Plymouth Millpond, Mullet River Watershed (SH05)
Return to Search
Plymouth Millpond, Mullet River Watershed (SH05)
Plymouth Millpond (54600)
27.59 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.
2017
Fair
 
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
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.
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

Plymouth Millpond is a moderate sized flowage within the City Limits of Plymouth on the Mullet River. The impoundment was drawn down and chemically treated in the fall of 1966, to remove the overabundant carp population in preparation of establishing a game fishery. A continued carp problem is anticipated. After treatment, the pond was stocked with largemouth bass, northern pike and crappie. Public access is available by several city streets, navigable water from the upper end of the pond, approximately two acres of city property at the dam site, and by approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline on city school property. The area has high recreational value due to accessibility and the available fishery resource.

Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Sheboygan County Plymouth Millpond T15N, R21E, Section 22 Surface Acres = 36, S.D.F. = 2.77, Maximum Depth = 6 feet

Date  1968

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Plymouth Millpond is a moderately sized impoundment within the city of Plymouth on the Mullet River. The impoundment is very shallow with a soft mud bottom and very little rooted aquatic plant life. Periphytic blue-green algae are a problem as is high turbidity during months when carp activity is high. Carp have dominated the fish community and carp numbers are currently very high (pers. comm. John Nelson).

Up to 1,000 Canada Geese roost on the pond causing some nuisances to riparian landowners and providing some hunting opportunities during feeding flights. Several broods of geese are produced on the pond each year (pers. comm. Steve Klock).

Public access is available by several city streets, navigable water from the upper end of the pond, approximately two acres of city property at the dam site, and by approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline on city school property.

A sediment quality assessment was conducted by WDNR on June 29, 1999 on the Plymouth Impoundment, Mullet River. Samples were collected at two sample sites in the soft sediment that has accumulated behind the dam. The first site was 15m upstream from the dam and consisted of two cores. The top half from each core were composited for a single sample and the bottom of each core were composited for a second sample. This enables us to look at sediment quality that represents different time periods. Obviously the sediment that is buried to the greatest depth represents deposition that would have settled at an earlier date. A third sample was collected 100m upstream in the mid-channel of the impoundment. Two cores were collected and composited to make a single sample.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Plymouth Millpond, Mullet River Watershed (SH05) Fish and Aquatic LifePlymouth Millpond, Mullet River Watershed (SH05) RecreationPlymouth Millpond, Mullet River Watershed (SH05) 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

Plymouth Mill Pond -Sheboygan County, Wisconsin - Comprehensive Management Plan

Recommendations

Lake Management Plan Implementation
A Plymouth mill pond committee was formed and the City obtained a DNR grant to study options to improve the impoundment. Continue to work with the City on management of the Plymouth mill pond.
Dam Safety or Removal
Work with the owners of the Plymouth Mill Pond dam to consider removing the dam, or if it must remain, encourage fish passage restoration, secure funding and implement projects.
Dam Safety or Removal
The Department should continue to work with the City of Plymouth to address safety and water quality issues associated with the Plymouth Millpond and its dam.

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
CITY OF PLYMOUTH: Habitat WQ & Macro Invert. Sampling I2006
CITY OF PLYMOUTH: Wilm & Flux Modeling Phase II2006
CITY OF PLYMOUTH: Comprehensive Lake Plan- Phase III2006
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
54600Mill Pond10005804Plymouth Mill Pond9/8/20008/30/2017MapData
54600Mill Pond604002Plymouth Millpond - Plymouth Millpond8/6/19798/6/1979MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Mill Pond is located in the Mullet River watershed which is 88.19 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (38.90%), forest (21.40%) and a mix of grassland (17.90%) and other uses (21.80%). This watershed has 97.54 stream miles, 789.87 lake acres and 6,609.38 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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

Plymouth Millpond 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.

More Interactive Maps
View Water in Alternative Map