uses (32.50%). This watershed has 295.20 stream miles, 1,187.12 lake acres and 5,641.64 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Larson Coulee Creek is considered a 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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