Trempealeau
Yes
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Elk Creek is a 22-mile tributary of the Trempealeau River and is designated as a Class III trout stream for its entire length. Land use in the Elk Creek Watershed is dominated by agriculture and, in 1979, it was one of five watersheds initially selected under the Nonpoint Source Abatement Program. The project was successful in reducing bacteria levels and organic pollution in some streams but trout habitat and populations did not significantly improve immediately following the completion of the project (Source: 2002 WQM Plan).
Date 2010
Author Daniel Helsel
General Condition
This stream is degraded by animal waste from lack of in-stream fishery habitat, barnyard runoff, pasturing livestock on the streambanks and cropland erosion. There are stream reaches where braided channels have developed due to the stream eroding behind poorly-maintained riprap projects which were installed as part of the Bugle Lake restoration project.
Date 1991
Author Lisa Helmuth
Impaired Waters
Elk Creek from its mouth to Bugle Lake (miles 0 to 0.72) and from above Bugle Lake to headwaters (miles 0.72 to 21.51) was put on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in the 2012 cycle. This segments were evaluated for phosphorus and/or biology every two years between 2012 and 2022; phosphorus was consistently high, but biology was in good condition.
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
Recommendations
Shoreland Ordinance
Treampealeau County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.
Partnership Project
The City of Independence, in cooperation with River Country RC&D, proposes to create a stakeholder group within the Elk Creek Watershed for the purpose of establishing a performance based incentive program to reduce sediment and nutrient inflow to Elk Creek and Bugle Lake in Trempealeau County. Major project elements to include: 1) Stakeholder recruitment, 2) Meetings and information gathering, 3) Television program, 4) Development of Recommendations, 5) Water access inventories, 6) Final Report.
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Water Quality Planning
Project: Elk Creek (BT03) Watershed Planning
Nine Key Element Plan
Elk Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Elk Creek Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Elk Creek Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures.
Grant Amended
The use of DNR and federal grants should be used to assess the conditions of the wetland within the watershed following the implementation of the 2011 Federal EPA EMAP study.
Habitat Restoration - Instream
Opportunities to reconnect streams with their floodplain-wetland riparian areas during in-stream habitat work
should be pursued.
Lakes Protection Grant
A citizen volunteer lake monitoring program, discontinued in 1989, should be reinitiated at Bugle Lake.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Expansion of a citizen based stream monitoring program within the Elk Creek watershed is recommended.
Monitor Baseline Survey
Future monitoring efforts should target long-term data records for temperature of cold and cool water stream
in anticipation of climate change responses, in addition to diagnostic monitoring. This work would help establish baseline stream nutrient concentrations and potential relationships to climate change and future nutrient
standards.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1782500 | Elk Creek | 10032654 | Elk Creek at Hwys. 93/121 Independence | | | Map | Data |
| 1782500 | Elk Creek | 623051 | Elk Creek - 200 Ft Below Stp Outfall | | | Map | Data |
| 1782500 | Elk Creek | 623053 | Elk Creek - Rr Brg Ab Independenc Stp | | | Map | Data |
| 1782500 | Elk Creek | 623008 | Elk Creek - Independence Wwtp | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Elk Creek is located in the Elk Creek watershed which is 112.95 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.90%), agricultural (28.70%) and a mix of grassland (23.30%) and other uses (6.20%). This watershed has 284.80 stream miles, 47.13 lake acres and 3,310.85 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.