Watershed - Millville Creek (LW01)
Millville Creek Watershed

Details

The Millville Creek Watershed is located in the southwestern corner of Crawford County and the northwestern corner of Grant County. The watershed includes all streams in Crawford and Grant counties that flow into the Wisconsin River from just downstream of Wauzeka to the mouth of the Wisconsin River. Steep gradient streams are common in this watershed. The gradients of Bush, Gran Grae, and Little Kickapoo Creeks decrease significantly on their lower end where wetlands extend from the railroad tracks down to the Wisconsin River. Due to the steep topography in the area, much of the acreage in the watershed is forested. The remainder is either in agriculture or private property that is not farmed. There are significant wetlands in the floodplain near the mouth of the Wisconsin River.

Date  2002

Population, Land Use

The city of Prairie du Chien lies just north of the watershed where the Wisconsin River joins the Mississippi River. The only municipality in the watershed, however, is the village of Wauzeka. Overall population in the watershed is estimated to be around 2,600. Wauzeka has experienced a 29% population growth over the last decade from a population of 595 to 768.

Date  2002

Nonpoint and Point Sources

Overall, nonpoint source pollution is considered the primary cause of water quality problems in streams in the watershed. However, since there is very little data to reflect current conditions, no overall watershed nonpoint source priority ranking has been assigned. A portion of the watershed on the Lower Wisconsin River Valley is in an atrazine prohibition area. These areas indicate that elevated levels of atrazine, an herbicide used on corn, has been found in some tested private water wells. Soils are permeable which has allowed atrazine to reach groundwater in some locations. There are no permitted point source discharges in the basin.

Date  2002

Ecological Landscapes for Millville Creek Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Millville Creek Watershed is located primarily in the Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological Landscape in southwestern and west central Wisconsin and is characterized by its highly eroded, driftless topography and relatively extensive forested landscape. Soils are silt loams (loess) and sandy loams over sandstone residuum over dolomite. Several large rivers including the Wisconsin, Mississippi, Chippewa, Kickapoo and Black flow through or border the Ecological Landscape. Historical vegetation consisted of southern hardwood forests, oak savanna, scattered prairies, and floodplain forests and marshes along the major rivers. With Euro-American settlement, most of the land on ridgetops and valley bottoms was cleared of oak savanna, prairie, and level forest for agriculture. The steep slopes between valley bottom and ridgetop, unsuitable for raising crops, grew into oak-dominated forests after the ubiquitous presettlement wildfires were suppressed. Current vegetation is a mix of forest (40%), agriculture, and grassland with some wetlands in the river valleys. The primary forest cover is oak-hickory (51%) dominated by oak species and shagbark hickory. Maple-basswood forests (28%), dominated by sugar maple, basswood and red maple, are common in areas that were not subjected to repeated presettlement wildfires. Bottomland hardwoods (10%) are common in the valley bottoms of major rivers and are dominated by silver maple, ashes, elms, cottonwood, and red maple. Relict conifer forests including white pine, hemlock and yellow birch are a rarer natural community in the cooler, steep, north slope microclimates. The Millville Creek Watershed has a variety of good quality habitats and rare plant communities that are listed on the state's Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI), kept by the Bureau of Endangered Resources. The communities found in the watershed include: cedar glade; moist cliff; oak barrens; oak opening; pine relict; southern dry forest; southern dry-mesic forest; southern mesic forest; emergent aquatic; floodplain forest; southern sedge meadow; springs and springs runs, hard; wet-mesic prairie.

Date  2002

Recreational Opportunities

The watershed contains public land that can be used for a variety of recreational purposes from fishing and boating to hiking and birdwatching. The Wyalusing, Millville, and Wauzeka Units of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway contain 7,850 acres of state-owned land (690, 3,625, and 3,535 acres respectively). Much of the DNR owned land along the riverway is bordered by private property, so watch for property boundary signs and consult county plat books for specific land ownership parcels. A small portion of the Kickapoo River State Wildlife Area, Wauzeka Unit, is located in the northeast portion of this watershed. Hunting and fishing and other recreational opportunities exist in this area. The Wyalusing State Park is located on the south side of the Wisconsin River where it meets the Mississippi River. This park contains miles of hiking and cross country ski trails as well camping sites, shelters, and stunning views atop the bluffs along the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers

Date  2002

Wildlife and Habitat

The watershed is also home for a variety of rare plant and animal species including: 7 species of birds, 2 species of butterflies, 7 species of dragonflies, 15 species of fish, 1 species of frog, 1 species of mayfly, 13 species of mussels, 27 plant species, 2 species of snails, 3 species of snakes, and 1 species of turtle.

Date  2010

Millville Creek Watershed At-a-Glance

Impaired Water in Millville Creek Watershed
River and Stream QualityAll Waters in Watershed

The Millville Creek watershed includes all streams in Crawford and Grant counties that flow into the Wisconsin River from just downstream of Wauzeka to the river mouth. Streams in this watershed have fairly steep gradients. Much of the acreage in the watershed is woodland, with the remainder mostly in agriculture. There are significant wetlands in the floodplain of the Wisconsin River.

Date  2010

Watershed Trout Streams
Watershed Outstanding & Exceptional Resources

Lakes and Impoundments

There are very few lakes in this watershed, as it is part of the driftless region. Eighty (80) acres of small unnamed lakes are located here.

Date  2010

Impaired Waters

The Wisconsin River is listed for mercury since 2002 due to a specific fish consumption advisory that was in place at the time of listing.

Date  2010

List of Impaired Waters
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2010
Waters Involved
Kickapoo River
Status
Complete

Crawford County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Crawford 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
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Crawford County: Lco-Shoreland Ordinance Rev.: Crawford 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
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Castle Rock Ditch
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Cruson Slough
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Lake Du Bay
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Little Pine Creek
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Wisconsin River
Status
Complete

Lake Alice Association, Inc: Lake Alice Stewardship Program Phase Ii - Understanding The Biota Of Lake Alice: Lake Alice Association is sponsoring phased large scale lake planning grants to study Lake Alice, in Lincoln County. The project will focus on developing and updating an Adaptive Lake Management Plan (LMP) for Lake Alice. Phase 2 was funded in this grant cycle and Phases 3-5 will be submitted for funding starting in 2011.

Project activities for Phase 2 include: 1) Educational program, meetings and educational events with lake association and Tomahawk High School students, written educational materials, news releases, and website updates; 2) Point-intercept (PI) aquatic plant survey; 3) Aquatic plant community and substrate mapping; 4) Water quality assessment; 5) Volunteer amphibian monitoring and angler survey; 6) Update LMP.

Project deliverables include: 1) Educational materials and news releases; 2) Aquatic plant community and substrate maps; 3) PI, water quality, amphibian, and angler data; 4) LMP.

Specific conditions for this project: LMP needs Dept review and approval

WDNR Lakes Management Coordinator will be provided with an electronic (pdf or word) and hard copy of LMP, news releases, any other educational materials/products, all data, all maps from project, and all GIS data.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2023
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Friends Of The Lower Wi Riverway (Flow): Swe - Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium: Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) is sponsoring a project to hold a Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium in 2023.

Project final deliverables include:

Press releases and articles about the event will be copied for inclusion in the final report. The meeting agenda and program will be included, along with a list of land/watershed conservation organizations. A final symposium report will include information on symposium attendance, attendee survey rating responses and comments on the success or limitations of the symposium. The report will also include a compilation of presentations summaries/abstracts. Photographs of the event will be delivered with the final report and include file names and attribution information.

Specific project activities include:

FLOW will plan a one day educational symposium in fall of 2023, to include technical - scientific presentations and citizen - organization watershed restoration and aquatic monitoring presentations. To give greater understanding of the connection between land and water quality, land/waterway restoration strategies for wetland and water quality improvement, and inform people about the unique biological, physical and cultural features of the LWR Basin. A web page will promote the event and invitations will be sent to NGO's, NRCS and LWCD in the basin.

This scope summarizes the project detail provided in the application and does not negate tasks/deliverables described therein. Data, records, and reports, including GIS-based maps, and digital images, must be submitted to the Department in a format specified by the regional Stream Biologist.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2013
Waters Involved
Wisconsin River
Status
Complete

Friends Of The Lower Wi Riverway (Flow): Friends Of Lower Wisconsin Riverway: FLOW will undertake a River Planning Project of Organization Building and Outreach. Project deliverables are as follows: 1.) Hire an environmental educator to coordinate outreach activities, volunteer monitoring and data management, and to coordinate AIS activities, 2.) Purchase water quality monitoring instruments and gear for volunteer stream monitoring, 3.) Gather basic water quality data on the Lower Wisconsin River and floodplain lakes and enter the data into SWIMS, 4.) Conduct a recreational use survey using volunteers, 5.) Present educational programs for both adults and public schools.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
3/15/2023
Waters Involved
Wisconsin River
Status
Complete

Friends Of The Lower Wi Riverway (Flow): Swe - Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium: Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) is sponsoring a project to hold a Lower Wisconsin River Basin Symposium in 2023.

Project final deliverables include:

Press releases and articles about the event will be copied for inclusion in the final report. The meeting agenda and program will be included, along with a list of land/watershed conservation organizations. A final symposium report will include information on symposium attendance, attendee survey rating responses and comments on the success or limitations of the symposium. The report will also include a compilation of presentations summaries/abstracts. Photographs of the event will be delivered with the final report and include file names and attribution information.

Specific project activities include:

FLOW will plan a one day educational symposium in fall of 2023, to include technical - scientific presentations and citizen - organization watershed restoration and aquatic monitoring presentations. To give greater understanding of the connection between land and water quality, land/waterway restoration strategies for wetland and water quality improvement, and inform people about the unique biological, physical and cultural features of the LWR Basin. A web page will promote the event and invitations will be sent to NGO's, NRCS and LWCD in the basin.

This scope summarizes the project detail provided in the application and does not negate tasks/deliverables described therein. Data, records, and reports, including GIS-based maps, and digital images, must be submitted to the Department in a format specified by the regional Stream Biologist.


Millville Creek Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
 
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
8/7/2013
In Progress
Projects
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
 
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
8/7/2013
In Progress
Projects
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
 
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
8/7/2013
In Progress
Projects
 
Monitor Baseline Survey
 
Date
Status
Conduct Baseline Monitoring on Warner Creek
1/1/2010
Proposed
 
Monitor Baseline Survey
 
Date
Status
Conduct baseline monitoring on Millville Creek.
1/1/2010
Proposed
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
1179900 name Wisconsin River TMDL ID 530 Start Mile 268 End Mile 289.17
11/21/2011
Proposed
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Millville Creek TP
Date
Status
Category 2. 2018 TP Results: May Exceed. Station: 10029121. AU: 13120.
1/1/2018
Proposed
Projects
 
Review, Update Use Designation
 
Date
Status
Changed from Class II to a Class I in 2008, should evaluate updates to NR102.
11/3/2008
Proposed
 
TMDL (USEPA) Approved
Snowden (Big Patch) Branch TMDL
Date
Status
The sediment TMDL was approved September 12, 2006.
5/1/2010
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
TMDL Implementation
Castle Rock & Gunderson Creek TMDL
Date
Status
The Castle Rock and Gunderson Creek TMDL was created to address phosphorus, sediment, and for at least one creek biological oxygen demand. The TMDL was approved and is in implementation through projects funded by the Clean Water Act Section 319 Program.
6/28/2004
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Millville Creek WatershedWatershed History Note

The Village of Wauzeka is located in the Millville Creek Watershed, in the Lower Wisconsin River valley. Wauzeka was named after a Native American by the name of Wauzega who broke away from his traditonal roots, and with his wife, settled at the mouth of the Kickapoo River to hunt, trap, and fish. Between 1850 and the Civil War, copper and lead mines were found west of the Kickapoo and in 1857, a plat of the village of Wauzeka was laid out listing four streets north and south with 80-foot streets and 300-foot square blocks. The only difference in the original plat and that from 1969, is the absence of the fourth street and the spelling of the name. Later two stage coach lines originated from the town, one going through to Prairie du Chien and the other going north to LaFarge on the west bank of the Kickapoo. Ralph Smith came to Wauzeka and founded the steamboat works, which were later affiliated with the Diamond Joe steamboat line, which provided steamboats for the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. In the early 1890s the Kickapoo Railroad became a reality. Because wood was very cheap, maple wood rails were laid as far as Gays Mills. Later iron or steel rails replaced these and the line was continued to LaFarge. Passenger service was provided until 1930 when highway travel became more popular. The train yards provided employment for many citizens. Freight service continued until 1938 when the Milwaukee Road, which had taken over from the original owners, discontinued the whole line, claiming insufficient use. At one time 30 railroad families lived in Wauzeka.

Date  2011