7.97 Miles
0 - 7.97
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2017
Poor
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
Monroe
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Soper Creek, a tributary to Big Creek, is a Class I naturally reproducing brook trout stream. Part of the stream has been protected via acquisition by DNR, within the Big Creek State Fishery Area. Some ponded springs were eliminated by DNR acquisition. One feedlot contributes sand to Soper Creek. Flow diversion structures, brush piles, and lunker structures combine to create and maintain in-stream habitat for the trout population in this stream (Wright).
From: Koperksi, Cindy. 1999. Black River Water Quality Management Plan (draft). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Cynthia Koperski
Impaired Waters
Soper Creek (1693400) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; 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).
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 Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
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 |
|---|
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020478 | Soper Creek St. 8 Appro. 5344ft Upstream Of Cth B | 8/5/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020470 | Soper Creek St. 1 Carmel Ave. Crossing | 5/11/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10015528 | Soper Creek St. 3 - Approx. 10m Upstream Of Lower Fenceline On Dnr Land | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 423216 | Soper Creek - Soper Creek | 6/23/2003 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10013798 | Soper Creek Station 1 - Driveway Crossing Near Cth B | 2/13/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020468 | Soper Creek St. 8 Cth I Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020482 | Soper Creek St. 10 Approx. 1550ft Downstream Of Dellview Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020491 | Soper Creek St. 15 Kupper Pond | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10013799 | Soper Creek Station 2 - Field Rd. Crossing In The Se 1/4 Sw 1/4 Of S35 | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020465 | Soper Creek St. 6 2500ft Downstream Of Deerwood Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020473 | Soper Creek St. 4 2nd Wire Fence Upstream Of Hwy 27 | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020476 | Soper Creek St. 7 Approx. 2004ft Upstream Of Cth B | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10010248 | Soper Creek - Soper Creek Li-62 | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020485 | Soper Creek St. 12 Fenceline By Barn | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020460 | Soper Creek St. 3 Hwy 27 Crossing | 9/6/2017 | 11/15/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020484 | Soper Creek St. 11 Dellview Rd. Crossing | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020487 | Soper Creek St. 13 1500ft Downstream Of Cr. 1-15 | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020474 | Soper Creek St. 5 1st Fenceline Downstream Of Jenkins Valley Cr. | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020479 | Soper Creek St. 9. Approx. 6844ft Upstream Of Cth B | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020467 | Soper Creek St. 7 300ft Downstream Of Deerwood Rd. | 7/2/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020489 | Soper Creek St. 14 Junction With Cr. 1-15 | | | Map | Data |
| 1693400 | Soper Creek | 10020471 | Soper Creek St. 3 1st Wire Fence Upstream Of Hwy 27 | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Soper Creek is located in the Big and Douglas Creeks watershed which is 210.33 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (58.40%), agricultural (24.20%) and a mix of grassland (8.90%) and other uses (8.50%). This watershed has 375.17 stream miles, 473.57 lake acres and 7,564.97 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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.
Soper Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) 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.
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.