Vernon
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Knapp Creek, located in north central Vernon County, flows in a south westerly direction for 4.0 miles before reaching the West Fork of the Kickapoo River north of Bloomingdale. This stream has a gradient of 34 feet per mile and drains forested hillsides and agricultural valleys and an agricultural headwater plateau. Knapp Creek is a Class III trout stream for its entire length.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
Knapp Creek, T14N, R3W, Section 30. Surface Acres = 4.1, Miles = 4.0, Gradient = 34.2 feet per mile.
A clear, hard water stream that flows in a southwesterly direction and is a tributary of the West Fork Kickapoo River. It is Class III brown trout water. Forage fish include white suckers, creek chubs, hog suckers and redside dace. Though rubble is the dominant bottom type, there is considerable sand, and small amounts of silt and gravel. One road crossing provides access. Muskrat are significant and beaver are present. Wood ducks nest along the stream and migrant dabbler ducks use the water.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and Threinen, C.W., 1973. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Vernon County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1973
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Knapp Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new 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
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 |
|---|
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10016855 | Knapp Creek - 50 Ft Upstream Of Bridge Atmcelhose Rd. | 5/7/1997 | 10/9/1997 | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10032077 | Knapp Creek - Across from S1631 Knapp Valley Rd | 5/5/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10030820 | Knapp Creek DS of confluence along Knapp Valley Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10015435 | Knapp Creek Station 1 - Farm Crossing On Gard Farm | | | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10030833 | Knapp Creek above confluence on farm | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10030834 | Knapp Creek Station 2 - 2009 along McElhose Rd | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10015436 | Knapp Creek Station 2 - 100m Downstream From Farm Crossing On Easterday Farm | | | Map | Data |
| 1191400 | Knapp Creek | 10032078 | Knapp Creek - 420 ft SE of intersection of Keibel Rd and Knapp Valley Rd | 5/5/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Knapp Creek is located in the West Fork Kickapoo River watershed which is 118.04 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.10%), grassland (29%) and a mix of agricultural (25.50%) and other uses (4.40%). This watershed has 283.75 stream miles, 49.18 lake acres and 672.36 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.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.