Minnesuing Creek, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04)
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Minnesuing Creek, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04)
Minnesuing Creek (2866100)
2 Miles
0 - 2
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-Warm Mainstem
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.
2023
Unknown
 
Douglas
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.
No
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.
Yes
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.
No

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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

Overview

This warm water drainage stream originates at the outlet of Minnesuing Lake and flows northeast into Lake Nebagamon. A wide variety of minnows inhabit the stream, but warm water sport species from both lakes use the stream seasonally. A few brown and rainbow trout have been observed using the stream to migrate from Lake Superior to spawn. Sand and gravel comprise the bottom types with damaging flows rare. Migratory and nesting waterfowl use the stream and its adjoining wetlands. The stream is identified as an outstanding resource water as part of the ABrule System@ designation in NR102.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, one rare species was found and overall taxa richness was high (25 or more species) (Epstein 1997). The survey noted significant pollutant contributions from urban sources and to a less extent from failing septic systems. Impoundment and silt may have an impact on habitat and there are significant aquatic plants present.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Minnesuing Creek, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) Fish and Aquatic LifeMinnesuing Creek, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) RecreationMinnesuing Creek, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) Fish Consumption

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.

Recommendations

Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Village of Lake Nebagamon is sponsoring a project to implement engineered stormwater best practices at the lake's public boat landing downtown.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
Activities include: implementation of fish sticks, 350 square feet native plantings, diversion practices, infiltration practices, and/or rain gardens on 7 properties.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District will implement best practices described in Wisconsin's 2014-2017 Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets and technical guidance. Activities include: implementation of fish sticks, 350 square feet native plantings, diversion practices, infiltration practices, and/or rain gardens on 7 properties. The best practices require a contract to remain in effect for 10 years and must include minimum operation and maintenance requirements and data collection as described in grant condition #16.
Monitor Watershed (Status,Sources,Impairments)
Regional basin management team staff should survey Hansen and Minnesuing Creeks to determine whether pollutant sources have degraded water quality and habitat (Type B).

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
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: HLK-Lake Minnesuing Healthy Lakes2016
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2016 CBCW2016
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: HLR - Lake Minnesuing-2021 Healthy Lakes2021
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Healthy Lakes 2018 - 20192018
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Eurasian Water Milfoil Education2005
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: HLK-Lake Minnesuing Healthy Lakes 2017-20182017
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing CLP Control Project Monitoring2022
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing CLP Control Project - Phase II2023
VILLAGE OF LAKE NEBAGAMON: LMI-Stormwater Runoff Boat Landing Lake Nebagamon2017
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2022 CBCW2022
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2018 CBCW2018
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: HLK-Lake Minnesuing HLK 2020-212020
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2017 CBCW2017
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2021 CBCW2021
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Yellow Flag Iris Mitigation - Lake Minnesuing2015
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2023 CBCW2023
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2020 CBCW2020
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 20142014
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 20152015
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2025 CBCW2025
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2024 CBCW2024
NEBAGAMON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: HLK-Lake Nebagamon Healthy Lakes Project2017
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Management Planning2018
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing Sanitary District 2019 CBCW2019
Fish Propagation Actions2001
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lk Minnesuing Clean Boats Clean Waters 2013 Project2013
LAKE MINNESUING SANITARY DISTRICT: Lake Minnesuing CLP AIS-EDR2020

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2866100Minnesuing Creek10013380Minnesuing Creek- Upstream (West)Lake Road- Station #14/24/20145/25/2023MapData
2866100Minnesuing Creek10055517Mouth of Minnesuing Creek into Lake Nebagamon7/16/20217/20/2023MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Minnesuing Creek is located in the Bois Brule River watershed which is 199.64 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (72.30%), wetland (22.10%) and a mix of grassland (3.40%) and other uses (2.30%). This watershed has 220.94 stream miles, 3,539.94 lake acres and 18,373.66 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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

Minnesuing Creek is considered a Cool-Warm Mainstem 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.

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