Overview

MILLHOME CREEK, MANITOWOC AND SHEBOYGAN COUNTIES
T16N R21E Sec. 2 NENE Stream Length = 1.7 WBIC = 57200

Millhome Creek is a 1.7 mile Class I brook trout stream that flows into the Sheboygan River approximately 0.2 miles downstream and east of the Highway 57 bridge in the north end of Sheboygan County. A large section of this creek and a number of its headwater springs are on publicly owned land, Manitowoc County's Walla Hi park. The county purchased the land in 1977 from individuals who had previously used the springs and spring pond near the creek's headwaters as a private fish hatchery from the 1930s to the mid-70s.

Water quality is considered fair, and is influenced by agricultural runoff, cattle access, and unauthorized dredging of an upstream segment and wetlands near Cedar Lake Road. The parties responsible for unauthorized dredging were ordered to restore wetland vegetation. Fish collections from Millhome Creek in 1956, 1977, and 1978 documented a diverse fish population, with six sport species, seven tolerant or very tolerant species, and three intolerant forage species collected. The most important sport fish and the dominant fish collected was brook trout. The tolerant forage species were central mudminnow, common shiner, bluntnose minnow, common shiner, golden shiner, and brook stickleback. The three intolerant species were northern redbelly dace, longnose dace, and mottled sculpin (Fago 1985).

Macroinvertebrate diversity is good. The number of taxa found at this station, however, is low. Intolerant organisms dominate the community with Gammarus and Baetis comprising almost two-thirds of the community. Habitat is somewhat limited for fish and macroinvertebrates because of slow moving water and silt substrate (WDNR 1990).

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

MILLHOME CREEK, MANITOWOC AND SHEBOYGAN COUNTIES - T16N R21E Sec. 2, Stream Length = 1.7.
Millhome Creek is a 1.7 mile Class I brook trout stream that flows into the Sheboygan River approximately 0.2 miles downstream and east of the Highway 57 bridge in the north end of Sheboygan County. A large section of this creek and a number of its headwater springs are on publicly owned land, Manitowoc County's Walla Hi park. The county purchased the land in 1977 from individuals who had previously used the springs and spring pond near the creek's headwaters as a private fish hatchery from the 1930s to the mid-70s.

Water quality is considered fair, and is influenced by agricultural runoff, cattle access, and unauthorized dredging of an upstream segment and wetlands near Cedar Lake Road. The parties responsible for unauthorized dredging were ordered to restore wetland vegetation. Fish collections from Millhome Creek in 1956, 1977, and 1978 documented a diverse fish population, with six sport species, seven tolerant or very tolerant species, and three intolerant forage species collected. The most important sport fish and the dominant fish collected was brook trout. The tolerant forage species were central mudminnow, common shiner, bluntnose minnow, common shiner, golden shiner, and brook stickleback. The three intolerant species were northern redbelly dace, longnose dace, and mottled sculpin (Fago 1985).

Macroinvertebrate diversity is good. The number of taxa found at this station, however, is low. Intolerant organisms dominate the community with Gammarus and Baetis comprising almost two-thirds of the community. Habitat is somewhat limited for fish and macroinvertebrates because of slow moving water and silt substrate (WDNR 1990).

From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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

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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Millhome Creek is located in the Sheboygan River watershed which is 260.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (47.30%), grassland (17.60%) and a mix of wetland (16.70%) and other uses (18.30%). This watershed has 340.24 stream miles, 4,345.33 lake acres and 27,968.05 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.