Coe Hollow Creek, Bad Axe River Watershed (BL02)
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Coe Hollow Creek, Bad Axe River Watershed (BL02)
Coe Hollow Creek (1641200)
2.75 Miles
0.92 - 3.67
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, 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.
2021
Good
 
Vernon
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.
No

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

Coe Hollow Creek, located in central Vernon County, flows for approximately one mile in a southwesterly direction before reaching Sidie Hollow Lake just west of Viroqua. It has a moderately high gradient of 85 feet per mile and drains steep forested hills and some agricultural land. Coe Hollow Creek is a Class I trout stream for its entire length of 1.2 miles.

The most recent survey, conducted in 1999, documented cool clear water with a stream bottom comprised mainly of gravel and rubble with lesser amounts of silt and sand. Most of the riparian area was woodland, with some manicured lawn in the county park. In-stream habitat consisted of LUNKER structures, undercut banks and woody debris. Naturally reproducing populations of both brook and brown were documented as well as a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates. Only one forage fish species was observed. The WDNR stocking records show this stream has never been stocked. Access is possible from one road crossing, Sidie Hollow Lake and Sidie Hollow County Park.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Coe Hollow Creek, Bad Axe River Watershed (BL02) Fish and Aquatic LifeCoe Hollow Creek, Bad Axe River Watershed (BL02) RecreationCoe Hollow Creek, Bad Axe River Watershed (BL02) 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.

Reports

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Bad Axe WT 2010 Dams & Outfalls
Bad Axe WT 2010 Land Use
Bad Axe WT 2010 OERW & Impaired Waters
Bad Axe LaCrosse Basin
Watershed Wetlands Analysis 2010 BL02 Bad Axe Watershed
Bad Axe Watershed Plan 2010 (BL02)
BAD AXE LACROSSE PRIORITY ISSUES AND PARTNERSHIPS BASIN PLAN 2002

Recommendations

Shoreland Ordinance
Vernon 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.
Lakes Planning Grant
Coe Hollow Creek, Sidie Hollow Lake Grants
Engage Volunteers in Monitoring/Restoration
Coe Hollow Creek, Sidie Hollow

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
VERNON COUNTY: LCO-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.2010
Bad Axe River (BL02) Watershed Planning2009

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1641200Coe Hollow Creek10044153Coe Hollow Creek - Hwy XX7/13/201510/20/2021MapData
1641200Coe Hollow Creek10008992Coe Hollow - Mouth StreamMapData
1641200Coe Hollow Creek633128North Inlet - North Inlet3/4/197310/7/1974MapData
1641200Coe Hollow Creek10013533Coe Hollow Station 1-300 Feet Upstream From Mouth (Cth Xx)1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
1641200Coe Hollow Creek10008993Coe Hollow Station 2 - 600 Feet Down Bridge XxMapData
1641200Coe Hollow Creek10007761Coe Hollow Creek east of Hwy XX2/8/20065/27/2019MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Coe Hollow Creek is located in the Bad Axe River watershed which is 195.49 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (40%), agricultural (29.60%) and a mix of grassland (24.60%) and other uses (5.80%). This watershed has 468.27 stream miles, 489.81 lake acres and 2,552.28 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

Coe Hollow Creek is considered a 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) 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.