Roy Creek, Big Green Lake Watershed (UF07)
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Roy Creek, Big Green Lake Watershed (UF07)
Roy Creek (148200)
7.18 Miles
0 - 7.18
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 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.
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Biological Community, Degraded Habitat
Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
 
Green Lake
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.
No
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
LFF
Streams capable of supporting small populations of forage fish or tolerant macro-invertebrates that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically limited due to naturally poor water quality or habitat deficiencies. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 3 mg/L.
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

Roy Creek, in the Big Green Lake Watershed, is a 7.18 mile river that falls in Green Lake County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Roy Creek, Big Green Lake Watershed (UF07) Fish and Aquatic LifeRoy Creek, Big Green Lake Watershed (UF07) RecreationRoy Creek, Big Green Lake Watershed (UF07) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Roy Creek (148200) was placed on the impaired waters list for sediment/total suspended solids in 2002 and total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

2019 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Roy Creek 200 Feet Above Cth O
Roy Creek, Roy Creek 200 Feet Above Cth O, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Roy Creek, Roy Creek DS County Hwy O, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Big Green Lake TWA WQM PLAN 2017 (UF07)
Big Green Lake TWA WQM Plan 2017 [UF07] Presentation
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Roy Creek DS CTH O NC Fish Survey 2014-15 Dave Bolha
Roy Creek DS CTH O NC Verification Survey 2014-15 Dave Bolha
Roy Creek US CTH O NC Verification Survey 2014-15 Dave Bolha
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Recommendations

Engage Volunteers in Monitoring/Restoration
Water Quality Planning
Watershed based assessment and planning
Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
Big Green Lake [HUC12]
Monitor Baseline Survey
This Targeted Watershed Assessment will address needs for baseline water quality monitoring of the HUC 12 watershed on the south side of Big Green Lake.
Rivers Management Grant
DNR, county and local partners should work to obtain funds or grants to restore the identified unstable stream banks to reduce sedimentation and erosion in the watershed.
Partnership Project
The department should work with watershed organizations on outreach efforts with landowners in the watershed, environmental programs in Big Green Lake watershed, and research opportunities for stream bank stabilization opportunities.
Restore Riparian Habitat
The department should work to increase buffer widths in all of the subwatersheds which will likely reduce nutrient loading and sedimentation.

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
Big Green Lake TWA WQM Plan (2017) 2019 2019

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
148200Roy Creek10041576Roy Creek DS County Hwy O10/7/201410/24/2019MapData
148200Roy Creek10021317Roy Creek 200 Feet Above Cth O4/6/200710/23/2024MapData
148200Roy Creek10049574Roy Creek at mouth to Green Lake (County K Marsh)5/16/20175/16/2017MapData
148200Roy Creek10048779Roy Creek 20 yards E of CTH O culvert7/17/201710/18/2024MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Roy Creek is located in the Big Green Lake watershed which is 107.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (54.10%), open (12%) and a mix of grassland (10.10%) and other uses (23.70%). This watershed has 141.08 stream miles, 655.29 lake acres and 5,102.67 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available 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

Roy Creek is considered a 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) 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.