Water Detail - Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County, Sheboygan River Watershed (SH03)

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County, Sheboygan River Watershed (SH03)

Return to Search

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County (58700)

Size

0.91 Miles

Segment

0 - 0.91

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.

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.

2016

General Condition

Unknown

County

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.

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.

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

MEHLES SPRINGS, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY
T16N R21E Sec. 7 NWSE Stream Length = 1.0 WBIC = 58700

This tributary originates from a spring (Mehles spring) and flows westward through marshy wetlands before joining the Sheboygan River at T16N, R21E, S.7, SE, SW. This tributary is approximately 1 mile in length and is classified as a warmwater forage fish community stream with a fish population consisting primarily of forage minnows. At this time it is partially meeting this biological use classification.

Problems that may be limiting the aquatic habitat include the loss of fish and invertebrate habitat and low dissolved oxygen. The observed or potential problem sources include parent soils and excessive vegetation.

The habitat rating for this tributary is very good with excellent riparian cover and instream cover available. There seems to be very little if any human disturbance (Ball 1982). No macroinvertebrate or fish collections were made but this tributary would be expected to contain those species associated with typical marsh habitat. Fish observations indicate an abundant forage fish population and other fish species including yellow perch, sunfish, suckers and young carp.

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County, Sheboygan River Watershed (SH03) Fish and Aquatic Life

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County, Sheboygan River Watershed (SH03) Recreation

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County, Sheboygan River Watershed (SH03) 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

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
58700	Muehl Springs	10047436	Wetland [ID 60423690362]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
5026322	Unnamed	10047434	Wetland [ID 60423690406]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
58700	Muehl Springs	10047432	Wetland [ID 60423690465]	9/6/2016	9/6/2016	Map	Data
5026303	Unnamed	10047434	Wetland [ID 60423690406]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
5026255	Unnamed	10047436	Wetland [ID 60423690362]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
5026243	Unnamed	10047436	Wetland [ID 60423690362]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
58700	Muehl Springs	10047434	Wetland [ID 60423690406]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
5026274	Unnamed	10047434	Wetland [ID 60423690406]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data
5026350	Unnamed	10047434	Wetland [ID 60423690406]	10/11/2016	10/11/2016	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Muehl Springs is located in the Sheboygan River watershed which is 260.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (47.30%), grassland (17.60%) and a mix of wetland (16.70%) and other uses (18.30%). This watershed has 340.24 stream miles, 4,345.33 lake acres and 27,968.05 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

Mehles Springs, Sheboygan County is considered a 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.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map