Bohn Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
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Bohn Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
Bohn Creek (1251100)
3.96 Miles
1.16 - 5.12
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-Cold Mainstem
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.
2019
Good
 
Dane
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.
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.
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.

Overview

This branch starts at the confluence of Ryan and Elvers creeks. It has a relatively low gradient
and portions have been ditched. It is a flashy stream that often floods during spring melts and
major storms. As a result, the stream bottom has problems with siltation. Currently, the
stream is managed as a Class III trout stream but has the potential to be a Class II stream with
the proper management. The stream has public ownership along about one mile of its length.
This land provides a diverse mix of habitat types for wildlife and is used as a public hunting
ground.

From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

Historical Description

This branch starts at the confluence of Ryan and Elvers creeks. It has a relatively low
gradient and portions have been ditched. It is a flashy stream, often flooding during
spring melts and major storms (DCRPC, 1992). It is a Class III trout stream (WDNR,1980)
with public ownership along about one mile of its length (WDNR, 1980, DCRPC, 1992).

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

East Branch Blue Mounds Creek (Bohn) - Mouth location T8N R5E Section 25 -15, surface area = 0.8 acres, Length =0.6 miles, Gradient = 0.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 266.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 16.7 cfs.
As its name states, it is a principal tributary of Blue Mounds Creek. It is spring fed and considered a very good trout stream in Dane County wherein most of its watershed lies. Flooding is a recurring problem since most of its watershed is farmed. The best trout water is in its upper portions where there is some natural reproduction. From the standpoint
of flow it is one of the largest streams in Iowa County and contributes about 48 percent of the base flow of Blue Mounds Creek. Waterfowl are limited but marshland furbearers such as muskrats and raccoons are common near the
mouth where a large proportion of the immediate drainage area is in meadow pasture. The upper portions of the stream support brown and rainbow trout which are stocked on an annual basis and reproduce naturally. Forage fishes common to Blue Mounds Creek are also present. There are no public lands in Iowa County but it can be reached from a town road which crosses it just over the county line.

From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1968

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Bohn Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) Fish and Aquatic LifeBohn Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) RecreationBohn Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) 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

Trout Classification E. Br. Blue Mounds Cr. (1251100) Fish Survey
Trout Classification E. Br. Blue Mounds Cr. (1251100) Public Notice
Coldwater Habitat Evaluation Project Blue Mounds Branch Watershed (2003)
BLUE MOUNDS CREEK, WEST BRANCH, DANE COUNTY, TWO-CELL STABILIZATION POND WWTS USE DESIGNATION

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
1251100East Branch Blue Mounds Creek10009326East Branch Blue Mounds Creek At Reeve Rd.8/12/20198/12/2019MapData
1251600Elvers Creek10013393Elvers Creek 2 -(S. Of Cth I)MapData
1251100East Branch Blue Mounds Creek10009422East Branch Blue Mounds Creek At Cth F8/10/20158/10/2015MapData
1251100East Branch Blue Mounds Creek10030307East Branch Blue Mounds Creek At Sutcliffe Rd below powerlines11/26/201911/26/2019MapData

Watershed Characteristics

East Branch Blue Mounds Creek is located in the Mill and Blue Mounds Creek watershed which is 186.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (54.60%), grassland (20.40%) and a mix of agricultural (15.30%) and other uses (9.80%). This watershed has 382.87 stream miles, 106.91 lake acres and 6,596.99 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Bohn Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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