Lyon Valley Creek (T16n R3w S29)(Creek 29-9), Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05)
Return to Search
Lyon Valley Creek (T16n R3w S29)(Creek 29-9), Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05)
Lyon Valley Creek (T16n R3w S29)(Creek 29-9) (1656900)
5.69 Miles
0 - 5.69
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
2022
Good
 
Monroe
Trout Water 
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Cold (Class I Trout)
Designated Use
Cold

Overview

Lyons Valley Creek, also known as Creek 29-9, is a small spring-fed stream located in southwestern Monroe County. It flows in a westerly direction for five miles before reaching the Little La Crosse River north of Melvina. It has a gradient of 76 feet per mile and drains forested hills and agricultural valley land. Lyons Valley Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length.

The most recent survey, completed in 1974, documented a stream bottom comprised predominately of rubble with lesser amounts of sand, silt, and gravel. Riparian land consisted mainly of upland hardwoods with lesser amounts of cultivated fields and pasture. Undercut banks provided most of the in-stream cover for fish, with pools, logs, and aquatic vegetation present, but generally scarce. Brown trout and several forage fish species were found. The Lyons Valley Creek fishery would benefit from additional in-stream habitat. A fish and habitat survey should be conducted of Lyons Valley Creek to document the current status of the stream. There are no DNR stocking records for this stream. Access is possible from two road crossings and DNR owned easements.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
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.
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.
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.