Spencer Creek, Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed (GB12)
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Spencer Creek, Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed (GB12)
Spencer Creek (553400)
5.13 Miles
0 - 5.13
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.
Warm Headwater, Cool-Cold Headwater, COOL-Warm 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.
2005
Fair
 
Forest
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.
Yes
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.
No

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

Spencer Creek, in the Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed, is a 5.13 mile river that falls in Forest 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

Spencer Creek is classified as a Class I trout stream and is also an exceptional resource
water. The majority of this creek, 76 percent, runs through the Nicolet National Forest.
The most urgent need for this creek, is the removal of beaver. Selective alder removal
should occur the length of the stream.

Date  1993

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Spencer Creek, Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed (GB12) Fish and Aquatic LifeSpencer Creek, Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed (GB12) RecreationSpencer Creek, Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed (GB12) 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.

Reports

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Great Lakes Stream Restoration program makes big gains in 2017

Recommendations

Fish Management, Access
Wild Rivers Trout Unlimited will be sponsoring a restoration project on Spencer Creek- Forest County- WI. The project will replace an undersized culvert that is restricting flow and- is creating sediment deposition upstream from the culvert and scouring downstream from the culvert. The perched culvert is also impeding fish passage. Replacement of this barrier will reconnect 5 miles of Spencer Creek to the Rat River system and 1.56 miles of Swan Creek. Project goals: Restore the instream habitat and aquatic connectivity of Spencer Creek. Additional expected project accomplishments include: elimination of impounding conditions upstream from Flanner Road; restoration of natural stream velocities both up and downstream of the road crossing; restoration of trout and other aquatic organism movement throughout the entirety of Spencer Creek and in and out of the Rat River- allowing natural movements to complete life history stages- increase coldwater refuge areas during warm water periods in the Rat River and- increase genetic diversity among the trout population in the entire system; reconnecting 5 miles of Spencer Creek; reconnecting use of 1.56 miles of Swan Creek.
Fish Management, Access
Wild Rivers Trout Unlimited will be sponsoring a restoration project on Spencer Creek, Forest County, WI. The project will replace an undersized culvert that is restricting flow and, is creating sediment deposition upstream from the culvert and scouring downstream from the culvert. The perched culvert is also impeding fish passage. Replacement of this barrier will reconnect 5 miles of Spencer Creek to the Rat River system and 1.56 miles of Swan Creek. Project goals: Restore the instream habitat and aquatic connectivity of Spencer Creek. Additional expected project accomplishments include: elimination of impounding conditions upstream from Flanner Road; restoration of natural stream velocities both up and downstream of the road crossing; restoration of trout and other aquatic organism movement throughout the entirety of Spencer Creek and in and out of the Rat River, allowing natural movements to complete life history stages, increase coldwater refuge areas during warm water periods in the Rat River and, increase genetic diversity among the trout population in the entire system; reconnecting 5 miles of Spencer Creek; reconnecting use of 1.56 miles of Swan Creek.

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
TOWN OF BLACKWELL: Algal & Water Quality Assessment & Aquatic Plant Survey for Bear Lake, Forest Co., Phase 52011
TOWN OF BLACKWELL: Algal & Water Quality Assessment & Aquatic Plant Survey for Bear Lake Forest County, Phase 62011
TROUT UNLIMITED-WILD RIVER CHAPTER: Spencer Creek - Reconnecting Coldwater Habitat2017

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
553400Spencer Creek10037825Spencer Creek-120M below Swan CreekMapData
553400Spencer Creek10012924Spencer Creek - Hike In Access Off Of Padus Tower Rd / Fr 2138 Start Is At A Log Jam10/27/200510/27/2005MapData
553400Spencer Creek10012925Spencer Creek - 22m Above Confluence With Swan CreekMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Spencer Creek is located in the Otter Creek and Rat River watershed which is 141.51 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (73.60%), wetland (20.50%) and a mix of open (2.70%) and other uses (3.10%). This watershed has 139.69 stream miles, 2,907.05 lake acres and 15,033.81 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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

Spencer Creek is considered a Warm Headwater, Cool-Cold Headwater, COOL-Warm 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are 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.

Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.