5.41 Miles
0 - 5.41
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2015
Excellent
Richland
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
East Branch Mill Creek - This is another Class II trout stream which is also an exceptional resource water (ERW). The
stream has some natural reproduction of brook and brown trout. The stream has been ranked
high for nonpoint source pollution reduction. There are some barnyards near the stream and
grazing occurs adjacent to the stream, which can cause bank erosion and contribute to habitat
and water quality problems. Past channelization has affected stream habitat and water quality
with stream sediment and suspected temperature problems but the extent of the damage has
not been assessed.
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 is another Class II (WDNR, 1980) trout stream which has been nominated for ERW
status. There are some barnyards near the stream and grazing occurs adjacent to the
stream. Past channelization has affected stream habitat and water quality with stream
sediment and suspected temperature problems (Eagan, 1985'), but the extent of the
damage has not been assessed. Cattle grazing adjacent the stream and trampling banks
(WDNR, 199128) may be causing habitat and water quality problen~s. Water quality was
assessed to be fair to good (Eagan, 1985~).
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
East Branch Mill Creek (WBIC 1217200) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
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 |
|---|
| 1217200 | East Branch Mill Creek | 533058 | E Branch Mill Creek - Tuckaway Valley Rd | 9/20/1993 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1217200 | East Branch Mill Creek | 10031266 | East Branch Mill Creek at Hwy Z | | | Map | Data |
| 1217200 | East Branch Mill Creek | 533072 | East Branch Mill Creek - Near Boaz WI | 6/18/2001 | 10/17/2001 | Map | Data |
| 1217200 | East Branch Mill Creek | 10031275 | East Branch MIll Downstream of Tuck-A-Way valley rd | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1217200 | East Branch Mill Creek | 10031272 | E. Branch Mill upstream from HWY 14 | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
East Branch Mill Creek is located in the Mill and Indian Creeks watershed which is 130.32 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (53.20%), grassland (22.40%) and a mix of agricultural (19.20%) and other uses (5.10%). This watershed has 313.19 stream miles, 179.45 lake acres and 1,834.87 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.
East Br Mill Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) 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.
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.