1.78 Miles
0 - 1.78
Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, COOL-Warm Headwater
2023
Good
Adams
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Leola Ditch is classified as a nine-mile warm water game fishery for its entire length. A portion of the stream (river mile 3.5 - 9.0) used to be Class II trout waters. Continuous temperature monitoring found adequate temperatures for trout in the upper reaches, however dredging and siltation may have eliminated trout spawning habitat. The upper reaches of the stream are impacted by sedimentation from surrounding crop fields, lack of pools and ditching. Cranberry marsh dischargesmay contribute nutrients and sediment to the stream. Limiting factors of habitat in the lower reaches are sedimentation and the lack of pools and fish cover. HBI results suggest there is fairly significant organic loading to the stream. Water quality sampling in 1999 found nitrate levels in the ditch above 5 ppm
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Leola Ditch, T20N, R6E, Section 13 Surface Acres = 12.4, Miles = 7.3.
Leola Ditch is a clear, hard water ditch that has a predominantly sand bottom. It flows in a westerly direction and is a tributary of Fourteenmile Creek. It is managed for brook trout but anglers are primarily dependent upon stocked fish. Several short lateral ditches flow into Leola Ditch. There are many ditches in Leola Township and all of the main ones have water control structures , including Leola Ditch. The Water Regulatory Board has control of water levels in the ditches and it works in cooperation with commissioners of the Leola Township Drainage District. Raising beef cattle and potatoes appear to be the major agricultural pursuits in the immediate watershed. Several road crossings provide access.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen. 1966. Surface Water Resources of Adams County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1966
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Leola Ditch (WBIC 1378300) CTH D to the headwaters was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
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
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.
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 |
|---|
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 10009158 | Leola Ditch Upstream Of Confluence W/Ditch 13-13 Site 4 | 1/10/2018 | 12/10/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 10009165 | Leola Ditch Downstream Of Confluence W/Ditch 13-13 Site 4a | 8/8/1994 | 3/22/2019 | Map | Data |
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 013183 | Unnamed Ditch - Unnamed Ditch 13-13 Upstream Leola Ditch | 11/17/1999 | 11/17/1999 | Map | Data |
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 10053263 | Leola Ditch Downstream CTH D | 4/29/2019 | 10/4/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 10009163 | Leola Ditch Upstream 6th Ave Site 10 (Cth D) | 5/22/2009 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1378300 | Leola Ditch | 013176 | Leola Ditch - 10 Meters Upstream Confluence With Unnamed Ditch 13-13 | 10/7/1999 | 1/18/2000 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Leola Ditch is located in the Fourteenmile Creek watershed which is 184.15 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.20%), agricultural (24.20%) and a mix of open (15%) and other uses (12.70%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 11,432.03 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.
Leola Ditch is considered a Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Mainstem, 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.
Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and
river species are absent.