Project Detail

Shawano Lake Tributary Assessment for 303(d) Identification - NER_07_CMP13B

Purpose

NER proposes to monitor 6 streams and 1 lake which are tributaries to Shawano Lake during the 2013 project cycle for impaired waters identification. Historic water quality data from the UWSP- Center for Watershed Science and Education in their Shawano Lake Watershed Assessment (2008) indicates that Total Phosphorous samples have exceeded the listing threshold in these streams. The 6 streams will be monitored for biological impairments by conducting fish and qualitative habitat surveys, collecting macroinvertabrate samples, and continuous water temperatures. Chemistry samples will be taken on Mud Lake for chlorophyll A and total phosphorous. Flow and basic Water quality parameters will also be collected during each field visit. It is anticipated that this will be a 2-year project so that 2012 WisCalm Guidance can be followed for Total P listing with biological impairements. The 6 monthly TP samples will be proposed on those stream segments in 2014 that show biological impairments from 2013 monitoring to fill remaining data gaps. The second year will also include th remainder of growing season lake monitoring for TP and Chl A.

Objective

This project will seek to identify likely 303(d) waters to be included on future impaired waters listings. Recent water quality data within the last 10yrs from UWSP and WDNR sampling efforts indicated that the tributaries of Loon Creek (WBIC 323600), Duchess Creek (WBIC 325000), Pickerel Creek (WBIC 325800), Unnamed Creek #1 (WBIC 325000), Unnamed Creek #2 (WBIC 323500), and Murray Creek (WBIC 323000) have had sample concentrations of TP that exceed the listing threshold of 0.075 mg/l as indicated in 2012 WisCalm. Mud Lake (WBIC 326000) is a drainage lake that outlets to Shawano Lake through Pickerel Creek and receives water from White Clay Lake which is on the proposed 2012 303(d) list for TP, Only minimal old bug data exists and suffucient biological data is lacking to make impairment assessments of the waterways. The biological data will be used to make a decision on future listings for the impaired waters list. The chemistry data on Mud Lake will be used to determine the condition of Mud Lake for consideration on future impaired waters listings.

Outcome

WisCalm 2012 guidance will be used to assess 6 streams and 1 lake for Fish and Aquatic Life impairments. A total of 8 stream sites will be sampled for Fish, qualitative habitat, continuous temperature, and bugs in 2013. Total P concentrations sampled in these waterways has exceeded the listing threshold but no current biological data exists to corrobote the FAL use impairment. Only one of the 6 sites currently has an adequate subset of TP samples that exceed the listing threshold. Following biological data collection and analysis in 2013 additonal TP collection may be proposed on streams with poor M-IBI or F-IBI ratings in 2014. 1 Deep Hole site will be sampled on Mud Lake. Mud Lake receives water from White Clay Lake which is on the 2012 impaired waters list for Total P. Chemistry monitoring for 2 years of TP and CHL A will be proposed to meet the 2012 WisCalm listing guidance for TP and CHL A. 8 Field visits are proposed in 2013 with this project. 1 for temp logger deployment, 3 for Fish and Habitat, 3 for Lake Chemistry sampling, and 1 for temp logger retrival and bug sample collection. All data collected will be entered into SWIMS and be used for making listing recommendations.

Project Type

Competitive Projects

Project Sub Type

Impaired Water Assessment

Project ID

NER_07_CMP13B

Year Started

2013

Status

Complete

Activities & Recommendations

Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing