Ozaukee
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The Little Menomonee River is a nearly ten mile long tributary to the Menomonee River. The majority of the river is impaired for creosote, bacteria, chloride, and temperature. The entire river is listed for phosphorus. The 2018 Milwaukee River TMDL addresses the phosphorus and bacteria (fecal coliform and E. coli) listings. Fecal coliform was listed during the 2010 cycle and E. coli was added in the 2022 cycle.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Overview
The Little Menomonee River is a nine mile long tributary to the Menomonee River. Water is impaired due to Creosote and Fecal Coliform, which cause Chronic Aquatic Toxicity and have created Recreational Restrictions for the Littel Menomonee River.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
The Little Menomonee River from its mouth to Brown Deer Road (miles 0 to 9) was placed on the impaired waters list for Creosote in 1998. Sediment removal and rerouting have cleaned up the creosote and this listing is proposed for removal in the 2022 cycle. High bacteria levels (fecal coliform) were found during the 2010 evaluation. Additional evaluations of bacteria (E. coli) in the 2022 cycle confirmed high levels. The Milwaukee River TMDL restoration plan covers these listings and was approved in 2018. This river segment was evaluated for phosphorus and biology every two years from 2012 to 2022. Phosphorus levels are too high for healthy plant, bug, and fish communities. The phosphorus listing is also covered by the Milwaukee River TMDL. Elevated temperature and chloride levels were found during the 2016 evaluation.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
The headwaters of Little Menomonee River (miles 9 to 9.94) were evaluated in the 2022 cycle; phosphorus levels were too high and this water was added to the Restoration Waters List. This water 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
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
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
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.
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department is undertaking a project to collect water quality samples at locations along Mole Creek and the Little Menomonee River. Ozaukee County will undertake the following activities, with deliverables relating to those actions: Conduct Water Quality Monitoring on Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River - Beginning in July of 2018 (note: existing River Planning Grant RP 30017 funds samples through June of 2018), collect 6 water samples at 17 locations across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River. Sampling shall represent three low-flow events and three high-flow events. Each water sample shall be tested for Total Phosphorus, orthophosphate, TSS, Chlorides, and E. coli. Testing will be performed by SLOH. - Deploy continuous water quality monitoring units on a rotating basis across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River, recording water temperature, DO, depth, pH, and conductivity. - Enter all collected data into DNR SWIM database. - Provide to the Department a final project report summarizing data results.
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department is sponsoring a project to conduct water quality monitoring along Mole Creek and the Little Menomonee River. Project activities include: 1) Collect 6 water samples at 17 locations across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River. Sampling shall represent three low-flow events and three high-flow events. Each water sample shall be tested for Total Phosphorus, orthophosphate, TSS, Chlorides, and E. coli. Testing will be performed by SLOH. 2) Deploy continuous water quality monitoring units on a rotating basis across Mole Creek and Little Menomonee River, recording water temperature, DO, depth, pH, and conductivity. Project deliverables include: 1) Enter all data into DNR SWIM database. 2) Provide to the Department a final report summarizing data results.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 17600 | Little Menomonee River | 10048225 | Little Menomonee River | 7/13/2017 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 17600 | Little Menomonee River | 10048226 | Little Menomonee River at Mequon Road | 8/1/2016 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 17600 | Little Menomonee River | 10048223 | Little Menomonee River | 7/13/2017 | 10/30/2023 | Map | Data |
| 17600 | Little Menomonee River | 10048224 | Little Menomonee River | 7/13/2017 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 17600 | Little Menomonee River | 10048222 | Little Menomonee River at Freistadt Road | 7/13/2017 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Little Menomonee River is located in the Menomonee River watershed which is 136.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (34.50%), urban (32.70%) and a mix of agricultural (11.10%) and other uses (21.70%). This watershed has 174.17 stream miles, 352.64 lake acres and 5,967.40 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.