Water Detail - Leola Ditch, Fourteenmile Creek Watershed (CW07)

Leola Ditch, Fourteenmile Creek Watershed (CW07)

Return to Search

Leola Ditch (1378300)

Size

7.25 Miles

Segment

1.78 - 9.03

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.

Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Warm Headwater, Coldwater, COOL-Warm Headwater

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.

2023

General Condition

Good

County

Adams, Waushara

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

Leola Ditch is classified as a nine-mile warm water game fishery for its entire length. A portion of the stream (river mile 3.5 - 9.0) used to be Class II trout waters. Continuous temperature monitoring found adequate temperatures for trout in the upper reaches, however dredging and siltation may have eliminated trout spawning habitat. The upper reaches of the stream are impacted by sedimentation from surrounding crop fields, lack of pools and ditching. Cranberry marsh dischargesmay contribute nutrients and sediment to the stream. Limiting factors of habitat in the lower reaches are sedimentation and the lack of pools and fish cover. HBI results suggest there is fairly significant organic loading to the stream. Water quality sampling in 1999 found nitrate levels in the ditch above 5 ppm

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Leola Ditch, T20N, R6E, Section 13 Surface Acres = 12.4, Miles = 7.3.

Leola Ditch is a clear, hard water ditch that has a predominantly sand bottom. It flows in a westerly direction and is a tributary of Fourteenmile Creek. It is managed for brook trout but anglers are primarily dependent upon stocked fish. Several short lateral ditches flow into Leola Ditch. There are many ditches in Leola Township and all of the main ones have water control structures , including Leola Ditch. The Water Regulatory Board has control of water levels in the ditches and it works in cooperation with commissioners of the Leola Township Drainage District. Raising beef cattle and potatoes appear to be the major agricultural pursuits in the immediate watershed. Several road crossings provide access.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen. 1966. Surface Water Resources of Adams County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.

Date 1966

Author Aquatic Biologist

Leola Ditch, Fourteenmile Creek Watershed (CW07) Fish and Aquatic Life

Leola Ditch, Fourteenmile Creek Watershed (CW07) Recreation

Leola Ditch, Fourteenmile Creek Watershed (CW07) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Leola Ditch (WBIC 1378300) CTH D to the headwaters was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Adams County Surface Water Resources 1966

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

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
Leola Ditch CTH D & 73, NE Corner	2009
Leola Ditch at CTH D	2009

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10053263	Leola Ditch Downstream CTH D	4/29/2019	10/4/2023	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10009163	Leola Ditch Upstream 6th Ave Site 10 (Cth D)	5/22/2009	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10021937	County D & 5th Ave Nw Side	11/11/2017	12/10/2023	Map	Data
1379700	Unnamed	013160	Leola Ditch - Hwy W And D	11/15/2017	11/15/2017	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10021939	Leola Ditch - D & 73 Ne Corner			Map	Data
1378800	Unnamed	10029988	Ditch at Hwy D & 5th Ave NW corner	6/12/1996	8/30/2017	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10016302	Leola Ditch - 100 Feet Upstream 6th Ave	11/17/1999	12/10/2023	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10029989	Ditch - Highway D and 73 NE corner	8/8/2007	3/22/2019	Map	Data
1378300	Leola Ditch	10049550	Leola Ditch at 1st Avenue	11/15/2017	11/15/2017	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Leola Ditch is located in the Fourteenmile Creek watershed which is 184.15 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.20%), agricultural (24.20%) and a mix of open (15%) and other uses (12.70%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 11,432.03 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Leola Ditch is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Warm Headwater, Coldwater, COOL-Warm Headwater 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are 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.

Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

More Interactive Maps

View Water in Alternative Map