Water Detail - Trout Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)

Trout Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)

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Trout Creek (1243100)

Size

4.92 Miles

Segment

4.25 - 9.17

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 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.

2022

General Condition

Good

County

Iowa

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.

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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

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

Trout Creek has five miles of Class I trout waters and three miles of Class II trout waters.
The eight miles of trout water are also classified as an outstanding resource water (ORW) and
the stream supports the natural reproduction of brown trout. A rare aquatic species has been
found in the creek in past surveys. The stream, although considered one of the best trout
streams in southern Wisconsin, is threatened by an impoundment in its headwaters that
threatens the downstream management of cold water fisheries. The impoundment was built
as a flood control structure and affects in-stream habitat and the trout fishery by causing
sediment to fill in pools and warming the water. The stream also has some problems with
nonpoint source pollution and is considered a high priority for nonpoint source pollution and
would benefit from a nonpoint source pollution reduction project. Baseline monitoring was
conducted on the stream in the summer of 2000. Much of the stream is in public ownership as
the Trout Creek State Fishery Area. The fishery area is approximately 900 acres and offers
opportunities for fishing, hiking, and birdwatching. (See Birch Lake)

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

Trout Creek has five miles of Class I trout waters and three miles of Class II trout waters
(WDNR, 1980). The eight miles of trout water are also classified as outstanding
resource waters under Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 102 (WDNR, 1991) much of
the stream is in public ownership as the Trout Creek State Fishery area (WDNR, 1991).
A Soil Conservation Service dry dam, built as a flood control structure, affects in-stream
habitat and the trout fishery by causing sediment to fill in pools and warming the water
(Brynildson, 1984 and Van Dyke, 1992)

Date 1994

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Trout Creek - Mouth location T7N R4E Section 13 -11, Surface area = 6.7 acres, Length = 7.9 miles, Gradient = 55.7 feet per mile. Total alkalinity = 248.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 7.7 cfs.
Trout Creek is spring fed, flows northwesterly and is the largest tributary of Mill Creek. It is rated as one of the best trout streams in the southern part of the state and the best one in Iowa County. Trout Creek is included
in the Twin Parks Watershed Plan prepared for Mill Creek and its tributaries.
Three flood control structures were proposed and constructed during recent years. Two of these are located on the mainstream; one, located near the headwaters, has a permanent pool in Birch Lake (a managed trout lake) and the other is strictly a detention-slow release structure located about two miles above the mouth. The third structure is located on Duesler Creek and forms a permanent pool. The detention structure on the mainstream has impaired trout reproduction to some extent but not enough to hurt the fishery. Flood damage has been reduced which helped to establish a more permanent fishery in the lower half of the stream. All of its tributaries are small and include Irish Hollow, Duesler and Arneson Creeks. The combined discharges of these streams amount to about 17 percent of the base flow. The sport fishery consists of brook, brown, and rainbow trout which all reproduce naturally. Fingerling brown and rainbow trout are stocked annually in the lower section to supplement the natural reproducing brown trout population located upstream. Forage fish species present include white suckers, creek chubs, stoneroller minnows, longnose dace, fathead minnows, spotfin shiners and brook sticklebacks.
Aquatic game assets include puddle ducks on Birch Lake, and muskrats which are common throughout its length. Public land acquisition by the Bureau of Fish Management include the torphy-Hutter parcels above the dam structure nearest the mouth. So far, 43.5 acres of land and 4,900 linear feet of shoreline on the stream and 134.0 acres of land around Birch Lake are owned by the State of Wisconsin. The area around Birch Lake has been developed into a park. Besides access from state lands it can be reached from three road crossings.

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

Trout Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) Fish and Aquatic Life

Trout Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) Recreation

Trout Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15) Fish Consumption

General Condition

This water was assessed during the 2014 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data clearly met 2014 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. No biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological condition.

Date 2015

Author Aquatic Biologist

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

NZMS_Iowa_20240529_TroutCreek_1243100_253182_Dimick_Laboratory Verification Letter

NZMS_Iowa_20240512_TroutCreek_1243100_253182_Kuber_Incident Report Email_B

NZMS_Iowa_20240512_TroutCreek_1243100_253182_Kuber_Incident Report Email_A

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Recommendations

Diagnostic/Feasibility Assessment

Birch Lake, located on Trout Creek is a Class 1 trout stream supporting brook trout. The water quality in Birch Lake is poor, and negatively impacting Trout Creek below the dam, as well as hindering fish migration up and downstream. Iowa County will hire an engineering firm to get a second opinion as to the feasibility and costs to remove the Birch Lake dam. Deliverables: A dam removal feasibility study, and cost estimates of removal will include dam removal, stability of sediment, stream restoration. The study will be shared with stakeholders and local units of government. Stakeholders include trout unlimited, town of Brigham, and the Village of Barneveld.

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
IOWA COUNTY: Feasibility Study of Birch Lake Removal	2017
VILLAGE OF BARNEVELD: Birch Lake Diagnostic Study-Pt. 1	2008
VILLAGE OF BARNEVELD: Birch Lake Feasibility Study-Pt. 2	2008
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10031724	Trout Creek wildlife parking lot	1/1/2015	10/13/2020	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10010555	Trout Creek	6/28/2016	6/28/2016	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10031725	Trout Creek S of CTH T past field edge			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10010556	Trout Creek			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10010553	Trout Creek			Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10037896	Birch Lake	7/23/2012	9/30/2017	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10043177	Trout Creek at Private Drive off CTH T	6/28/2016	10/30/2019	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10016528	Trout Cr at Oak Rd	4/28/1993	4/28/1993	Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	253165	Birch Lake - Center of the Lake	8/4/1993	9/25/2020	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10018031	Trout Creek - Birch Lake -- Access	6/20/2012	9/25/2020	Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015168	Birch Lake Station #3			Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015114	Birch Lake General Fish			Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015165	Birch Lake Baseline #2			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10037607	Birch Lake			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	253166	Trout Creek - Below Birch Lake Dam	7/15/1993	8/19/2009	Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015169	Birch Lake Baseline #4			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10008161	Trout Creek Station 6	11/10/2000	11/10/2000	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10040860	Trout Creek Inlet to Birch Lake	5/14/2009	8/19/2009	Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015116	Birch Lake Baseline Boom Shock			Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	10037896	Birch Lake	7/23/2012	9/30/2017	Map	Data
1243100	Trout Creek	253164	Trout Creek at Cth T Above Birch Lake	7/15/1993	7/13/2022	Map	Data
1244100	Birch Lake	10015144	Birch Lake Baseline #1			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Trout 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Trout Creek is considered a 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.

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