Water Detail - Little Menomonee, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03)

Little Menomonee, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03)

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Little Menomonee (17600)

Size

9 Miles

Segment

0 - 9

Natural Community

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.

Cool-Warm Headwater

Year Last Monitored

This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.

2024

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Acute Aquatic Toxicity, Elevated Water Temperature, Degraded Biological Community, Recreational Restrictions - Pathogens, Chronic Aquatic Toxicity

Pollutants include

Chloride, Creosote, Total Phosphorus, Unknown Pollutant, E. coli, Fecal Coliform

County

Milwaukee, Ozaukee

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.

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.

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.

Yes

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.

Restricted Aquatic Life

Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.

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.

WWSF

Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The Little Menomonee River is a nearly ten mile long tributary to the Menomonee River. The majority of the river is impaired for creosote, bacteria, chloride, and temperature. The entire river is listed for phosphorus. The 2018 Milwaukee River TMDL addresses the phosphorus and bacteria (fecal coliform and E. coli) listings. Fecal coliform was listed during the 2010 cycle and E. coli was added in the 2022 cycle.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

Overview

The Little Menomonee River is a nine mile long tributary to the Menomonee River. Water is impaired due to Creosote and Fecal Coliform, which cause Chronic Aquatic Toxicity and have created Recreational Restrictions for the Littel Menomonee River.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Little Menomonee, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Fish and Aquatic Life

Little Menomonee, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Recreation

Little Menomonee, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The Little Menomonee River from its mouth to Brown Deer Road (miles 0 to 9) was placed on the impaired waters list for Creosote in 1998. Sediment removal and rerouting have cleaned up the creosote and this listing is proposed for removal in the 2022 cycle. High bacteria levels (fecal coliform) were found during the 2010 evaluation. Additional evaluations of bacteria (E. coli) in the 2022 cycle confirmed high levels. The Milwaukee River TMDL restoration plan covers these listings and was approved in 2018. This river segment was evaluated for phosphorus and biology every two years from 2012 to 2022. Phosphorus levels are too high for healthy plant, bug, and fish communities. The phosphorus listing is also covered by the Milwaukee River TMDL. Elevated temperature and chloride levels were found during the 2016 evaluation.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

The headwaters of Little Menomonee River (miles 9 to 9.94) were evaluated in the 2022 cycle; phosphorus levels were too high and this water was added to the Restoration Waters List. This water is covered by the Milwaukee River TMDL, approved in 2018

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

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 monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL USEPA Approval Letter

USEPA Decision Document for the Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL, WI

Little Menominee Creek Ozaukee County Data Sheet

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Streams/Rivers AIS ED Monitoring Pilot 2015 Milwaukee County, Little Menomonee River, 17600, 10039298

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Little Menomonee River at HWY 145-Road Salt Monitoring Data Summary February 2011 - March 2014

Identifying Stream Passage Impediments and Opportunities to Address Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation in the Menomonee River Watershed

Identifying Stream Passage Impediments and Opportunities to Address Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation in the Menomonee River Watershed [Appendix A Part 1]

Identifying Stream Passage Impediments and Opportunities to Address Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation in the Menomonee River Watershed [Appendix A Part 2]

Little Menomonee River at HWY 145-Road Salt Monitoring Data Summary February 2011 - December 2012

Lilly Creek at Good Hope Rd-Road Salt Monitoring Data Summary February - December 2011

Little Menomonee River at HWY 145-Road Salt Monitoring Data Summary February - December 2011

Menomonee River Watershed Plan (MI03)

Milwaukee Journal 'Creosote mars Little Menomonee' transcript 1983

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

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.

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department is undertaking a project to collect water quality samples at locations along Mole Creek and the Little Menomonee River. Ozaukee County will undertake the following activities, with deliverables relating to those actions: Conduct Water Quality Monitoring on Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River - Beginning in July of 2018 (note: existing River Planning Grant RP 30017 funds samples through June of 2018), collect 6 water samples at 17 locations across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River. Sampling shall represent three low-flow events and three high-flow events. Each water sample shall be tested for Total Phosphorus, orthophosphate, TSS, Chlorides, and E. coli. Testing will be performed by SLOH. - Deploy continuous water quality monitoring units on a rotating basis across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River, recording water temperature, DO, depth, pH, and conductivity. - Enter all collected data into DNR SWIM database. - Provide to the Department a final project report summarizing data results.

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department is sponsoring a project to conduct water quality monitoring along Mole Creek and the Little Menomonee River. Project activities include: 1) Collect 6 water samples at 17 locations across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River. Sampling shall represent three low-flow events and three high-flow events. Each water sample shall be tested for Total Phosphorus, orthophosphate, TSS, Chlorides, and E. coli. Testing will be performed by SLOH. 2) Deploy continuous water quality monitoring units on a rotating basis across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River, recording water temperature, DO, depth, pH, and conductivity. Project deliverables include: 1) Enter all data into DNR SWIM database. 2) Provide to the Department a final report summarizing data results.

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards 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 or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

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. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Project Name (Click for Details)	Year Started
Little Menomonee River at W Leon Terrace	2010
Little Menomonee River North of Bradley at 91st St N (downstream)	2011
Milwaukee River TMDL	2012
OZAUKEE COUNTY: Water Quality Monitoring on Mole Creek and the LMR	2017
Little Menomonee River North of Bradley at 91st St N (Upstream)	2011
OZAUKEE COUNTY: TMDL and BMP Water Quality Monitoring on Mole Creek and LMR	2018
CITY OF MILWAUKEE: 91st & Dean Wet Detention Basin	2002
OZAUKEE COUNTY: Little Menomonee River Corridor Ecosystem Restoration	2019

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413852	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/5/1998	11/5/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413732	Little Menomonee River - 1500 Ft Downstream Of Mill Rd Lmr-E	6/30/1992	6/30/1992	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413845	Little Menomonee River - Little Menomonee River Segment 1 Transect 14 16 To 28 Cm (Id# 114.16.28)	7/29/1998	7/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413875	Little Menomonee River - 2100' Upstrm Of Appleton Ave Sd04-0016	11/29/2000	11/29/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037816	Little Menomonee River 175ft US Oak Leaf Tr bridge	6/17/1997	6/17/1997	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413858	Little Menomonee River - Sediment	10/28/1998	10/28/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413730	Little Menomonee River - 350 Ft Upstream Of Calumet Rd Lmr-C	6/30/1992	9/1/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413851	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/27/1998	10/27/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413848	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413849	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/20/1998	10/20/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10045500	Phragmites Occurrence - Little Menomonee River at Calumet Rd W			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413873	Little Menomonee River - Upstrm Of Bradley Rd. Sd01-002	10/15/1998	11/16/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10015558	Little Menomonee 2 (atDonges Bay Rd)			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413871	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/4/1998	11/4/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413872	Little Menomonee River - Upstrm Of Bradley Rd. Sd01-002	11/16/2000	11/16/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10014154	Little Menomonee 1- (S. Of Donges Bay Rd)	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10031614	Little Menomonee River at W Leon Terrace	6/11/2010	10/7/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413842	Little Menomonee River - Good Hope Road 100 M Downstream Of Rd; 1 M From West Bank	6/25/1998	6/25/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413008	Little Menomonee River at Appleton Av	1/13/1975	12/12/2011	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413857	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/27/1998	10/27/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413861	Little Menomonee River S of Silver Spring Rd	10/29/1998	9/25/2011	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10034037	Little Menomonee River North of Bradley at 91st St N (Upstream)	11/1/1991	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037785	Little Menomonee River 3300ft Downstream of Mill Rd	6/17/1997	6/17/1997	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413860	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/28/1998	10/28/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10039298	Little Menomonee River at Calumet Rd W	8/29/2013	10/7/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413846	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/14/1998	10/14/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413844	Little Menomonee River - These 26 #'S For Will Wawrzyn 6-24-99	7/29/1998	7/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413731	Little Menomonee River - 600 Ft Downstream Of Good Hope Rd Lmr-D	6/30/1992	7/21/1992	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413862	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/29/1998	10/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10016014	Little Menomonee River - Downstream Of County Line Road	6/20/1991	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10010199	Little Menomonee River - Little Menomonee River1atDonges Bay Rd (Downstrm)	1/7/2008	1/7/2008	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10032751	Little Menomonee River 100ft downstream from HWY 145	2/14/2011	3/10/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413866	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/29/1998	10/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10048233	Little Menomonee River at County Line Road	7/13/2017	10/30/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10016008	Little Menomonee River - Lmr-A1 Dowmstream Of County Lineroad	7/21/1992	7/21/1992	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037783	Little Menomonee River 290ft Upstream Appleton Ave	6/17/1997	5/11/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10047958	Little Menomonee River US W Good Hope Road	1/1/2015	12/4/2023	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10048232	Little Menomonee River	7/13/2017	10/30/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413877	Little Menomonee River - 2100' Upstrm Of Appleton Ave Sd04-0016	11/29/2000	11/29/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10034038	Little Menomonee River North of Bradley at 91st St N (downstream)	6/5/2009	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413878	Little Menomonee River - 2100' Upstrm Of Appleton Ave Sd04-0016	11/29/2000	11/29/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413850	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/20/1998	10/20/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10010594	Little Menomonee River			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10048231	Little Menomonee River	7/13/2017	10/30/2023	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413870	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/4/1998	11/4/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10012122	Little Menomonee River - Little Menomonee 1			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413865	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/29/1998	10/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413869	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/4/1998	11/4/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10013543	Little Menomonee 1- (S. Of Donges Bay Rd)	10/8/2003	10/8/2003	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413868	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/4/1998	10/7/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10032540	Little Menomonee River at Milwaukee	1/1/2015	11/1/2024	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413827	Little Menomonee River - Upstream Of Brown Deer Rd.	6/20/1991	6/17/1997	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413855	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/27/1998	10/27/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413859	Little Menomonee River - Sediment (Near Ush 41)	10/28/1998	10/28/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413843	Little Menomonee River - Good Hope Road 100 M Downstream Of Rd; West Bank Sed/Soil	6/25/1998	6/25/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413847	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	7/23/1992	10/15/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413854	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/5/1998	11/5/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413864	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/29/1998	10/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	463001	Little Menomonee River at Donges Bay Rd Near Friestadt WI	1/13/1975	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10014156	Little Menomonee Creek 2 (atDonges Bay Rd)	11/3/2008	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413874	Little Menomonee River - 2100 Ft Upstrm Of Appleton Ave Sd04-0016	7/21/1992	11/29/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10010593	Little Menomonee River			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10032511	Little Menomonee River at mouth Milwaukee			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10004021	Little Menomonee River - Upstrm Bradley Rd			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413856	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/27/1998	10/27/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10010595	Little Menomonee River			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413733	Little Menomonee River - 300 Ft Upstreamof Sth 100 Lmr-F	6/30/1992	10/11/2021	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413867	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	11/4/1998	11/4/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037401	Little Menomonee River DS of Bradley Rd	8/29/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10044191	Little Menomonee River 200M DS W Fond du Lac Ave			Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413876	Little Menomonee River - 2100' Upstrm. Of Appleton Ave Ad04-0016	11/29/2000	11/29/2000	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037782	Little Menomonee River 2350ft Downstream Mill Rd	6/17/1997	6/17/1997	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037784	Little Menomonee River 190ft Upstream Silver Spring Dr	6/17/1997	6/17/1997	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413728	Little Menomonee River - Upstream 300 Ft Of Brown Deer Rd	6/30/1992	10/1/1992	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413729	Little Menomonee River - C And Nw Railroad Lmr-B /1400 Ft Downstream Of Rr Bridge	6/30/1992	6/30/1992	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	413863	Little Menomonee River - (Sediment)	10/29/1998	10/29/1998	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10012125	Little Menomonee River - Little Menomonee 2	3/26/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10037795	Little Menomonee River 350 ft Downstream County Line Rd	6/20/1991	6/20/1991	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10013544	Little Menomonee 2 -(at Donges Bay Rd)	5/18/1979	7/18/2017	Map	Data
17600	Little Menomonee River	10015569	Little Menomonee 1			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Little Menomonee River is located in the Menomonee River watershed which is 136.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (34.50%), urban (32.70%) and a mix of agricultural (11.10%) and other uses (21.70%). This watershed has 174.17 stream miles, 352.64 lake acres and 5,967.40 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Little Menomonee is considered a Cool-Warm Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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Maps of Watershed

Milwaukee Estuary AOC Map EPA