Bear Lake TWA, Waupaca County TWA Plan

Bear Lake TWA, Waupaca County

Project Title

Targeted Watershed Assessment of the Bear Lake Watershed
David Bolha-Water Quality Biologist-Oshkosh

Study Purpose & Setting

Purpose
This project evaluated water quality improvement efforts made in the Bear Lake sub-watershed of the Lower Little Wolf RIver 319 Watershed by Waupaca County LWCD and NRCS.[TWA HUC12-040302021704]. This is a Section 319 project.

Objective
The Bear Lake sub-watershed was selected as a National Water Quality Initiative Pilot Project (NRCS EQIP funds) for 2017 to reduce the impact of non-point source pollutants. The sub-watershed was also one of the highest P loads in the Upper Fox-Wolf TMDL preliminary modeling. This TWA will provide baseline water quality data in support of NRCS's and Waupaca County's efforts. [TWA HUC 12-040302021704] This project will collect TP and TSS samples six times (twice in May and June, once in July and October) at 9 locations in the watershed in 2017. Fish and aquatic macroinvertebrate IBI surveys will be conducted at 6 locations. Quantitative habitat assessments will be conducted at 6 locations as well. Monitoring will occur in 5 WBICs: 5018549, 5018179, 280700, 280800, & 280100.

About the Watershed
Bear Lake is located in the Lower Little Wolf River (WR06) Watershed, which is part of the larger Wolf River Basin. The Lower Little Wolf River watershed is 152 square miles and lies in central Waupaca County. Approximately 27 miles of the Little Wolf River are in this watershed, from the confluence of the South Branch Little Wolf River (WR08) to the dam at Big Falls. The Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan ranked this watershed as a medium priority for watershed selection due to local soil erosion and animal waste problems. The data search for the Wolf River Basin Plan indicated that problems related to polluted runoff exist in this watershed. The Lower Little Wolf River Watershed was selected as a priority watershed in 1995 and expired at the end of year 2008. The priority watershed plan was be prepared cooperatively by the WDNR, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and the Waupaca Land and Water Conservation Department, with assistance from the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Management Priorities

Wisconsin Water Quality Monitoring and Planning

This Water Quality Management Plan was created under the stateï¿½s Water Quality Management Planning and Water Resources Monitoring Programs. The plan reflects Water Quality Bureau and Water Resources Monitoring Strategy 2015-2020 goals and priorities and fulfills Areawide Water Quality Management Planning milestones under the Clean Water Act, Section 208. Condition information and resource management recommendations support and guide program priorities for the plan area.
This plan is hereby approved by the Wisconsin DNR Water Quality Program and is a formal update to Wisconsinï¿½s Statewide Areawide Water Quality Management Plan. This plan will be forwarded to USEPA for certification as a formal plan update.

Dave Bolha, Water Quality Biologist, East District
Marsha Burzynski, Water Quality Bureau Field Operations Director
Greg Searle, Water Quality Bureau Field Operations Director
Timothy Asplund, Water Quality Bureau Monitoring Section Chief

Basin/Watershed Partners
ï¿½ Waupaca County Land Conservation Department

Report Acknowledgements
ï¿½ Dave Bolha, Author and Investigator, Eastern District, Wisconsin DNR
ï¿½ Lisa Helmuth, Program Coordinator, Water Quality Bureau, Wisconsin DNR

Resources

The Bear Lake Watershed drains a 28,260 acre area into the Little Wolf River. The Bear Lake Watershed is located entirely within Waupaca County, near Manawa, Wisconsin, and drains 29% of the Lower Little Wolf River Watershed. The land use within the Bear Lake Watershed is dominated, 51.2%, by cropland, 36.5% as natural woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands, and <10% is considered urban. Typically, as increases in agricultural land use occur, there is a correlating increase in TP concentration in creeks in the watershed. There are 4 named creeks in the Bear Lake Watershed; Thiel, Little, Spiegelberg, and Shaw Creeks. In 2015, monitoring in Thiel and Little Creeks indicated TP concentrations exceeding the water quality criteria for Wisconsin streams; therefore, these two creeks were added to the 2018 CWA 303d list of Impaired Waters (WDNR 2017). In 2017, the sample locations were increased on each of the two Impaired Waters and added locations on 4 other unnamed tributaries to further assess sources of nutrients and sediment (Tables 6-7). This will provide a framework for comparison following the installation of BMPs within multiple areas of the watershed. The nutrient and sediment monitoring in the upper portions of the Thiel and Little Creeks indicate land use practices and stream degradation are a significant source to the Bear Lake Watershed. Conversely, improvements to the streams and drainage area will significantly reduce the TP and TSS reaching the Little Wolf River.

Waupaca County LWCD completed the 9KE plan for the Bear Lake Watershed in 2018. Through their modeling effort, the County LWCD determined that a sum of 2,323 tons of sediment are delivered to the Little Wolf River each year. Much of the sediment is delivered to the Little Wolf River by first being carried down the streams in the watershed. When sediment is transported in streams, there is an effect on the habitat and aquatic life within the stream. In 2017, TSS was used to measure instream sediment (amongst other suspended particles). Suspended solids, which are most commonly comprised of sediment and algae, absorb heat from sunlight, which increases water temperature and subsequently decreases levels of dissolved oxygen. Photosynthesis also decreases because TSS decreases light penetration, which thereby reduces dissolved oxygen levels. Additionally, TSS can destroy fish habitat as the solids settle to the bottom, smothering the eggs of fish and insects. Suspended solids can also clog fish gills and increase the difficulty for fish and insects to find food. Water quality, as indicated by the Fair to Poor FIBI and MIBI scores, in the Bear Lake Watershed has been impacted by the habitat degradation due to sedimentation. Bank erosion and fine sediments in the stream channels contributes to the degraded habitat and biological community (Photo 1).

All Waters in Watershed
Trout Streams
Outstanding & Exceptional Resources
Lakes by County

Methods & Procedures

Water Chemistry
During the growing season of 2017, Total Phosphorus (TP) samples were collected at 9 locations twice per month in May and June, and once per month in July and October (Table 1, Map 1). In addition, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) samples were collected twice per month in May and June 2017 and once per month in July and October at the 9 locations listed in Table 1. All samples were collected using the standard WDNR grab sampling method for a total of 108 samples (WDNR 2014). All nutrient and suspended solids samples were shipped to Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WISLOH) for analysis. The WISLOH entered all sample analysis data into the WDNR Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) database.

Macroinvertebrates
Five locations were sampled for aquatic macroinvertebrates in October 2017 (Map 1, Table 2). All sites were sampled using the WDNR Guidelines for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples from Wadeable Streams (2000). A D-shaped kicknet with 600 micron mesh was used at all sites by standing upstream from the net and placing it firmly on the stream bed while digging into the substrate with the heel or toe to free the macroinvertebrates from the substrate. Riffles were targeted at each of the sites, but if none were present then available gravel, overhanging vegetation, woody debris, or other vegetation would be sampled. For a representative sample of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community, a minimum of 100 aquatic macroinvertebrates collected in each sample was targeted. The aquatic macroinvertebrates were preserved in a 70-80% ethanol solution inside quart ?Mason? jars. If necessary, multiple ?Mason? jars were used per sample depending upon how much sediment and organic material was collected with the aquatic macroinvertebrates. Within the next 24 hours, the samples were re-preserved with another 70-80% ethanol solution. Samples were taken to the UWSP Aquatic Biomonitoring Laboratory (ABL)

Fisheries
Between June and July 2017, wadable fish surveys were conducted at 7 sites (Map 1, Table 3). The 7 wadable fish surveys were conducted following the WDNR Guidelines for Assessing Fish Communities of Wadeable Streams in Wisconsin (2001). All 7 wadable sites were surveyed in June through July 2017 during the guidance-recommended summertime survey period. Stream flow and water chemistry data was recorded at each wadable site prior to conducting the fish survey. The wadable fish survey stations were a minimum of 35 times the mean stream width (overall minimum of 100 meters, overall maximum of 400 meters). A 12 Volt, 18 Amp Hour battery-powered backpack shocker was used for all 7 sites based upon the streams? smaller width and depth. Catch per effort sampling procedures were used for this project (no particular species was targeted, all captured). A single upstream pass was made using 0.125 inch mesh nets to collect the fish. At the end of the station, captured fish were identified and counted and all game fish were measured for length. Once all data was collected, the fish were returned to the creek. Fish survey data was entered into the WDNR Fisheries and Habitat Management Database (FHMD) by WDNR Water Resources staff.

Continuous Temperature
Onset Hobo Pendant thermistors were deployed to collect temperature data from May through October at 3 locations in the Bear Lake Watershed (Table 4, Map 1). Temperature measurements were taken once per hour at each location from May through October. Temperature measurements were taken with an Onset Hobo Pendant thermistor attached to a fence post driven into the stream bed of the creek. The thermistor was attached to the fence post in such a manner as to suspend the thermistor in the water column low enough to stay under water in low flow conditions and high enough to not get buried in bottom substrate (~ 6 inches above the bottom). The thermistor was placed in a shaded location when possible. Temperature data were uploaded into the SWIMS database by WDNR Water Resources staff.

Habitat
Quantitative habitat surveys were conducted at 4 locations in the Bear Lake Watershed between August and October 2017 (Table 5, Map 1). All sites were surveyed following the WDNR Guidelines for Evaluating Habitat of Wadeable Streams (2002). Each quantitative habitat survey station length was 35 times the mean stream width of the survey station. Following the determination of station length, the station was divided into 12 longitudinally even-spaced transects. At each transect, substrate, sedimentation, erosion, water depth, and riparian land use data were collected. WDNR Water Resources staff entered the quantitative habitat data into the FHMD.

Study Results

The 2017 TP sample analysis results in the Bear Lake Watershed ranged from 0.0250 mg/L at the Unnamed Trib at County O in October to 2.59 mg/L at Thiel Creek at North Rail Rd in July (Table 6, Chart 1). The average TP concentrations for the 9 sites in this project ranged from 0.0466 mg/L at the Unnamed Trib at County O to 0.9675 mg/L in Thiel Creek at North Rail Rd. (Table 6, Chart 1).

TSS analysis was also conducted on samples collected at all 9 Bear Lake Watershed project locations during the same sampling events as TP in 2017. TSS samples were collected twice per month in May and June, and once per month in July and October (Table 7, Chart 2). Wisconsin does not have a water quality standard for TSS; however, this data provides useful information about the watershed, background information for future comparison, and analytical support for including these systems to the CWA 303d list for habitat degradation. The TSS concentration of the Bear Lake watershed ranged from No Detection (ND), which is <2.0 mg/L, to 109 mg/L in July at Fountain Creek (Table 7, Chart 2).

Aquatic macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at 5 locations in October 2017 (Table 2). Some aquatic macroinvertebrate species are tolerant of environmental degradation, while some species are moderately tolerant, and some others are intolerant. Based upon the representative macroinvertebrate sample collected and their associated tolerance to environmental degradation, an Index of Biotic Integrity (MIBI) was calculated to indicate the water quality condition of the stream or river (Table 8, Chart 3). In general, the higher the MIBI score, the better the water quality rating for a waterbody. Each of the 5 locations sampled in the Bear Lake Watershed indicate a water quality condition category of Fair, ranging from 3.49 to 4.47.

Between June and July 2017, 7 sites in the Bear Lake Watershed were surveyed for representative fish communities. Some fish species are tolerant of environmental degradation, while some species are moderately tolerant, and some others are intolerant. Based upon the representative fish collected during the survey and their associated tolerance to environmental degradation, an Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) was calculated to indicate the water quality of each creek or river (Table 9, Chart 4). The FIBI scores ranged from 10 in the Unnamed Trib to the Little Wolf River at County O to 40 in Thiel Creek at Swan Rd (Table 9, Chart 8). The Condition Category for the 7 sites ranged from Poor to Fair.

Each fish community surveyed was used to verify or update the modeled Natural Community for that stream segment. Each of the 7 tributary streams? Natural Community was verified or changed based upon the fish caught in the survey (and any historical known surveys in that stream segment). Verifying or changing the modeled Natural Community was important since the Natural Community determines which FIBI was used to determine the water quality of that stream segment. The results of the calculated FIBI calculations displayed in Table 9 and Chart 4 are based upon the verified or changed Natural Community.

Water temperature data was collected from May through October 2017 at 3 locations in the Bear Lake Watershed (Table 4, Map 1). Monthly average temperatures were reported for months with complete data only (Table 10, Chart 5). The Unnamed Tributary to the Little Wolf River at County O had lowest recorded temperature overall, the lowest monthly average temperature, and the lowest Maximum Daily Average (MDM) temperature at 48.0F, 54.6F, and 60.5F, respectively. Whereas, Little Creek at the cattle crossing (SWIMS 10048065) had the warmest recorded temperature overall, the warmest monthly average, and the warmest MDM at 80.9F, 70.3F, and 74.3F respectively (Table 10, Chart 5).

In August and October 2017, quantitative habitat surveys were conducted at 4 locations in the Bear Lake Watershed (Table 11, Map 1). Quantitative habitat assessments evaluate a representative stream reach (35 X Mean Stream Width) for the quantity and quality of habitat for game fish and compare the habitat to reference streams in Wisconsin. Based upon the assessment data collected during the 2017 surveys, a habitat rating was calculated for the 4 locations (Table 11, Chart 6). The quantitative habitat scores ranged from 38 in Fountain Creek to 73 in Little Creek at the cattle crossing (Table 11, Chart 6). Little Creek at the cattle crossing and the unnamed tributary to the Little Wolf River at County N had a Good Condition Category, while the remaining 2 sites (Fountain Creek and Unnamed Tributary to Little Wolf River at County O) received a Condition Category of Fair (Table 11, Chart 6). None of the habitat surveys demonstrated Poor habitat.

Study Discussion

This project provided baseline water quality monitoring of the Bear Lake sub-watershed of the Lower Little Wolf River Watershed by collecting nutrient and sediment concentrations, and habitat, temperature, and biological information. More specifically, this project provided the baseline data for developing an USEPA 9 Key Element Plan (9KE) for the Bear Lake Watershed. ?Watershed plans consistent with USEPA?s 9KE provide a framework for improving the contributing causes and sources of non-point source pollution, involve key stakeholders and prioritize restoration and protection strategies to address water quality problems? (WDNR 2018). Having an approved 9KE plan can increase opportunities for federal and state funding for the installation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs), which focus on reducing the discharge of non-point source pollutants into the surface waters of the sub-watershed. The monitoring during this project provided the current water quality conditions of the surface waters in the Bear Lake Watershed and data that can be compared to the water quality conditions after BMPs have been installed. Waupaca County Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD) has drafted and submitted a 9KE Plan to the WDNR for review in 2017 and received approval from the WDNR and USEPA in 2018. The phosphorus and biological monitoring in this project demonstrated that the water quality is between fair and poor in the Bear Lake Watershed.

The Bear Lake Watershed drains a 28,260 acre area into the Little Wolf River. The Bear Lake Watershed is located entirely within Waupaca County, near Manawa, Wisconsin, and drains 29% of the Lower Little Wolf River Watershed. The land use within the Bear Lake Watershed is dominated, 51.2%, by cropland, 36.5% as natural woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands, and <10% is considered urban. Typically, as increases in agricultural land use occur, there is a correlating increase in TP concentration in creeks in the watershed. There are 4 named creeks in the Bear Lake Watershed; Thiel, Little, Spiegelberg, and Shaw Creeks. In 2015, monitoring in Thiel and Little Creeks indicated TP concentrations exceeding the water quality criteria for Wisconsin streams; therefore, these two creeks were added to the 2018 CWA 303d list of Impaired Waters (WDNR 2017). In 2017, the sample locations were increased on each of the two Impaired Waters and added locations on 4 other unnamed tributaries to further assess sources of nutrients and sediment (Tables 6-7). This will provide a framework for comparison following the installation of BMPs within multiple areas of the watershed. The nutrient and sediment monitoring in the upper portions of the Thiel and Little Creeks indicate land use practices and stream degradation are a significant source to the Bear Lake Watershed. Conversely, improvements to the streams and drainage area will significantly reduce the TP and TSS reaching the Little Wolf River.

Waupaca County LWCD completed the 9KE plan for the Bear Lake Watershed in 2018. Through their modeling effort, the County LWCD determined that a sum of 2,323 tons of sediment are delivered to the Little Wolf River each year. Much of the sediment is delivered to the Little Wolf River by first being carried down the streams in the watershed. When sediment is transported in streams, there is an effect on the habitat and aquatic life within the stream. In 2017, TSS was used to measure instream sediment (amongst other suspended particles). Suspended solids, which are most commonly comprised of sediment and algae, absorb heat from sunlight, which increases water temperature and subsequently decreases levels of dissolved oxygen. Photosynthesis also decreases because TSS decreases light penetration, which thereby reduces dissolved oxygen levels. Additionally, TSS can destroy fish habitat as the solids settle to the bottom, smothering the eggs of fish and insects. Suspended solids can also clog fish gills and increase the difficulty for fish and insects to find food. Water quality, as indicated by the Fair to Poor FIBI and MIBI scores, in the Bear Lake Watershed has
been impacted by the habitat degradation due to sedimentation. Bank erosion and fine sediments in the stream channels contributes to the degraded habitat and biological community (Photo 1).

Management Recommendations

Conclusions
The monitoring in 2017 demonstrates water quality in the Bear Lake Watershed ranges from poor to fair, indicating significant impacts from environmental degradation. Some of the land use characteristics observed during the 2017 monitoring project that can have a negative impact to the water quality of the streams in the Bear Lake Watershed were limited buffer protection along the stream corridors, eroding streambanks, wetland drainage, cropland erosion, channelization, tile drainage, presence of aquatic invasive species, and sedimentation of fish and aquatic life habitat (Photo 1-4). There are opportunities to install practices to lower the nutrients and sediment reaching the Little Wolf River. Efforts should be made to continue to work with landowners, farmers, municipalities, the County LWCD and NRCS staff to promote protection and restoration of the streams and wetlands by practices including, but not limited to, streambank and buffer protection, cover crops, nutrient management planning, reduced tillage, wetland restoration, and water and sediment control basins.

References

References
WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). 2017. Priority Watershed Water Quality Evaluation for the Lower Little Wolf River Watershed, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.

WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). 2000. Guidelines for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples from Wadeable Streams.

WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). 2001. Guidelines for Assessing Fish Communities of Wadeable Streams in Wisconsin.

WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). 2002. Guidelines for Evaluating Habitat of Wadeable Streams.

WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). 2014. Total Phosphorus Sampling Methods: Water Action Volunteers Manual 2014