Pine Creek, Rush River Watershed (LC22)
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Pine Creek, Rush River Watershed (LC22)
Pine Creek (2440000)
1.40 Miles
0 - 1.40
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, 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.
2024
Unknown
 
Pierce
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.
No

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.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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

Factors limiting this trout stream include bank erosion, streambank grazing, and flooding.
Controlling these problems would improve stream habitat and water quality, potentially to the
point of supporting a Class I trout fishery. This watershed's small size makes it an ideal candidate
for a small-scale priority watershed project (Engel 1993).

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Pine Creek, Rush River Watershed (LC22) Fish and Aquatic LifePine Creek, Rush River Watershed (LC22) RecreationPine Creek, Rush River Watershed (LC22) Fish Consumption

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
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Recommendations

Habitat Restoration - Instream
Restore the stream bank and habitat on both sides of this 3/4 mile long stretch of stream
Project Deliverable
Final Report
Land Acquisition
The Wisconsin Farmland Conservancy will purchase the 84 acre Bjurquist property on Pine Creek in the Town of Maiden Rock (Pierce Co.) This is part of a continuing project to purchase properties and secure conservation easements to assure the protection of ecological values within this watershed. Project goals include: 1. Preclude development at the mouth of the Pine Creek watershed 2. Restore the stream bank and habitat on both sides of this 3/4 mile long stretch of stream 3. Provide an excellent brook trout fishery for public enjoyment.
Land Acquisition
The Wisconsin Farmland Conservancy will purchase the 84 acre Bjurquist property on Pine Creek in the Town of Maiden Rock (Pierce Co.) This is part of a continuing project to purchase properties and secure conservation easements to assure the protection of ecological values within this watershed. Project goals include: 1. Preclude development at the mouth of the Pine Creek watershed 2. Restore the stream bank and habitat on both sides of this 3/4 mile long stretch of stream 3. Provide an excellent brook trout fishery for public enjoyment
Land Acquisition
The Wisconsin Farmland Conservancy will purchase the 84 acre Bjurquist property on Pine Creek in the Town of Maiden Rock (Pierce Co.) This is part of a continuing project to purchase properties and secure conservation easements to assure the protection of ecological values within this watershed.

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
WEST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST: ACQ Pine Creek Acquisition2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2440000Pine Creek100211102c- End Of Station 2b To Cth AaMapData
2440000Pine Creek10021111Pine Creek below N. branch confluence5/19/20069/22/2007MapData
2440000Pine Creek10008837Pine Cr Hwy 35 [1]MapData
2440000Pine Creek100211091a- (End Of Station 1 To Station 2b)MapData
2440000Pine Creek100088662 Pine Creek Cth Aa10/7/200410/14/2024MapData
2440000Pine Creek10012183Pine Creek - Pine Creek 2b- End Of Station 116 Meters Ds Of Cty Aa BridgeMapData
2440000Pine Creek100211081patConfluence Of Pine Creek And Lake PepinMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Pine Creek is located in the Rush River watershed which is 289.57 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (42.10%), forest (24.30%) and a mix of grassland (23.40%) and other uses (10.10%). This watershed has 599.35 stream miles, 191.91 lake acres and 2,372.17 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Pine Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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.

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