Water Detail - Mole Creek, Milwaukee River South Watershed (MI02)

Mole Creek, Milwaukee River South Watershed (MI02)

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Mole Creek (5031399)

Size

4.95 Miles

Segment

0 - 4.95

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.

Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater

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

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Degraded Biological Community

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus

County

Ozaukee

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.

Yes

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.

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.

Cold

Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

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.

Cold

Overview

Mole Creek, in the Milwaukee River South Watershed, is a 4.95 mile river that falls in Ozaukee County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

Mole Creek, Milwaukee River South Watershed (MI02) Fish and Aquatic Life

Mole Creek, Milwaukee River South Watershed (MI02) Recreation

Mole Creek, Milwaukee River South Watershed (MI02) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Mole Creek was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2018 to 2022; phosphorus levels were identified as too high in the 2022 cycle and poor fish community health was also noted. This stream is covered by the Milwaukee River TMDL, approved in 2018.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Mole Creek Habitat Improvements

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Milwaukee River South Watershed Plan 2014 (MI02)

MI02 Milwaukee River South Watershed streams_rivers macroinvertebrates chart 2003 to 2012

Macroinvertebrate Assessment Package Report MI02 2003 to 2013

TP Assessment Package Report MI02 2003 to 2013

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Partnership Project

Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department, along with hired consultants, will develop engineering and design plans and associated design and modelling reports necessary for the permitting, construction, and restoration activities related to channel, riparian corridor, and floodplain enhancement on a DNR-owned easement on a portion of Mole Creek in the Town of Saukville. Under this grant, all general project management tasks, to include meetings, conference calls, and site visits as required to complete plan set development, construction oversight and liaison work, and associated tasks will be completed. All of the aforementioned activities will be completed by December 2017. Project deliverables include: 1.) All engineering and design plans, with associated design and modeling reports, technical specifications, engineers opinion of probable cost, topographical/geomorphic survey, and all other documents necessary to develop plan sets (60%, 90%, and 100%). 2.) All engineering and design plans, with associated design and modeling reports, hydraulic analysis and modelling, technical specifications, final design drawings, plan sets, and all other documents necessary to obtain all applicable Federal, State, and local permits. 3.) Construction period support as needed (and as described in 1.f Activity in Ozaukee Counties\2019 Surface Water Grant Application dated January 29th, 2016) by consultant, provided to Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department. 4.) An electronic copy of 100% design plans shall be provided to DNR upon completion of plans.

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
Milwaukee River TMDL	2012
OZAUKEE COUNTY: Mole Creek Habitat Enhancement - Phase II	2016
Mole Creek at Cold Springs Rd	2010
Mole Creek at Center Rd	2006

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
5031399	Unnamed	10014720	Mole Creek At W Center Rd.	5/19/2006	1/1/2015	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10016666	Uncr (Mole Creek) - Upstream Of Hillcrest Road	10/25/2000	10/25/2000	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10051325	Mole Creek at Snowmobile Bridge			Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10016375	Uncr (Mole Creek) - Upstream Of Cedar Sauk Rd.	10/25/2000	10/31/2022	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10029077	Unnamed Tributary at Hwy 33	8/26/2008	1/1/2015	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10046984	Mole Creek - below confluence	1/1/2015	10/31/2022	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10046985	Mole Creek - south of Hillcrest	1/1/2015	10/30/2024	Map	Data
26300	Unnamed	10016805	Uncr (Mole Cr) - 15 M Upstream From Sth 33	10/25/2000	10/28/2019	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10031394	Mole Creek at Cold Springs Rd	5/13/2010	1/1/2015	Map	Data
5031399	Unnamed	10047105	Mole Creek Headwaters	1/1/2015	10/31/2022	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the Milwaukee River South watershed which is 167.90 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (27.40%), urban (24.80%) and a mix of agricultural (18%) and other uses (29.80%). This watershed has 203.63 stream miles, 13,038.94 lake acres and 5,996.03 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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

Mole 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.