Lower Merrillan Pond, Halls Creek Watershed (BR06)
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Lower Merrillan Pond, Halls Creek Watershed (BR06)
Lower Merrillan Pond (1711500)
38.03 Acres
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
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.
2024
Poor
 
This impoundment is impaired
Elevated pH , Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Jackson
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Trow Lake is a 43 acre impoundment of Halls Creek, located just downstream of Oakwood Lake in the Village of Merrillan. Water quality monitoring in 1992 indicated extremely high chlorophyll and nutruent levels. These nutrient levels contribute to the algal problems seen in the lake (Sorge). The Village of Merrillan discharges their treated wastewater to Trow Lake. This lake is also on the 1998 Wisconsin impaired waters (303(d)) list provided to the United States Environmental Protection Agency due to high pH values. Contributing factors may be the high nutrient levels from both point and nonpoint sources creating excess plant and algae growth which in turn can alter the pH value of a waterbody by their respiration process.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

This soft water drainage impoundment has clear (not turbid), alkaline water with a low transparency. The dam has a 17 foot height and is located on Halls Creek. It is owned by the Village of Merrillan. The sport fishery consists of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed and perch. Carp are present and chemical eradication of this species has been considered. There is a boat launching site with parking, a park area, and shoreline access around a portion of the flowage. At the time of the survey, there were 18 dwellings. Migrating diving and puddle ducks use the water and nesting wood ducks may be noted.

Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Jackson County Trow Lake (Lower Merrillan Pond), T23N, R4W, Section 26 Surface Acres = 37.1, S.D.F. = 2.63, Maximum Depth = 9.0 feet.

Date  1968

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Lower Merrillan Pond, Halls Creek Watershed (BR06) Fish and Aquatic LifeLower Merrillan Pond, Halls Creek Watershed (BR06) RecreationLower Merrillan Pond, Halls Creek Watershed (BR06) 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.

Reports

Trow Lake 303d Documentation 2010
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
TROW LAKE IMPAIRED WATERS LISTING DOCUMENTATION
Jackson County Surface Water Resources 1968
Lake Bathymetry Map for Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond)

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
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1711500Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond)10018185Trowe Lake -- Access5/22/20245/22/2024MapData
1711500Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond)273014Trow Lake - Center2/22/19799/2/2008MapData
1711500Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond)10002986Trow Lake8/29/20007/30/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond) is located in the Halls Creek watershed which is 115.13 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (59%), agricultural (27.80%) and a mix of grassland (6.60%) and other uses (6.60%). This watershed has 214.37 stream miles, 148.87 lake acres and 7,228.50 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Lower Merrillan Pond is considered a Impounded Flowing Water 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.

This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.

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