Local Water, Onion River Watershed (SH04)
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Local Water, Onion River Watershed (SH04)
Local Water (51300)
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 Headwater
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.
1994
Unknown
 
Sheboygan
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.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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

UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO ONION RIVER (LIMA TRIB) AT RM 6.4
T14N R22E Sec. 13 Stream Length = 13.0 miles

This unnamed tributary to the Onion River originates in the Town of Lima and flows east to the Onion River. The predominant land uses in this watershed are pasture, barnyards, and croplands which are contributing a high bacterial, nutrient, and sediment load to the stream (WDNR 1988 and WDNR 1995). Two industrial dischargers are located in the stream’s headwaters: Sheboygan County Health Center and Schneider Cheese Inc. Three fish surveys were conducted on the unnamed tributary during 1994 (Tables 59 and 60.

Table 45. Unnamed Tributary to Onion River Lima Trib) Sample Site Locations - 1994
Stream SITE INFORMATION
Site Site Description
Lima Tributary to the Onion River OR-8 At CTH VN
OR-9 At CTH I
OR-10 Upstream of STH 32



Table 46. Lima Tributary to Onion River Fish Community Assessment
Fish Species Ball Tolerance1 Lyons IBI Tolerance2 Historical Fish Collections
(Fago 1985) 1994 Fish
Collections
Northern Pike Sport Fish X X
Creek Chub Tolerant Tolerant X X
White Sucker Tolerant Tolerant X X
Brook Stickleback Tolerant X
Green Sunfish Sport Fish Tolerant X
Johnny Darter Tolerant X
Blacknose Dace Intolerant Tolerant X
Longnose Dace Intolerant X
Fathead Minnow Very Tolerant Tolerant X
Central Mudminnow Very Tolerant Tolerant X
Common Carp Very Tolerant Tolerant X

1 Ball (1982)
2 Lyons (1992)

Habitat assessments and macroinvertebrate community assessments were conducted in 1994 for Lima Trib. as part of the basin monitoring. Water quality ratings associated with these assessments are shown in Table 61.



Table 47. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), and Habitat Quality results for the Unnamed Tributary (Lima) to Onion River
Stream SITE Spring - HBI 1 IBI 2 Habitat
Avg. Score Water Quality
Rating Score Biotic Integrity Rating Ball 3 Simonson et al. 4
Score Rating Score Rating
Lima Tributary OR-8 10 Very Poor 235 Poor 38 Fair
OR-9 10 Very Poor 239 Poor 28 Fair
OR-10 7.17 Fairly Poor 32 Fair 205 Poor 53 Good
1 Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (1987)
2 Lyons (1992)
3 Ball (1982)
4 Simonson et al. (1994)

Based on the existing fish community the unnamed tributary (Lima Trib.) to the Onion River was classified as a Warmwater Forage Fish communities stream (WDNR 1995).

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Local Water, Onion River Watershed (SH04) Fish and Aquatic LifeLocal Water, Onion River Watershed (SH04) RecreationLocal Water, Onion River Watershed (SH04) 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.

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 Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
51300Unnamed603309Lima Trib To Onion at Sth 32 Bi5/21/19795/23/1994MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the Onion River watershed which is 98.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (62.50%), grassland (17.40%) and a mix of forest (8.70%) and other uses (11.40%). This watershed has 132.85 stream miles, 143.10 lake acres and 5,098.92 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Local Water is considered a Cool-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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