Trump Coulee Creek, Upper Trempealeau River Watershed (BT05)
Trump Coulee Creek, Upper Trempealeau River Watershed (BT05)
Trump Coulee Creek (1800600)
3.77 Miles
0 - 3.77
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, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, No Classification, Coldwater
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.
2015
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Low DO, Degraded Habitat
Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
 
Jackson, Trempealeau
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.
No
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
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.
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

Trump Coulee Creek is an 8 mile tributary to the Trempealeau River at Blair. It is managed as a forage fishery. A 1992 fish survey documented 11 forage and minnow species. The stream islimited by elevated water temperatures, organic loading, sedimentation and lack of suitale cover for trout. The dissolved oxygen level in the stream dropped below the state standard of 5.0 mg/l during a 1.13 inch rain in the fall of 1992. Instream cover is scarce and grazing of the streambanks contributes sediment to the stream bottom. This stream is capable of reaching Class III in Jackson County and Class II in Trempealeau County with minimzation of nonpoint source impacts (Schreiber).

Date  2005

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Trump Coulee Creek, Upper Trempealeau River Watershed (BT05) Fish and Aquatic LifeTrump Coulee Creek, Upper Trempealeau River Watershed (BT05) RecreationTrump Coulee Creek, Upper Trempealeau River Watershed (BT05) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Although Trump Coulee Creek is listed for both sedimentation and dissolved oxygen impairments, this TMDL is limited to the sediment aspects. WDNR staff believe the control of manure in runoff from a single animal feeding operation was the cause of the dissolved oxygen problem. When monitoring results are available, WDNR intends to pursue delisting of the dissolved oxygen impairment.

The extensive coverage of the substrate with silt and soft organic sediment limits the areas of exposed gravel necessary for reproduction. It also greatly reduces the primary food sources that depend on clean interstitial areas. The relative smoothness of the substrate also minimizes areas for smaller forage fish to get out of faster currents.

Sediment has been identified as the pollutant causing these impairments. As such, the extensive coverage of the substrate with sediment constitutes an objectionable deposit under the narrative water quality standards criterion in s. NR 102.04(1)(a) cited below in the Water Quality Standards section.

Date  2004

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Impaired Waters

Trump Coulee Creek for its entire length is not currently meeting applicable narrative water quality criterion as defined in NR 102.04 (1); Wis. Adm. Code: To preserve and enhance the quality of waters, standards are established to govern water management decisions. Practices attributable to municipal, industrial, commercial, domestic, agricultural, land development or other activities shall be controlled so that all waters including the mixing zone and effluent channel meet the following conditions at all times and under all flow conditions: (a) Substances that will cause objectionable deposits on the shore or in the bed of a water, shall not be present in such amounts as to interfere with public rights in waters of the state.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/wqs/303d/ApprovedTMDLs/Trump_Coulee_Final_Draft_TMDL.pdf

Date  2005

Author  Jean Unmuth

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

TMDL (USEPA) Approved
TMDL for Sediment Impaired Streams in the Waumandee Creek Watershed - Trump Coulee Creek. This TMDL project is designed to restore water resource substrate, which In most cases, the gravel substrate is extensively covered by sand, silt, and soft organic matter preventing a suitable habitat for fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Filling-in of pools reduces the amount of available cover for juvenile and adult fish. Sedimentation of riffle areas reduces the reproductive success of fish by reducing the exposed gravel substrate necessary for appropriate spawning conditions. Sedimentation also affects macroinvertebrate biomass (fish food source) which tends to be lower in areas with predominantly sand substrate than a stream substrate with a mix of gravel, rubble, and sand.

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

Watershed Characteristics

Trump Coulee Creek is located in the Upper Trempealeau River watershed which is 175.54 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.60%), agricultural (29.80%) and a mix of grassland (12.70%) and other uses (8.90%). This watershed has 359.69 stream miles, 209.54 lake acres and 7,549.82 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Trump Coulee Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, No Classification, 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.

Fisheries & Habitat

Trump Coulee Creek is located in one of 16 subwatersheds that make up the Upper Trempealeau River Watershed. Trump Coulee Creek is 8.0 miles in length with a 15.7 square mile watershed. The headwaters are in Jackson County with the downstream segments in Trempealeau County. The stream is currently supporting a warm water forage fishery. However, according to assessments conducted by WDNR water biologists, it has the potential to support a Class II cold water fishery in the upper 2.0 miles and a Class III cold water fishery in the lower 6.0 miles. The stream substrate is redominately shifting sand and silt with little or no gravel exposed in the riffle areas. Instream cover is generally scarce throughout the stream length. Stream banks are trampled by cattle, leaving little overhanging vegetation. As with other coulee streams, loose sediment covers a sandy, unstable substrate. As a result, much of the length of the stream is wide and shallow, not the narrow and deep cross-section characteristic of a healthy cold water stream in the driftless area of the state. The sediment load is also elevating water temperatures, but not to the level to call it an impairment.

Date  2011

Author  Jean Unmuth