Adams
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Fairbanks Creek, in the Duck and Plainville Creeks Watershed, is a 5.48 mile river that falls in Adams County. This river is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 as well as a Class I Trout Water under the Fisheries Program. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Fairbanks Creek, T16N, R6E, Section 30, Surface Acres = 5.5, Miles = 4.3, Gradient = 10 feet per mile,
This clear, hard water stream has a predominantly sand bottom as it flows in a
southerly direction and joins White Creek. This is a brook trout stream having rather
limited natural reproduction. Muskrat and beaver are present. Mallard and wood ducks
reportedly nest along the stream. There are 717 acres of adjoining wetlands and most
of i t is located near the headwaters. One resort and one dwelling are located on the
stream. The entire stream had open water during the February, 1963, aerial groundwater
survey. There is no public land adjoining the creek. Access is possible from two road
crossings.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen. 1966. Surface Water Resources of Adams County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1966
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Fairbanks Creek (WBIC 1343800) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new temperature 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
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.
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
Monitoring Projects
WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
---|
1343800 | Fairbanks Creek | 10041912 | Fairbanks Creek at Ember Ave | 1/1/2015 | 3/13/2024 | Map | Data |
1343800 | Fairbanks Creek | 10013401 | Fairbanks Creek White Cr To Ember Av | 5/13/2009 | 9/24/2012 | Map | Data |
1343800 | Fairbanks Creek | 10030207 | Fairbanks Creek at Edgewood Dr | 5/13/2009 | 9/16/2021 | Map | Data |
|
![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=LW25)
Watershed Characteristics
Fairbanks Creek is located in the Duck and Plainville Creeks watershed which is 195.09 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.40%), agricultural (25.70%) and a mix of wetland (7.60%) and other uses (10.30%). This watershed has 218.59 stream miles, 339.26 lake acres and 9,551.62 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.