Iowa
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Love Creek is a Class I trout stream that supports the natural reproduction of brown trout. It
is also considered an outstanding resource water (ORW). There is some sedimentation in the
stream near the mouth. Nearly 570 acres of land are publicly owned and make up the Love
Creek Fishery Area. The fishery area offers opportunities for fishing, birdwatching and
hiking. The stream has been hydrologically modified and experiences some nonpoint source
pollution.
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
Love Creek is a Class I trout stream (WDNR, 1985). It is also considered an exceptional
resource water. There is some sedimentation in the stream near the mouth
(WDNR, 1991) and some public ownership along the creek.
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Love Creek - Mouth location T7N R4E Section 34 -1, Surface area = 2.4 acres, Length = 3.1 miles, Gradient = 65.8 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 257.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.4 cfs.
Love Creek is a spring fed tributary of Mill Creek. It contributes about 15 percent of the base flow of Mill Creek and is considered one of the better trout streams in Iowa County. About three-fourths of its watershed area has been cleared for farming which has brought about serious bank erosion due to the rapid runoff of precipitation. This problem has broughtabout the construction of a flood control dam (without a permanent pool) just below the confluence with its tributary. This is part of the Twin Parks Watershed project administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and planned for the Mill Creek Watershed. This stream and its only tributary have long been esteemed by trout fishermen for its large brow trout which reproduce naturally. Brook trout were captured by electrofishing in 1948 but have not been reported since. Presently, brown trout are stocked on an annual basis to supplement the fishery. Other fish species known to occur include white suckers, creek chubs and mottled muddlers. Game assets include muskrats and some puddle ducks which utilize the stream sparingly throughout the year.
There are no public lands along this stream. one town road crossing and through private lands. It is accessible from one town road crossing and through private lands.
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
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 |
---|
1244400 | Love Creek | 10029203 | Love Creek - 350m US Strutt Creek Confluence | 12/3/2003 | 12/3/2003 | Map | Data |
1244400 | Love Creek | 10048635 | Love Creek 150m DS of confluence with Strutt Creek | | | Map | Data |
1244400 | Love Creek | 10044780 | Love Creek at Dugway Rd | 7/9/2015 | 7/9/2015 | Map | Data |
1244400 | Love Creek | 253179 | Love Creek - Love Creek | 6/12/2003 | 9/17/2003 | Map | Data |
1244400 | Love Creek | 10048634 | Love Creek - 800m US confluence with Strutt creek | | | Map | Data |
1244400 | Love Creek | 10046964 | Love Creek at Dugway Rd | 11/27/2019 | 7/24/2024 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=LW15)
Watershed Characteristics
Love Creek is located in the Mill and Blue Mounds Creek watershed which is 186.74 miĀ². 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.