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

Pine Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02)

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Pine Creek (1183000)

Size

11.22 Miles

Segment

0 - 11.22

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

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.

2017

General Condition

Fair

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.

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

Pine Creek, located in central Crawford County, flows in a southeasterly direction for 6.5 miles before reaching the Kickapoo River near Steuben. This stream has a gradient of 24 feet per mile and drains forested hillsides and agricultural valleys. Pine Creek is a Class II trout stream for its entire length.

The most recent survey, completed in 1997, documented brown trout and numerous forage fish species. In-stream cover consisted of undercut banks, log tangles and aquatic vegetation.

Silt was the primary bottom type, followed by rubble and sand. This stream has potential to become a quality trout stream, however flooding, streambank grazing of livestock and beaver dams are negatively affecting the habitat and consequently the fishery of Pine Creek. Stocking of wild brown trout and resurveying the stream is recommended. Pine Creek would benefit from the purchase of streambank easements from willing sellers and the restoration of instream habitat. WDNR records indicate Pine Creek has been stocked with brown trout consistently since 1960, but with wild brown trout only since 2001. Access to Pine Creek is from WDNR easements and five road crossings.

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

Pine Creek has the potential to improve from a Class III to a Class II trout stream if nonpoint source water pollution is controlled. The village of Eastman (WWTP) will begin to discharge to this stream in late 1992.

Date 1994

Author Aquatic Biologist

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

Pine Creek, Lower Kickapoo River Watershed (LW02) Recreation

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

General Condition

Pine Creek (WBIC 1183000) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and biological (macroinvertebrate and 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Pine Creek Station Walker Hollow Rd. Bridge

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Pine Creek, Pine Creek Station Walker Hollow Rd. Bridge , Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Lower Kickapoo River Watershed Plan (LW02)

PINE CREEK TSC CHECKLIST FOR TROUT CLASS 2008

Crawford County Surface Water Resources 1972

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
1183000	Pine Creek	10037566	Pine Creek on Duha Ridge Rd	5/24/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013700	Pine Creek Station 4-1954-Sw 1/4 Nw 1/4 Sec. 2			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013690	Pine Creek Station 6-1963-Nw 1/4 Ne 1/4 Sec. 3			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013704	Pine Creek Station 5-1997-Se 1/4 Ne 1/4 Sec. 33			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013694	Pine Creek Station 2-1954-Sw 1/4 Sw 1/4 Sec. 12-Starts At Confluence With Otter Creek.			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10029571	Pine Creek at Dahlberg Rd St. 3 - 2008			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10011177	Pine Creek - Pine Creek Station 2	6/5/2014	6/5/2014	Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013699	Pine Creek Station 3-1954-Sw 1/4 Se 1/4 Sec. 2			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013689	Pine Creek Station 5-1963-Ne 1/4 Ne 1/4 Sec.3			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10011176	Pine Creek - Pine Creek Station 1 - Off Of Morovitz Hollow	7/9/2015	7/9/2015	Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013701	Pine Creek Station Walker Hollow Rd. Bridge	5/14/1997	10/8/2017	Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10032693	Pine Creek above Otter Creek mouth			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013703	Pine Creek Station 3-1997-Nw 1/4 Se 1/4 Sec. 2-Starts At Downstream End Of Easement Land.	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10011178	Pine Creek - Pine Creek Station 4 - Lower Fenceline Of Easement			Map	Data
1183000	Pine Creek	10013702	Pine Creek Station 3-1975-Ne 1/4 Se 1/4 Sec.11-Starts At Hwy 179 Bridge Crossing.	5/16/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Pine 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 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, Cool-Cold 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 (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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