Water Detail - Smokey Hollow Creek, Otter and Morrey Creeks Watershed (LW11)

Smokey Hollow Creek, Otter and Morrey Creeks Watershed (LW11)

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Smokey Hollow Creek (1238000)

Size

3.22 Miles

Segment

0 - 3.22

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-Cold Mainstem, Coldwater

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.

2015

General Condition

Fair

County

Iowa

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.

Yes

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.

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

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.

Cold

Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Smokey Hollow Creek is a spring fed tributary to Pompey Pillar Creek. It is a Class II trout stream with limited flow. The creek has problems with bank erosion. A sediment detention dam was constructed on the stream to help reduce soil erosion and sedimentation in the creek.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Smoky Hollow Creek - Mouth location T7N R2E Section 17 -3, Surface area = 3.8 acres, Length = 3.5 miles, Gradient = 45.8 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 236.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 1.5 cfs.
Smokey Hollow Creek is a spring fed tributary of Pompey Pillar Creek and is considered a good trout stream. Its gradient is average for the county and 75 percent of the watershed is cleared for agricultural purposes. As a result, precipitation runs off rapidly and heavy bank erosion is common; especially in the lower sections. Within the last few years an erosion control plan was proposed by local and government groups for the Otter Creek watershed. In this plan, a multi-purpose structure was planned for Smoky Hollow Creek. Local and state interest in saving the trout stream prevented the construction of a permanent pool, however, the problem of flooding and soil erosion will be reduced by the construction of detention dam above Highway P. The present sport fishery consists of brown trout which are stocked annually by the Department of Natural Resources and local sportsmen. There is also a large forage fish population which includes white and hogsuckers; redbelly, blacknose and longnose dace; creek and horny- head chubs; bigmouth and common shiners and johnny darters. Green sunfish are also known to inhabit these waters.
Aquatic game assets are restricted to some muskrats where good bank cover exists. There are no public lands or easements along the stream to assure public access. Presently it is accessible from only one road crossing.

From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1968

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Smokey Hollow Creek, Otter and Morrey Creeks Watershed (LW11) Fish and Aquatic Life

Smokey Hollow Creek, Otter and Morrey Creeks Watershed (LW11) Recreation

Smokey Hollow Creek, Otter and Morrey Creeks Watershed (LW11) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Smokey Hollow Creek (1238000), from the mouth to the 4th trib., was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Recommendations

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Appears weather extremely warm for 30 days prior to sample date...Perhaps monitor this station again before recommending a change in NC. AU: 13330; Station ID: 10034366

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
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings	2000
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1238000	Smoky Hollow Creek	10044783	Smoky Hollow Creek at Hwy P	1/1/2015	7/9/2015	Map	Data
1238000	Smoky Hollow Creek	10034366	Smokey Hollow at Nels Rd	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1238000	Smoky Hollow Creek	10022695	Smokey Hollow Station 1 T7n R2e Sec 19 Nene			Map	Data
1238000	Smoky Hollow Creek	10039540	Smokey Hollow Creek			Map	Data
5035644	Unnamed	253195	Tributary To Otter Creek Tributary - Near Highland WI	5/23/2001	10/17/2001	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Smoky Hollow Creek is located in the Otter and Morrey Creeks watershed which is 198.69 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (53.60%), grassland (24.60%) and a mix of agricultural (14.10%) and other uses (7.70%). This watershed has 437.57 stream miles, 351.55 lake acres and 5,785.74 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Natural Community

Smokey Hollow Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Coldwater 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 (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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