18.07 Miles
0 - 18.07
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2023
Poor
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
Clark, Wood
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
South Branch O'Neill Creek is an 18 mile tributary to O'Neill Creek which flows through the village of Granton. Water quality problems in this stream, have been documented over the years. Organic pollution and low flows contribute to dissolved oxygen levels below the standard of 5 mg/l. These levels have been documented for extended periods. Lynn Dairy and the Village of Granton both have permits which allow discharge to this stream. Permit violations by Lynn Dairy caused a suspension of their ability to discharge until changes in the permit and plant operation were made. The ability of Lynn Dairy and the Village of Granton to discharge to South Branch O'Neill Creek is determined by the stream flow. Both facilities must monitor stream flow daily during their discharge (Pietz; La Liberte).
Habitat surveys conducted at three sites indicate fair in-stream habitat quality. Limiting factors include eroded banks and low flow conditions. Species identified from macroinvertebrate samples taken at three sites indicated improving water quality as one moves downstream (Hazuga).
From: Koperksi, Cindy. 1999. Black River Water Quality Management Plan (draft). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
South Branch of O'Neil Creek T24N, RlW, S18, Surface Acres = 17.0, Miles = 11.7, Gradient = 10.3 feet per mile.
The South Branch of O'Neil Creek is a clear, hard water stream that flows west to form the main O'Neil Creek at the junction with the north branch. It is primarily a panfish-forage fish stream. About 84 percent of the watershed area is cleared land. There is no public frontage. Access is possible from twelve road crossings.
From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Clark County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1965
Author Aquatic Biologist
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
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016468 | South Branch Oneill Creek - Approx. 50 M. Above Bridge On Leesrd. | 4/16/1996 | 4/16/1996 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 103148 | South Branch O'Neill Creek at Meridian Ave | 10/23/2003 | 11/16/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016476 | S.Branch Oneill Cr. - Downstream Below Granton Rd. Bridge. | 4/16/1986 | 4/16/1986 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10010220 | South Branch O'Neill Creek - South Branch O'Neill Creek Station 3 | | | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 103152 | South Branch O'Neill Creek - South Branch O'Neill Creek 1303-X | | | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016517 | O Neil Cr - 50 Feet Below Haines Rd 0.5 Mi Down-Stream From Granton Potwpotw Is Discharging | 11/9/1990 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 103147 | South Branch O'Neill Creek at Fremont Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016490 | S.Branck Oneill Cr. - Upstream From Hwy K Bridge In Granton. | 4/16/1986 | 4/16/1986 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10010218 | South Branch O'Neill Creek - South Branch O'Neill Creek | 4/16/1996 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016998 | O Neil Creek - 250 Feet Below 2nd Twn Rd Belowgranton Wwtp Outfall | 4/30/1992 | 4/30/1992 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 103151 | South Branch O'Neill Creek - 1303-B at Division Ave | 10/10/2001 | 10/10/2001 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10016500 | O Neil Cr. - 40 Feet Below Lees Rd Bridge About 1mi Above Lynn Dairy Outfall | 11/9/1990 | 11/9/1990 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10010219 | South Branch O'Neill Creek - South Branch O'Neill Creek | 11/9/1990 | 4/16/1996 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 103138 | S Branch O'Neill Creek at Division Ave - Near Granton WI | 5/24/2001 | 9/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1749300 | South Branch O'Neill Creek | 10013164 | South Branch O'Neill Creek Remap 1303 | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
South Branch O'Neill Creek is located in the O'Neill and Cunningham Creeks watershed which is 161.85 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (39.90%), forest (31.20%) and a mix of grassland (16%) and other uses (12.90%). This watershed has 329.34 stream miles, 86.59 lake acres and 9,581.29 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.
South Branch O'Neil Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.