Unnamed, East River Watershed (LF01)
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Unnamed, East River Watershed (LF01)
BIRCH CREEK (119700)
2.56 Miles
0 - 0
Natural Community
Natural Communities represent analyzed products from a USGS/ WDNR hydrologic model which uses predicted flow and temperatures to generate a specific “natural community” category. Ranges of flow and temperature are associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals.
Cool (Cold Transition) Headwater, Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This date represents the most recent date of water quality monitoring for this stream. Additional field surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
1979
Unknown
 
Brown
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.
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.
FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - waters that do not have a specific use designation subcategory assigned but which are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - waters that do not have a specific use designation subcategory assigned but which 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.
LAL
Streams capable of supporting macro-invertebrates or occasionally fish that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically small streams with very low-flow and very limited habitat. Certain marshy ditches, concrete line-drainage channels, and other intermittent streams. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters are tolerant of many extreme conditions, but typically require concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain about 1 mg/L.

Overview

BIRCH CREEK, in the East River Watershed, is a 4.39 mile river that falls in Brown County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Biologist

Unnamed, East River Watershed (LF01) Fish and Aquatic LifeUnnamed, East River Watershed (LF01) RecreationUnnamed, East River Watershed (LF01) 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 quality monitoring program uses a tiered approach to analyze compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards. The narrative summary of water condition will be posted here when one is available. See also 'monitoring' and 'projects'.

Reports

Brown County Surface Water Resources 1972

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards (State Administrative Code NR 102) 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 and implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis, habitat restoration work, partnership education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below.

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.

Grants and Management Projects

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
Lower Fox River TMDL2007

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
119700Unnamed10017226Trib. To East River-5 Feet Above Bridge Off Sth 57.11/16/197911/16/1979MapData
119700Unnamed10017222Trib. To East River-E. Side Of Br. Above Farm At Bend In Stream Off Sth 57.5/3/19795/3/1979MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the East River watershed which is 206.32 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (58.62%), suburban (12.03%) and a mix of forest (8.45%) and other uses (20.90%). This watershed has 432.18 stream miles, 7,625.39 lake acres and 6,193.00 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked high for streams, not available for lakes and high for groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of high. This water is not ranked for pollution runoff.

Natural Community

BIRCH CREEK is considered a Cool (Cold Transition) Headwater, Cold Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural Communities are identified based on modeled flow and temperature characteristics. Learn More

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.

Cold Headwater streams are small, perennial streams with cold summer temperatures. Collectively, coldwater fishes are usually abundant (catch rate of >100 fish per 100 m of stream length sampled) to common (10- 100 per 100 m), transitional fishes are common to absent, and warm water fishes are absent (Table 2). Because of the small size of the stream, trout populations consist almost exclusively of small fish (< 5 inches) with larger fish absent except perhaps during spawning periods.

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