River and Stream Narratives of the Upper Chippewa Basin

Below are narrative descriptions for waters for which we have a description on file. Not all waters in the basin are listed below.

Becky Creek, 2006 Update

Becky Creek is a cold water stream that flows out of the Blue Hills in the northwest portion of the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Watershed. Becky Creek is 8.0 miles in length with a drainage area of 10.74 sq.miles. Its designated use is a coldwater fishery for its entire length. The mouth of Becky Creek is located in northeast Atlanta Township with its headwaters located in southern Murry Township. The creek flows directly into the Chippewa River. Becky Creek?s watershed does not include any Indian County. Becky Creek is located within one of 11 subwatersheds that make up the Soft Maple and Hay Creek Priority Watershed. In the management plan for the priority watershed project, stream bank pasturing, county and township road maintenance and construction, riparian habitat degradation, upland sediment delivery, manure and nutrient runoff are identified in the watershed plan as sources of pollutants impacting Becky Creek. Becky Creek was monitored on two occasions ? 1995 and 2000. In 1995 three sites were monitored. In 2000, two sites were also monitored with the downstream site being the same as the downstream site in the 1995 monitoring. In total, four sites were monitored. The following is a site-by-site description starting upstream and moving downstream. Site 1 ? ~mile 6.0 from mouth. The upstream-most 1995 site showed an unimpaired condition. Habitat ratings were good and the concentrations of total phosphorus, suspended solids, and other pollutants approached undisturbed, background levels. Much of the area draining to site 1 is in forest. Site 2 ? mile 4.6 from mouth This 2000 site shows degraded habitat due to excessive stream bank erosion. Stream bank erosion results in a lack of overhanging grasses and a lack of cover for trout. There were few trout found. Unlimited access of horses was noted as the cause of the stream bank erosion. This impairment was not noted on the 2004 303(d) list. The land use between sites 1 and 2 changes to predominantly agriculture. Site 3 ? mile 1.0 from mouth This site represents the upstream end of an impaired segment with the impairment extending to the mouth of Becky Creek. In 1995, the habitat rating was fair. Total phosphorus and suspended solids increased substantially and for some parameters by 300 percent above the upstream site. Site 4 ? near mouth This site was monitored in both 1995 and 2000. Both assessments indicated excessive bank erosion and fair fish habitat. Becky Creek at this location has widened and become shallower due to the bank erosion and sediment deposition. The shallow waters coupled with turbid conditions are elevating water temperatures. Total phosphorus and suspended solids increased by 50 percent from site 3. Suspended solids export rates are high between sites 3 and 4. The stream bank erosion is likely due to a combination of cattle access and flood flow scouring.

Clear Creek

The creek is classified as Class I trout stream and is seriously threatened by stream bank pasturing. It has documented problems relating to cattle operations, including bank erosion, habitat destruction, and nutrient inputs.