Water Detail - Plum Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02)

Plum Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02)

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Plum Creek (1182700)

Size

9.24 Miles

Segment

0 - 9.24

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, 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.

2021

General Condition

Good

County

Crawford

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.

Yes

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.

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 (Class I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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

Plum Creek, located in southern Crawford County, flows in an easterly direction for 5.2 miles
before reaching the Kickapoo River near Wauzeka. This stream has a gradient of 35 feet per
mile and drains forested hillsides and agricultural valleys. Plum Creek is a Class I trout stream
for its entire length and an Exceptional Resource Water, (ERW).
A series of fish and habitat surveys have been conducted on Plum Creek since 1997. Both
brook and brown trout are naturally reproducing and a healthy and diverse forage fish
community inhabits Plum Creek. With the assistance of the Prairie Rod and Gun Club,
restoration of in-stream habitat began in 1999 with the addition of LUNKER structures,
boulder retards, and streambank stabilization. Yearly fish and habitat surveys are tracking
changes to the fish community over time in response to the restoration of in-stream habitat.
Problems noted during recent surveys include beaver activity, streambank grazing of
livestock, streambank erosion, and lack of permanent in-stream cover for adult trout.
Additional in-stream habitat development in Plum Creek would benefit the trout fishery. This
stream would also benefit from the purchase of additional streambank easements from willing
sellers. Continued fish and habitat surveys should be conducted to track fishery population
changes in response to additional in-stream habitat restoration. WDNR records indicate that
Plum Creek was last stocked with brook trout in 1996. The naturally reproducing populations of
brown and brook trout have eliminated the need for further stocking. Access to Plum Creek is from
two road crossings, WDNR owned land and WDNR easements.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Plum Creek has high potential to improve from a Class III to a Class II trout stream if
nonpoint source water pollution is controlled. Fisheries Management stocked the stream
with native brook trout in 1989. The stream is included in a state fishery area which is
being developed as land becomes available.

Date 1994

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Plum Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02) Fish and Aquatic Life

Plum Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02) Recreation

Plum Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Plum Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and 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

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

Plum Creek, Plum Creek #1 - Plum Creek Rd Bridge, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Plum Creek 300 yd S of Plum Creek Rd

Plum Creek, Plum Creek - 20 Yds Upstream Mill Rd. Bridgeoff Plum Creek Rd., Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2015 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Plum Creek 300 yds S of Plum Creek Road

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Lower Kickapoo River Watershed Plan (LW02)

PLUM CREEK, CRAWFORD COUNTY, EASTMAN WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Crawford County Surface Water Resources 1972

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

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
Plum Creek Downstream of Weirich Lower Fenceline	2011
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10022143	Plum Creek - 300m Downstream Weirich Lower Fenceline			Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10022206	Plum Creek 2y - Approx. 506m Downstream Of Weirich Lower Fenceline (New Parking Area)	3/21/2014	3/21/2014	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10008976	Plum Creek #4 - 1395' Upstream Of Weirich Upstream Fenceline			Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10008972	Plum Creek #5 - Mill Hill Rd Bridge	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10009632	Plum Creek #3a	7/27/1999	10/10/2006	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10008995	Plum Creek #1 - Plum Creek Rd Bridge	1/1/2015	10/27/2021	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10015739	Plum Creek - 20 Yds Upstream Mill Rd. Bridgeoff Plum Creek Rd.	5/14/1997	10/20/2016	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10022052	Plum Creek St. 2z - 192m Downstream Of Weirich Lower Fenceline	6/10/2011	10/13/2011	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10008983	Plum Creek #3 - Weirich Property	10/21/1999	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10032026	Plum Creek 0.5 miles N. of 1st jog in Hazen Rd. and 1.0 miles E. of Hwy 27	10/7/2009	8/14/2018	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	123028	Plum Creek at Plum Creek Rd.	9/20/1999	5/31/2016	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10008991	Plum Creek #2 - Dnr Land Dwnstrm Fenceline	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1182700	Plum Creek	10043035	Plum Creek 300 yd S of Plum Creek Rd	6/11/2013	10/27/2019	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Plum Creek is located in the Lower Kickapoo River watershed which is 150.21 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.80%), grassland (21.20%) and a mix of agricultural (19.60%) and other uses (6.30%). This watershed has 383.20 stream miles, 387.48 lake acres and 3,662.70 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Natural Community

Plum Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) 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.

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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