Dodge
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Neosho Millpond, in the Rubicon River Watershed, is a 175.96 acre lake that falls in Dodge County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1965, Surface Water Resources of Dodge County Neosho Pond T10N, R17E, S29
A large, shallow impoundment of the Rubicon River created by an 11-foot dam at Neosho. The original dam and sawmill were constructed in 1845. The watershed was heavily wooded and little effort was made to remove the stumps from the area to be inundated, the trees being cut off at the waterline. The stumps and fallen trees prevented seining in later years when carp became a problem, which subsequently led to the removal of 1,096 stumps and 577 logsby a 33 man Work Progress Administration crew during the summer of 1939. Following deforestation of the watershed, erosion became a serious problem and the resultant siltation coupled with pollution from industrial and municipal sources in Hartford contributed to annual winterkill conditions. Carp became the most abundant species and the Wisconsin Conservation Department removed an average of 14,300 pounds per year in the period from 1950 to 1961. The pond was drained during the summer of 1955, but carp and pollution soon restored the pond to its previous condition. Ducks made considerable use of the lake that autumn. Today the fishery consists mainly of carp, bullheads, bluegills, largemouth bass, green sunfish and an occasional northern pike or walleye. A progressive local sportsmans club is largely responsible for the fine boat ramp and parking area on the south shore which provides public access. Water quality limits swimming, and boating has become popular in recent years. Watershed erosion remains a major problem, while the pollution has abated to some extent. Another drawdown accompanied by removal of bottom materials and chemical treatment to remove rough fish species would seem in order; but farming practices on adjacent land must be improved if lasting benefits are to be gained.
Surface Acres = 146, S.D.F. = 2.07, Maximum Depth = 6 feet
Date 1965
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.
Reports
Recommendations
Shoreland Ordinance
Dodge County Planning & Development Department is interested in revising the Dodge County Shoreland Zoning Regulations and adopting a "waterway" classification system to better regulate and manage the county's water resources.
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 856800 | Neosho Mill Pond | 10017812 | Neosho Pond -- Access | | | Map | Data |
| 856800 | Neosho Mill Pond | 10001273 | Neosho Millpond | 7/27/1999 | 9/22/2017 | Map | Data |
| 856800 | Neosho Mill Pond | 143273 | Neosho Pond - Deep Hole | 7/16/1980 | 9/13/2002 | Map | Data |
| 856800 | Neosho Mill Pond | 144001 | Neosho Millpond - Neosho Millpond | 9/7/1979 | 9/7/1979 | Map | Data |
| 856800 | Neosho Mill Pond | 10017811 | Neosho Millpond/Rubican River -- Neosho Park | 6/3/2007 | 5/23/2023 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Neosho Mill Pond is located in the Rubicon River watershed which is 79.15 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (45.10%), grassland (19.90%) and a mix of wetland (13.40%) and other uses (21.60%). This watershed has 127.08 stream miles, 592.86 lake acres and 6,453.66 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.