Rock Creek, Cawley and Rock Creeks Watershed (BR10)
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Rock Creek, Cawley and Rock Creeks Watershed (BR10)
Rock Creek (1750800)
21.89 Miles
0 - 21.89
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.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
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.
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Clark
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The Greenwood WWTP historically discharged to Rock Creek, but relocated their discharge to the Black River after a 1983 plant upgrade. Rock Creek macroinvertebrate samples taken in 1982 documented poor water quality below the Greenwood discharge, but follow-up sampling in 1992 indicated improved water quality downstream of the historical discharge (La Liberte, 1982; WDNR, 1992).

A fish kill occurred near the mouth of Rock Creek in August 1997. The cause of the kill was not determined; however, discharge of an unknown substance into a storm sewer may have been the source. The fish kill affected several miles of the Black River as well. Thousands of fish were killed, including walleye, smallmouth bass and musky. A reward has been offered for information about the cause of the fish kill.

From: Koperksi, Cindy. 1999. Black River Water Quality Management Plan (draft). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Rock Creek T26N, R2W, S3, Surface Acres = 24.5, Miles = 15.4.

Rock Creek is a light brown colored, medium hard water stream that flows westwardly and joins the Black River at Greenwood. It appears to have a high gradient. Smallmouth bass and panfish are the principal sport species, but northern pike may be found seasonally. About 90 percent of the watershed area is cleared land while 7 percent of the bank border is wetland. Waterfowl are present. There is no public land adjacent to the stream. Access is possible from eight road crossings.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Clark County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.

Date  1965

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Rock Creek, Cawley and Rock Creeks Watershed (BR10) Fish and Aquatic LifeRock Creek, Cawley and Rock Creeks Watershed (BR10) RecreationRock Creek, Cawley and Rock Creeks Watershed (BR10) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Rock Creek (1750800) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Rock Creek, Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Rivers TP Summary 2012
Clark County Surface Water Resources 1965

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

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
Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Road2009
Rock Creek at Rock Creek Station2009

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1750800Rock Creek10034025Unnamed Creek (1750800) at Hwy 98MapData
1750800Rock Creek10038485Rock Creek at STH 9811/19/20121/1/2015MapData
1750800Rock Creek10030170Rock Creek at Owen Ave and Rock Creek Rd7/14/20098/12/2024MapData
5013182Unnamed103102Rock Creek - Nw1/4 Of Nw1/4 Sec. 345/5/198010/21/1980MapData
1750800Rock Creek10010269Rock Creek - Rock Creek Station 2 at CTH K4/17/19971/1/2015MapData
1750800Rock Creek10010264Rock Creek at Hwy 73 bridge (station #1)4/30/19921/1/2015MapData
1750800Rock Creek10052669Rock Creek at Park Lane AveMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Rock Creek is located in the Cawley and Rock Creeks watershed which is 168.79 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (56.50%), forest (20.80%) and a mix of grassland (12.60%) and other uses (10.00%). This watershed has 342.79 stream miles, 108.66 lake acres and 6,081.99 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Rock Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater 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.