Waushara
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Clarks Millpond, in the Walla Walla and Alder Creeks Watershed, is a 59.75 acre lake that falls in Waushara County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1970, Surface Water Resources of Waushara County Clarks Millpond T-20-N, R-12-E, Sections 1, 2 Surface Acres = 68.3; S.D.F. = 1.42; Maximum Depth = 5.0 feet.
This elongated flowage is created by a dam (7 feet high) impounding the waters of Magdanz Creek. The outlet stream is known as Hatton Creek. As is true of most older impoundments, siltation is gradually filling this flowage, resulting in extensive shallow water which is less than three feet deep. The flowage is rapidly deteriorating in terms of fish habitat and recreational use, and now has abundant aquatic plants. All but the main channel of this pond becomes weed choked in midsummer. Periodic algae blooms, winterkill and summerkill are additional use problems. Bullheads, golden shiners, bluntnose minnows, and mudminnows are the dominant fish present. Pumpkinseed are present in moderate abundance but are quite small. The northern pike and perch are present in few numbers and are heavily parasitized with black and yellow grub. In the past, the pond has had a good largemouth bass population. Periodic winterkills and summerkills may have eliminated the largemouth bass from these waters. Future management and improvement of the pond would require draining and dredging to provide additional depth. The employment of sound land practices in the upstream watershed areas would have to coincide with such an effort to make the project worthwhile. There are approximately 223 acres of ,adjoining wetlands on the flowage, much of which is wooded. Habitat is provided for muskrats and nesting mallards and- bluewing teal. The flowage and,its surrounding wetlands are attractive to puddle ducks (bluewing teal and mallards) in moderate numbers during the spring and fall migrations. Hunting in the area is allowed by permission only. There are three dwellings along the shoreline. Public access to the flowage is available off County trunk Highway "A"; however, there is no parking available except on the road.
Date 1970
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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.
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 256100 | Clarks Millpond | 10049826 | T20N,R12E,S1,SESE | 2/22/2018 | 2/22/2018 | Map | Data |
| 256100 | Clarks Millpond | 10007468 | Clarks Millpond | 7/27/1999 | 7/27/1999 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Clarks Millpond is located in the Walla Walla and Alder Creeks watershed which is 112.09 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (31.30%), wetland (22.90%) and a mix of forest (20.60%) and other uses (25.30%). This watershed has 172.60 stream miles, 7,232.18 lake acres and 16,571.69 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.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.