Water Detail - Little La Crosse River, Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05)

Little La Crosse River, Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05)

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Little La Crosse River (1655900)

Size

10.25 Miles

Segment

0 - 10.25

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 Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem

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.

2022

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Impairment Unknown

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Monroe

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.

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.

Yes

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.

Restricted Aquatic Life

Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.

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 II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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

The Little La Crosse River, also known as Leon Creek, is a large, spring-fed stream located in southwestern Monroe County. It flows in a northwesterly direction for nearly 18 miles before reaching the La Crosse River between Rockland and Sparta. The Little La Crosse River has a gradient of 21 feet per mile and drains steep forested hillsides and valley agricultural land. The Little La Crosse River is a Class II trout stream for its entire length.

The Village of Cashton discharges their treated wastewater to the extreme upper end of the Little La Crosse River. The discharge actually does not reach the perennially flowing portion of the river during normal conditions. The discharge only reaches the Little La Crosse River if enough runoff fills the channel to carry the flow down to the perennially flowing portion of the river.

The most recent survey, completed in 1999, documented cool, clear water with a stream bottom consisting mainly of sand with some gravel, silt, rubble, clay, boulder and detritus. Riparian land use was woodland, meadow, pasture, shrub and cropland. In-stream cover consisted of woody debris, overhanging vegetation, undercut banks, submerged vegetation and LUNKER structures. Both brook trout and brown trout were captured as well as a variety of forage fish species.

The 1999 survey report recommended land acquisition from willing landowners, habitat restoration, a change in stocking from domestic to wild brown trout fingerlings, encouragement of local Rod and Gun Clubs to raise wild brown trout, and to re-survey the stream in five years. The Little La Crosse River has been stocked with brown trout since 1960. Brook and rainbow trout have also been stocked sporadically. Access is possible from many road crossings, the DNR Espe Pond Fishing Area along STH 27, DNR owned land along the La Crosse River Bike Trail near the mouth of the river, and DNR owned easements.

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Little La Crosse River, Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05) Fish and Aquatic Life

Little La Crosse River, Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05) Recreation

Little La Crosse River, Little La Crosse River Watershed (BL05) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Little La Crosse River (1655900) from its mouth to Cannon Valley Creek (1656100) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Rivers TP Summary 2012

LITTLE LACROSSE RIVER, MONROE COUNTY, CASHTON WWTP USE DESIGNATION

LITTLE LACROSSE RIVER, VERNON COUNTY, CASHTON WWTP USE DESIGNATION

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
MONROE COUNTY: RES - Little La Crosse River Open Space Shoreland Protection	2024
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10014399	Little La Crosse River 1953 - Old Dam In Village Of Leon			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10009012	Little La Crosse River Station 2 - 50ft Upstream Icebox Road			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10014400	Little La Crosse River Station 3 - Jancing Ave. Bridge Crossing			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	423220	Little La Crosse River - Near Leon WI	5/22/2002	10/19/2002	Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10009018	Little La Crosse River Station 3 - Bridge Jackpot Road			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10014455	Little La Crosse River Station 1 - Mouth Upstream			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	423068	Little La Crosse River at Icebox Rd (Previously Named 7th Ave)	5/13/1979	10/24/2022	Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	423023	Little La Crosse River at Sth 27 Bl Leon	10/23/1986	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10009006	Little La Crosse River Station 2 - Bridge Ice Box Rd			Map	Data
1655900	Little La Crosse River	10014402	Little La Crosse River Station 4 - Farm Rd. Bridge Crossing			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Little La Crosse River is located in the Little La Crosse River watershed which is 240.79 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48%), agricultural (25.70%) and a mix of grassland (15.60%) and other uses (10.80%). This watershed has 445.88 stream miles, 114.59 lake acres and 5,439.88 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

Little La Crosse River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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