Green Lake
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No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wuerches Creek, in the Big Green Lake Watershed, is a 4.40 mile river that falls in Green Lake County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Wuerches Creek (148300) was placed on the impaired waters list in 1998 for sediment/total suspended solids and in 2008 for total phosphorus. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). This water was also assessed for temperature and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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 Fish Community
AU 359163, poor fIBI, Station 10012583
Monitor Targeted Area
Wuerches Creek: Sampling will follow Monitoring Modeling Version 4.0 for Pollutant: Sediment and Impairment: Degraded Habitat. Monitoring requirements will involve monthly baseflow, TSS samples April ? October. Runoff event TSS during the same period as they occur. Instantaneous flow, pH, DO, DO sat, and temp when grab samples are taken. Two habitat surveys will be conducted according to baseline protocols. At each station Macroinvertebrates and fish will be sample according to DNR protocols also. Beginning in July a temperature probe will be place to capture hourly temperature over a 11-12 month period.
Monitor Watershed (Status,Sources,Impairments)
Wuerches Creek (WBIC: 148300) is currently considered LFF for its entire length with a potential use of WWSF. The stream has degraded habitat from excessive sediment loading.
Rivers Management Grant
DNR, county and local partners should work to obtain funds or grants to restore the identified unstable stream banks to reduce sedimentation and erosion in the watershed
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 |
|---|
| 148300 | Unnamed | 10012583 | Wuerches Creek at CTH B (USGS 04073457) | 8/30/2006 | 10/23/2024 | Map | Data |
| 148300 | Unnamed | 10049573 | Wuerches Creek at mouth to Green Lake (County K Marsh) | 5/16/2017 | 5/16/2017 | Map | Data |
| 148300 | Unnamed | 10020701 | Unnamed Creek-200 Feet Below Luedke Rd. (Wuerches Cr.) | 4/18/2007 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Big Green Lake watershed which is 107.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (54.10%), open (12%) and a mix of grassland (10.10%) and other uses (23.70%). This watershed has 141.08 stream miles, 655.29 lake acres and 5,102.67 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.