Vernon
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Cheyenne Valley Creek, located in north central Vernon County, flows in a westerly direction for 6.0 miles before reaching Billings Creek south of Ontario. This stream has a gradient of 46 feet per mile and drains forested hillsides and agricultural valleys and hilltops. Cheyenne Valley Creek is a Class II trout stream and designated as an Exceptional Resource Water, (ERW), for its entire length.
The most recent biological survey, conducted in 1998, documented brook trout, brown trout and numerous forage fish species. The stream bottom was dominated by sand and cobble. Instream cover consisted of overhanging grasses, boulders, woody debris and undercut banks. Cheyenne Valley Creek should be resurveyed after conclusion of the Middle Kickapoo River Priority Watershed Project in 2004. This stream would benefit from the purchase of streambank easements from willing sellers and the restoration of in-stream habitat. WDNR records indicate that Cheyenne Valley Creek has been stocked with wild brook trout since 1998. Access to Cheyenne Valley Creek is from six road crossings, a WDNR owned easement and Wildcat Mountain State Park.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
Cheyenne Valley Creek, T14N, R2W, Section 13. Surface Acres = 5.8, Miles = 6.0, Gradient = 45.6 feet per mile.
This creek flows in a westerly direction and is a tributary of Billings Creek. The stream has clear. hard water. It has been managed as Class II brook and brown trout water. Though sand is the dominant bottom type. there is considerable gravel. some rubble and silt. and a few boulders. Several road crossings provide access. and the lower end of the stream lies within the boundary of Wildcat Mountain State Park. Beaver are present. and muskrat are significant. Wood ducks nest along the stream. and a little use is made of the water by migrating puddle ducks.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W. 1973. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1973
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
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 |
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1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10037579 | Cheyenne Creek off of bridge at Hwy 33 and CTH F | 5/17/2012 | 6/18/2012 | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10055409 | Cheyenne Valley Creek at Town Hall Road | | | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10055405 | Cheyenne Valley Creek at confluence with Billings Creek | | | Map | Data |
1196900 | Billings Creek | 10032369 | Cheyanne Valley Creek - Confluence off of Billings Creek | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10032370 | Cheyanne Valley Creek - Harris Road | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10055410 | Cheyenne Valley Creek near E14308 STH 33 - easement | | | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 633065 | Cheyenne Valley Creek - Scenic Dr | 4/20/1990 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
1197000 | Cheyenne Valley Creek | 10032369 | Cheyanne Valley Creek - Confluence off of Billings Creek | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Cheyenne Valley Creek is located in the Middle Kickapoo River watershed which is 246.53 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (55.20%), grassland (24.30%) and a mix of agricultural (15.30%) and other uses (5.20%). This watershed has 585.18 stream miles, 145.14 lake acres and 3,360.69 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.