Love Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
Love Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
Love Creek (1244400)
3.94 Miles
0 - 3.94
Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2024
Unknown
 

Overview

Love Creek is a Class I trout stream that supports the natural reproduction of brown trout. It
is also considered an outstanding resource water (ORW). There is some sedimentation in the
stream near the mouth. Nearly 570 acres of land are publicly owned and make up the Love
Creek Fishery Area. The fishery area offers opportunities for fishing, birdwatching and
hiking. The stream has been hydrologically modified and experiences some nonpoint source
pollution.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

Love Creek is a Class I trout stream (WDNR, 1985). It is also considered an exceptional
resource water. There is some sedimentation in the stream near the mouth
(WDNR, 1991) and some public ownership along the creek.

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Love Creek - Mouth location T7N R4E Section 34 -1, Surface area = 2.4 acres, Length = 3.1 miles, Gradient = 65.8 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 257.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.4 cfs.
Love Creek is a spring fed tributary of Mill Creek. It contributes about 15 percent of the base flow of Mill Creek and is considered one of the better trout streams in Iowa County. About three-fourths of its watershed area has been cleared for farming which has brought about serious bank erosion due to the rapid runoff of precipitation. This problem has broughtabout the construction of a flood control dam (without a permanent pool) just below the confluence with its tributary. This is part of the Twin Parks Watershed project administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and planned for the Mill Creek Watershed. This stream and its only tributary have long been esteemed by trout fishermen for its large brow trout which reproduce naturally. Brook trout were captured by electrofishing in 1948 but have not been reported since. Presently, brown trout are stocked on an annual basis to supplement the fishery. Other fish species known to occur include white suckers, creek chubs and mottled muddlers. Game assets include muskrats and some puddle ducks which utilize the stream sparingly throughout the year.
There are no public lands along this stream. one town road crossing and through private lands. It is accessible from one town road crossing and through private lands.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.
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.
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.