Otter Creek, Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed (LC19)
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Otter Creek, Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed (LC19)
Otter Creek (2156800)
7.06 Miles
0 - 7.06
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-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.
2021
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Chippewa
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.
No
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Otter Creek, in the Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed, is a 18.45 mile river that falls in Chippewa and Taylor Counties. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2018

Author  Ashley Beranek

Otter Creek, Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed (LC19) Fish and Aquatic LifeOtter Creek, Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed (LC19) RecreationOtter Creek, Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River Watershed (LC19) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Otter Creek, from its mouth to Otter Lake (miles 0 to 7.06), was identified as having high phosphorus levels in the 2018 cycle. Evaluation during the 2022 cycle showed excellent fish and bug communities, but phosphorus levels were still too high. This stream segment is on the Impaired Waters List.

Otter Creek, from Otter Lake to its headwaters (miles 7.06 to 18.45) was evaluated for phosphorus and/or biology every two-year cycle from 2016 to 2022. Phosphorus levels were found to be too high. This stream segment was put on the Impaired Waters List in the 2016 cycle.

Date  2022

Author  Ashley Beranek

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

2019 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Otter Creek – Cths G And S
Otter Creek, Otter Creek at Hwy H, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Otter Creek, Otter Creek - Cths G And S, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Otter Creek, Otter Creek - Cths G And S, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Recommendations

Monitor Aquatic Biology
Conduct biological (mIBI or fIBI) monitoring on Otter Creek, WBIC: 2156800, AU:16196
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Impairment unknown still, 2012 was drought year and site is immediately downstream of dam. More recent macroinvertebrate data downstream indicates biology is good.

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
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2156800Otter Creek10008713Otter Creek - Cths G And S8/14/201310/26/2021MapData
2156800Otter Creek093126Otter Creek - Off Bridge On Hwy 56/30/19938/31/1993MapData
2156800Otter Creek10037549Otter Creek downstream of dam and 170th Ave6/27/20121/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Otter Creek is located in the Lower Yellow (Chippewa Co.) River watershed which is 276.84 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (38.80%), agricultural (26.30%) and a mix of wetland (16.20%) and other uses (18.70%). This watershed has 501.83 stream miles, 1,225.60 lake acres and 21,492.02 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.

Natural Community

Otter Creek is considered a 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.