Water Detail - Bullhead Slough, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07)

Bullhead Slough, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07)

Bullhead Slough (1205400)

Size

86.60 Acres

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.

Shallow Lowland

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.

2020

General Condition

Unknown

County

Grant

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.

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.

Shallow Lowland

Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Bullhead Slough is located on the Wisconsin River floodplain just northeast of Woodman. The slough is very shallow and winterkill is a problem. The fishery in the slough consists of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. The slough provides habitat for waterfowl during the spring and the fall. The water in the slough is tinted an orange or yellow color. According to water resource biologists, this discoloration is the result of anoxic conditions of the water near the bottom. As the water in the slough becomes anoxic, it causes iron to mobilize from the soil and enter the water column. This iron precipitates out and is thought to be the cause of the orange tint of the water.

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Overview

Bullhead Slough is located on the Wisconsin River floodplain just northeast of Woodman. The slough is very shallow and winterkill is a problem. The fishery in the slough consists of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. The slough provides habitat for waterfowl during the spring and the fall.

The water in the slough is tinted an orange or yellow color. According to water resource biologists, this discoloration is the result of anoxic conditions of the water near the bottom. As the water in the slough becomes anoxic, it causes iron to mobilize from the soil and enter the water column. This iron precipitates out and is thought to be the cause of the orange tint of the water.

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source:1972, Surface Water Resources of Grant County,WI:WI-DNR Bullhead Slough: T7N, R3W, Sec. 7

A very shallow body of water located on the Wisconsin River floodplain one mile northeast of Woodman. Seepage is the primary source of water. Average depth is only one foot, therefore winterkill is an annual problem. Forage fish usually dominate the fishery but a limited sport fishery of northern pike and panfish exists when this area is flooded by the Wisconsin River. Due to the shallow depth this slough is considered to be deep marsh wetland adjoining the Wisconsin River. This productive wetland is excellent habitat for muskrat, beaver, mink, raccoon and deer. Waterfowl are common during the spring and fall. Walk-in access is possible with permission.

Surface area = 3.0 acres, S.D.F. = 2.60, maximum depth = 3 feet

Date 1972

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Bullhead Slough, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) Fish and Aquatic Life

Bullhead Slough, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) Recreation

Bullhead Slough, Green River and Crooked Creek Watershed (LW07) Fish Consumption

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.

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
1205300	Unnamed	10036125	Bullhead Slu - Main Area of Open Water South of Railroad Track	8/4/2010	8/4/2010	Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10036125	Bullhead Slu - Main Area of Open Water South of Railroad Track	8/4/2010	8/4/2010	Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10036876	Bullhead Slu - Small Area of Open Water North of Railroad Track			Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10035119	Bullhead Slu- Small Portion of Open Water North of Railroad Track			Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10035093	Bullhead Slu - Small Portion of Open Water North of Railroad Track			Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10020181	Bullhead Slough -- Access	6/18/2012	6/5/2020	Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10035799	Bullhead Slu - Small Area of Open Water North of Railroad Track			Map	Data
1205400	Bullhead Slu	10035222	Bullhead Slu - Medium-sized portion of Open Water North of Railroad Track			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Bullhead Slu is located in the Green River and Crooked Creek watershed which is 125.71 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.60%), grassland (26.30%) and a mix of agricultural (16.80%) and other uses (10.30%). This watershed has 278.95 stream miles, 257.04 lake acres and 4,127.32 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.

Natural Community

Bullhead Slough is considered a Shallow Lowland 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.

Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.