Buffalo
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The upper 8.5-mile stretch of this stream is classified as Class III brown trout and the lower nine miles are classified as a warm water stream. Excessive livestock pasturing on the stream banks and trampling of spring seeps by livestock limits the trout fishery in the upper reaches of the stream. Eagle Creek was included in the Waumandee Creek Priority Watershed project area where several types of management practices were implemented, including manure storage facilities, livestock crossings, and stream bank fencing and stabilization. These practices resulted in a statistically significant reduction in suspended solids concentrations and increase in habitat condition. A total suspended solids (TSS) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by EPA in 2003 that addresses the degraded habitat impairment. Post-implementation assessment reports document recovery of this stream's habitat quality (Wang, Lyons, and Kanehl, 2002) and decreased TSS concentrations (USGS, unpublished draft).
Date 2007
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Eagle Creek (miles 9.09-17.56) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Eagle Creek was included in the Waumandee Creek Priority Watershed project area where several types of management practices were implemented, including manure storage facilities, livestock crossings, and streambank fencing and stabilization. These practices resulted in a statistically significant reduction in suspended solids concentrations and increase in habitat condition. A total suspended solids (TSS) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by EPA in 2003 that addresses the degraded habitat impairment. Post-implementation assessment reports document recovery of this stream's habitat quality (Wang, Lyons, and Kanehl, 2002) and decreased TSS concentrations (USGS, unpublished draft).
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Impaired Stream Reach is in the upstream portion and runs from the stream confluence with Joos Valley Creek upstream seven miles to the headwaters at Glencoe Ridge. (7 miles). This water's existing use is WWFF, codified use is Cold III (1980 Trout Book) with a potential use is Cold III. The stream quality is reduced by habitat and sedimentation from cropland erosion, streambank pasturing, barnyard runoff. Fish and stream surveys were conducted in 1989 and 2001.
The 2001 survey found significant numbers of brook trout in the upper three miles. The downstream stations had few or no trout. Survey data suggests the upper three miles of Eagle Creek are meeting the codified use of Cold III. Macro-invertebrate sampling at CTH G from 1990-2001. In 2001, the stream had an HBI of 4.051, indicating very good water quality. This is a long-term NPS Master Monitoring site. Data on this stream is included in Evaluation of the Wisconsin Priority Watershed Program for Improving Stream Habitat and Fish Communities by Lizhu Wang and John Lyons (1998). This stream is written up in the 1996 Buffalo-Trempealeau Basin Plan and a TMDL was completed for this stream in 2003.
Date 2003
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 Implementation
This Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sediment addresses sedimentation and degraded habitat impairments conditions in the upper 7 miles of Eagle Creek, and the entire 7 mile length of Joos Valley Creek, a tributary of Eagle Creek. The TMDL identifies load allocations and management actions that will restore the biological integrity of these streams. Both streams were identified as a medium priority on the 1998 303(d) list. USEPA Decision Document for the Approval of the Eagle Creek Joos Valley Creek Sediment TMDL is documented and the streams have been delisted.
Implementation Plan is needed.
TMDL Development
TMDL Development for Eagle and Joos Valley Creeks addressing sedimentation and degraded habitat impairments conditions.
TMDL Monitoring
Eagle and Joos Creeks In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, both streams were listed due to not meeting their potential designated uses. The upper 7 miles of Eagle Creek is identified as currently supporting a warmwater forage fishery (WWFF), but has potential to support a coldwater (Class II) sport fishery. Joos Valley Creek is identified as currently supporting a warmwater forage fishery (WWFF), but has potential to support a coldwater (Class III) sport fishery (WDNR 1990, 1996). Both streams are severely limited by excessive sediment loading, elevated water temperatures and habitat unsuitable to support a coldwater fishery.
TMDL for Eagle Creek and Joos Valley Creek 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 |
|---|
| 1808400 | Eagle Creek | 10008463 | Station 2 1st Bridge Crossing | | | Map | Data |
| 1808400 | Eagle Creek | 063084 | Eagle Creek - Waumandee Cr Rd | 7/13/1989 | 7/13/1989 | Map | Data |
| 1808400 | Eagle Creek | 10021406 | Eagle Creek | | | Map | Data |
| 1808400 | Eagle Creek | 10041468 | Eagle Cr US of CTH G DS most Fish Station | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Monitoring Studies
Fish and stream surveys were conducted in 1989 and 2001. The 2001 survey found significant numbers of brook trout in the upper three miles. The downstream stations had few or no trout. Survey data suggests the upper three miles of Eagle Creek are meeting the codified use of Cold III. Macro-invertebrate sampling at CTH G from 1990-2001. In 2001, the stream had an HBI of 4.051, indicating very good water quality. This is a long-term NPS Master Monitoring site. Data on this stream is included in Evaluation of the Wisconsin Priority Watershed Program for Improving Stream Habitat and Fish Communities by Lizhu Wang and John Lyons (1998).
Macroinverebrates were collected on the stream in 2007; three of four sites were “fair” and one site was “good”. Three of the four sites are located on the impaired waters stretch; one of the three fair values is located in the nonimpaired stretch just downstream of the listed assessment unit. A 2007 fish survey at Schaffner Valley Road showed a warm IBI of fair, as well.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Watershed Characteristics
Eagle Creek is located in the Waumandee Creek watershed which is 221.97 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (49%), agricultural (24.60%) and a mix of grassland (13.70%) and other uses (12.60%). This watershed has 508.29 stream miles, 3,011.30 lake acres and 8,253.68 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available 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.