4.71 Miles
0 - 4.71
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Headwater
2024
Poor
Degraded Biological Community
Total Phosphorus
Calumet, Outagamie
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The Unnamed Tributary to Garners Creek (5022162) is a 4.71-mile long waterway in the Lower Fox River Basin. The headwaters of this tributary originate as surface water flow through the only remaining agricultural land use south of the Fox River. Limited buffers exist in this location and agricultural impact are likely contributing to impacts observed in the stream. As it flows north and approaches the confluence with the Garners Creek it becomes highly entrenched as it flows through an urbanized area set back from the valley slopes.
The fish community is dominated by species tolerant to environmental degradation the FIBI and MIBI rated poor however habitat scored good at all sites. Adequate buffers exist, and the stream maintains excellent morphology with numerous bends and riffles. Severe bank erosion, deposition of fines, and suspected high sediment and nutrient loads all contribute to poor aquatic life conditions.
Date 2020
Author Andrew Hudak
Historical Description
Local Water, in the Plum and Kankapot Creeks Watershed, is a 4.71 mile river that falls in Calumet and Outagamie Counties. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2016
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
This unnamed waterbody (WBIC 5022162) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data clearly exceeded thresholds based on the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life designated use. Available biological sample data indicated impairment (i.e. at least one fish or macroinvertebrate Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" category). This water was not meeting its designated use and was considered impaired. No change in the existing impaired water listing was needed.
Unnamed (5022162) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the poor condition category).
Date 2017
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
Recommendations
Navigability Determination
SW NE S35 T21N R18E; Garners Creek, trib;
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 |
|---|
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10047156 | UNT to Garners Creek 200 meters CTH CE | 1/1/2015 | 6/20/2016 | Map | Data |
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10039244 | Garners Creek at Hwy K | | | Map | Data |
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10047157 | UNT to Garners Creek 330 meters US CTH CE | 1/1/2015 | 10/23/2024 | Map | Data |
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10033828 | Unnamed Creek upstream CTH K | 6/30/2011 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10047158 | UNT to Garners Creek 520 meters US CTH CE | 1/1/2015 | 6/20/2016 | Map | Data |
| 5022162 | Unnamed | 10047159 | UNT to Garners Creek 30 meters US CTH CE | 1/1/2015 | 10/4/2016 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Plum and Kankapot Creeks watershed which is 84.04 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (52.70%), suburban (16.90%) and a mix of grassland (12.20%) and other uses (18.30%). This watershed has 193.77 stream miles, 39.36 lake acres and 1,129.50 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.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.
Unnamed Trib to Garners Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are 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.