Watershed - Black Creek (CW25)
Black Creek Watershed

Details

The Black Creek Watershed is located in Taylor and Marathon counties. The watershed received the highest watershed index score of all 20 watersheds in the Marathon County Animal Waste Management Plan. The ranking was based on livestock densities near surface waters; the high percentage of Nonpoint Source pollution (NPS) was contributed to animal wastes, soil types, topography, and the impact of wastes on water quality. The Marathon County Land Conservation Committee recommended this watershed be considered as a priority watershed to control animal waste. The watershed was ranked using the Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed Selection Criteria. Based on NPS impacts on surface water quality, the watershed was ranked high, establishing a priority for future grant eligibility through the State Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement Program. In 1996, the Black Creek Watershed was up for Priority Watershed Selection. However, due to program restructuring, no more were chosen. Developing a plan to increase water quality in the watershed is necessary.

Date  2002

Ecological Landscapes for Black Creek Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Black Creek Watershed is located in the Forest Transition Ecological Landscape which lies along the northern border of Wisconsin's Tension Zone, through the central and western part of the state, and supports both northern forests and agricultural areas. The central portion of the Forest Transition lies primarily on a glacial till plain deposited by glaciation between 25,000 and 790,000 years ago. The eastern and western portions are on moraines of the Wisconsin glaciation. The growing season in this part of the state is long enough that agriculture is viable, although climatic conditions are not as favorable as in southern Wisconsin. Soils are diverse, ranging from sandy loam to loam or shallow silt loam, and from poorly drained to well drained. The historic vegetation of the Forest Transition was primarily northern hardwood forest. These northern hardwoods were dominated by sugar maple and hemlock, and contained some yellow birch, red pine and white pine. Currently, over 60% of this Ecological Landscape is non-forested. Forested areas consist primarily of northern hardwoods and aspen, with smaller amounts of oak and lowland hardwoods. The eastern portion of the Ecological Landscape differs from the rest of the area in that it remains primarily forested, and includes some ecologically significant areas. Throughout the Ecological Landscape, small areas of conifer swamp are found near the headwaters of streams, and associated with lakes in kettle depressions on moraines. Ground flora show characteristics of both northern and southern Wisconsin, as this Ecological Landscape lies along the Tension Zone.

Date  2010

Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2013
Waters Involved
Big Bass Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 7: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase II efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Develop lake management plans, 2) Establish planning committees, 3) Review and revise shoreland zoning ordinance, 4) Hold one-day water forum, and 5) Develop guide for Zoning Board of Adjustment members.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Marathon County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Big Eau Pleine River
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Marathon County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.

Project deliverables include: 1. Copies of any fact sheets or handouts created for public hearings. 2. A summary of the comments received at public hearings. 3. A certified copy of the County Board-approved updated shoreland ordinance or ordinance language (if integrated into other codes). 4. Any GIS maps of the shoreland zone or shoreland condition surveys related to the project.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1. The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports or surveys generated as a result of this project.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/12/2010
Waters Involved
Mission Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 2: Marathon County proposes to conduct detailed studies of 11 lakes in the Eastern part of Marathon County for the purpose of classifying them and developing plans for their future management. major project elements in this phased project include: 1) data collection, 2) outreach, 3) management planning and 4) plan implementation.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
4/15/2017
Waters Involved
Mission Lake
Status
Complete

Deer Lake Conservancy Inc: Lower Rock Creek Acquisition: The Deer Lake Conservancy has purchased 32.10 acres of undeveloped property on Deer Lake in Polk County. The parcel includes approximately 500 feet of shoreline, a riparian wetland and has Rock Creek flowing through the property. The property is adjacent to existing Conservancy owned property. Trails will be developed connecting with existing trails of the adjacent property.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2012
Waters Involved
Mud Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 5: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase _ efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Water quality sampling and analysis, 2) Fisheries and aquatic species analysis, 3) Habitat, shoreland and paleolimnological surveys, 4) cultural surveys and outreach, 5) build-out assessment and monitoring.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2012
Waters Involved
Mud Lake
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 6: Marathon County proposes to continue toward completion of its Phase 1 efforts to classify 11 lakes in eastern Marathon County. Major project elements to include: 1) Water quality sampling and analysis, 2) Fisheries and aquatic species analysis, 3) Habitat, shoreland and paleolimnological surveys, 4) Cultural surveys and outreach, 5) Build-out assessment and monitoring.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/1/1998
Waters Involved
Rib Lake
Status
Complete

Rib Lake Inland Lakes P & R District: Lmi-Fd-Rib Lake Rehabilitation/Sediment Analysis, 1998-99: Rib Lake Inland Lake Protection District proposes to conduct a diagnostic/feasibility study of lake bottom sediments as a preliminary step to a possible sunken log retrieval and/or dredging project in Rib Lake.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/12/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Marathon County: Lco-Marathon Class 2: Marathon County proposes to conduct detailed studies of 11 lakes in the Eastern part of Marathon County for the purpose of classifying them and developing plans for their future management. major project elements in this phased project include: 1) data collection, 2) outreach, 3) management planning and 4) plan implementation.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
4/15/2017
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Deer Lake Conservancy Inc: Lower Rock Creek Acquisition: The Deer Lake Conservancy has purchased 32.10 acres of undeveloped property on Deer Lake in Polk County. The parcel includes approximately 500 feet of shoreline, a riparian wetland and has Rock Creek flowing through the property. The property is adjacent to existing Conservancy owned property. Trails will be developed connecting with existing trails of the adjacent property.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Black Creek Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Rothschild - Stormwater Management Plan Update
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; other updated ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Marathon County Barnyard Runoff Control Project
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a barnyard runoff control system, critical area stabilization, diversions, heavy use area protection, roofing, roof runoff systems, and underground outlets.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Fenwood Creek Watershed Project
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution through the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) addressing sediment and nutrient loading and to address violations of the NR 151 Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions relating to: sheet, rill, and wind erosion; tillage setback; manure storage facilities-new/significant alterations; manure storage facilities-closure; manure storage facilities-existing failing/leaking; process wastewater handling; clean water diversions; nutrient management; prevention of overflow from manure storage facilities; prevention of direct runoff from a feedlot or stored manure into waters of the state; prevention of unlimited livestock access to waters of the state; and remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Monitor Un. Creek (1459900) for Temperature
Date
Status
Confirmed with fisheries that this is a Class I Trout water. Not recommending for temperature listing because 2011 data is questionable (appears logger may have been out of the water for part of July). Data very questionable and agree logger was mostly out of water and recording. DO NOT List
8/20/2019
Proposed
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Eau Pleine Flowage Priority Restoration Followup Monitoring
Date
Status
Monitoring - the Department started a multi-year water quality study in 2009 to develop a TMDL for the river and flowage. Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is a 6348 acre lake located in Marathon County.
1/1/2013
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Big Eau Pleine TMDL
Date
Status
The Big Eau Pleine Flowage is listed on the Federal 303 (d) list for violations of the state dissolved oxygen and pH water quality standards. The Big Eau Pleine River is also on the list for dissolved oxygen levels below the water quality standard. Both listings are a result of excessive nutrient loading, primarily phosphorus, to the river and flowage.
1/1/2013
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Water Quality Modeling
City-Wide Water Quality Model Update and BMP Feasibility
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: water quality model, BMP feasibility analysis.
1/1/2015
In Progress
Projects
 
Black Creek WatershedWatershed History Note

The Black Creek Watershed runs through the Town of Rietbrock in Marathon County. Here one finds the Rietbrock Geographical Marker which locates the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere. This is the point at which the 90th Meridian of Longitude bisects the 45th Parallel of Latitude, meaning it is exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, and is a quarter of the way around the earth from Greenwich, England.

Date  2010