Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)
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Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)
Duncan Creek (2150600)
6.34 Miles
8.50 - 14.84
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, Cool-Warm 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.
2022
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Chippewa
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.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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

The Class I portion of Duncan Creek, the headwater area, is classified as an outstanding resource
water (ORW), which requires any new point source discharge to have effluent limits as stringent as
the water quality found in the creek. This area has few limiting factors or pollutant sources except a
few small barnyards near the streambank. The extreme upper reach of Duncan Creek near New
Auburn is a State Fishery Area. Below Lake Como, which is the first Duncan Creek impoundment
at Bloomer, the creek is a warm water fishery, although brown trout are often found in this section
(Kurz). Limiting factors and pollutants in this reach include streambank erosion due to cattle access,
sedimentation, and organic and nutrient loading from runoff and point sources of pollution. With
pollutant sources controlled and fish stocking, this stream reach could become a Class 11 trout
fishery. The lower five miles of Duncan Creek are limited by elevated stream temperatures,
streambank erosion, sedimentation, and organic and nutrient loading. This portion of Duncan
Creek has the potential to become a Class I1 trout stream if temperatures can be lowered (Schreiber
June, 1992).
The Bloomer wastewater treatment plant discharges to Duncan Creek about one mile below
Como Dam. To allow more accurate use of existing stream data when evaluating limits for the
Bloomer plant, district staff need additional data (LaLiberte 1994).
Bloomer's effluent increases phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations in Duncan Creek by 131
percent and 64 percent, respectively. This discharge likely aggravates water quality problems in the
downstream impoundments. The Bloomer facility currently discharges total phosphorus at a
concentration of 12 mg/l. Administrative Rule NR.217 will require phosphorus treatment to 1 mg/l
(Simonson) .

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) Fish and Aquatic LifeDuncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) RecreationDuncan Creek, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Duncan Creek from its mouth to CTH B (miles 0 to 8.5) was put on the impaired waters list in 2014 for phosphorus. Evaluations in 2016 and 2018 confirmed the phosphorus impairment.

Duncan Creek from CTH B to the northernmost crossing of CTH Q (miles 8.5 to 14.84) was put on the impaired waters list in 2014 for phosphorus. This water was evaluated for biology in 2018 and 2020 and fish communities were found to be in good health.

Duncan Creek from the northernmost crossing of CTH Q to Lake Como (miles 14.84 to 20.72) was put on the impaired waters list in 2014 for phosphorus. Evaluations in 2016 and 2018 confirmed the phosphorus impairment.

Duncan Creek from Lake Como to its headwaters (miles 22.48 to 30.7) was evaluated for biology in the 2014, 2018, and 2020; communities were in in good condition. This segment of the stream is on the Healthy Waters List.

Date  2022

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

Duncan Creek, Duncan Creek - Irving Park, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Changes to the Draft 2014 Total Phosphorus/Biology Assessments
Chippewa and EauClaire Counties trout class changes news release Feb20, 2012
Chippewa and EauClaire counties trout class checklist Feb20, 2012
Chippewa and EauClaire counties trout survey data 2004
DUNCAN CREEK TRIBUTARY, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, NELSON FILTER PLANT WWTP USE DESIGNATION
DUNCAN CREEK TRIBUTARY WETLAND, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, NEW ANBURN WWTP USE DESIGNATION
Chippewa County Surface Water Resources 1963 Part 1 of 2
Chippewa County Surface Water Resources 1963 Part 2 of 2

Recommendations

Nine Key Element Plan
Duncan Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Duncan Creek Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Duncan Creek Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resource objectives for Duncan Creek and its tributaries.

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
CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS: Municipal Stormwater Projects2003
CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS: Stormwater Management Plan2004
BLOOMER COMMUNITY LAKE ASSOCIATION: HLR - Lake Como Healthy Lakes2024
Fish Propagation Actions2001
Duncan Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan 1995

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2150600Duncan Creek10012901Duncan Creek North Of Cth BMapData
2150600Duncan Creek10012899Duncan Creek 130th Ave1/1/20158/30/2022MapData
2150600Duncan Creek10012900Duncan Creek Cth QMapData
2150600Duncan Creek093040Duncan Creek - Cth B R Mi 6.9MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Duncan Creek is located in the Duncan Creek watershed which is 191.44 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (44.40%), forest (21%) and a mix of grassland (13.90%) and other uses (20.70%). This watershed has 270.37 stream miles, 185.45 lake acres and 6,971.50 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available 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

Duncan Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm 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.