Water Detail - Erickson Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)

Erickson Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)

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Erickson Creek (906200)

Size

5.74 Miles

Segment

0 - 5.74

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 Headwater, 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.

2023

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Impairment Unknown

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Green, Lafayette

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.

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 (Class II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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

Located in northwest Green County, Erickson Creek flows toward the southwest where it joins Sawmill Creek just across the Lafayette County border. The stream is a moderate sized, Class II trout stream. Macroinvertebrate sampling showed “very good” water quality, and despite some problems associated with nonpoint source pollution and channel straightening, this creek displays the best water quality in the watershed (Marshall, 1991). It has not been surveyed recently.

Date 2010

Author James Amrhein

Historical Description

Erickson Creek is a major tributary of Sawmill Creek and enters it just west of the Lafayette-Green County line. Only about one-quarter of a mile of its length actually lies within the county. It is considered a better than average trout stream since it is spring-fed and flows through a stable watershed; however, in Lafayette County the stream banks exhibit heavy erosion. Brown trout are stocked on an annual basis. Silt is the predominant bottom type. There is no public land on the stream in Lafayette County but it is accessible from one town road.

Erickson Creek, T4N, R5E, Sections 36-16, Surface acres = 0.2, Miles = 0.3, Gradient = 80.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity= 282 mg/l, Volume of flow = 2.9 cfs.

From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1967

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Erickson Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Fish and Aquatic Life

Erickson Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Recreation

Erickson Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Erickson Creek was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired.

Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show total phosphorus levels too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, bugs, and fish, according to 2020 WisCALM standards. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.

Date 2019

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 - Erickson Creek- east of Gould Hill Rd

A 2018 Assessment of the Sawmill and Erickson Creek Watershed.

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Erickson Creek - east of Gould Hill Rd

Erickson Creek, Erickson - Yankee Ln., Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Erickson Creek, Erickson Creek at Sawmill Road, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Erickson Creek, Erickson Creek- east of Gould Hill Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Erickson Creek - east of Gould Hill Rd

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10016713	Erickson - Yankee Ln.	4/23/1990	10/22/2018	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10051144	Erickson Creek at CTH H	6/1/2018	6/1/2018	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10034793	Erickson Creek - east side of Vinger Rd			Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10051264	Erickson Creek at Leonard Farm Crossing	7/11/2018	7/11/2018	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10013385	Erickson Creek			Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10051143	Erickson Creek at Sawmill Road	6/4/2018	5/12/2021	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10034792	Erickson Creek- east of Gould Hill Rd	8/18/2011	11/2/2022	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	233217	Erickson Creek - V And W Rd Sec 32	10/18/1985	11/14/1990	Map	Data
906200	Erickson Creek	10048650	Erickson Creek at Fabos/Prussia	6/29/2017	10/7/2023	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Erickson Creek is located in the Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers watershed which is 144.80 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (44.90%), agricultural (35.10%) and a mix of forest (16%) and other uses (3.90%). This watershed has 370.96 stream miles, 107.68 lake acres and 2,029.49 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.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

Erickson Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, 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) 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.

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