Marathon
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Freeman Creek is presently classified as warm water game, and Class II and III trout waters. The Class II portion is not up to its potential use due to non-metallic mining and NPS pollution. This 4.6-mile portion could potentially be Class I trout waters. A biotic index sample collected in 1978 showed fair water quality.
Rotten granite (grus) mining occurs extensively in the Freeman Creek Watershed (Hadler-Mosinee deposit). Six different sites were either dewatering or discharging sediment-laden water to tributaries of Freeman Creek or Freeman Creek itself in 1986. A 1985 inspection of Freeman Creek (T27N, R5E, Section 13, S½, SE¼) identified a turbid sediment plume entering the creek via an unnamed tributary. It was concluded this sediment-laden water is damaging to the aquatic life in Freeman Creek.
One potential impact of rotten granite dewatering is that decreased stream flow, can occur in those segments of stream within the cone of depression caused by granite dewatering. This decreased flow may be occurring in Freeman Creek. There are at least five or six dewatering sites in Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, T27N, R06E and Section 24, T27N, R05E.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Freeman Creek is presently classified as warm water game, and Class II and III trout waters. The Class II portion is not up to its potential use due to non-metallic mining and NPS pollution. This 4.6-mile portion could potentially be Class I trout waters. A biotic index sample collected in 1978 showed fair water quality.
Rotten granite (grus) mining occurs extensively in the Freeman Creek Watershed (Hadler-Mosinee deposit). Six different sites were either dewatering or discharging sediment-laden water to tributaries of Freeman Creek or Freeman Creek itself in 1986. A 1985 inspection of Freeman Creek (T27N, R5E, Section 13, S½, SE¼) identified a turbid sediment plume entering the creek via an unnamed tributary. It was concluded this sediment-laden water is damaging to the aquatic life in Freeman Creek.
One potential impact of rotten granite dewatering is that decreased stream flow, can occur in those segments of stream within the cone of depression caused by granite dewatering. This decreased flow may be occurring in Freeman Creek. There are at least five or six dewatering sites in Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, T27N, R06E and Section 24, T27N, R05E.
Kreitlow, James D. 1991. Upper Wisconsin River Central Sub-Basin Water Quality Management Plan. PUBL-WR-287-91-REV. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1991
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
Recommendations
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Freeman Creek -
1427700. Nutrient and sediment loading from the watershed causes severe summer algae blooms and contributes to low dissolved oxygen levels in the winter. WCR has scheduled TMDL monitoring for the flowage to begin in FY10 to address the impairment.
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 |
|---|
| 1427700 | Freeman Creek | 10041532 | Eau Pleine Reservoir - Freeman Creek 1 Mile South of Hwy 153 | 6/21/2018 | 6/21/2018 | Map | Data |
| 1427700 | Freeman Creek | 10029061 | Freeman Creek at Sugar Bush Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 1427400 | Big Eau Pleine Reservoir | 375010 | Big Eau Pleine River - Big Eau Pleine Reservoir | 11/10/2004 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1427700 | Freeman Creek | 373411 | Freeman Creek at Sugar Bush Rd | 3/28/1989 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1427700 | Freeman Creek | 373209 | Freeman Creek at Tn Rd Bl Halder Cf | 8/21/1975 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1427200 | Big Eau Pleine River | 375010 | Big Eau Pleine River - Big Eau Pleine Reservoir | 11/10/2004 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Freeman Creek is located in the Lower Big Eau Pleine River watershed which is 138.59 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (37.80%), forest (29.40%) and a mix of grassland (14.80%) and other uses (17.90%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 3,698.60 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.