Inlet of Lake Ripley, Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed (LR11)
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Inlet of Lake Ripley, Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed (LR11)
Inlet of Lake Ripley (809700)
3.62 Miles
0 - 3.62
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, 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.
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Jefferson
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.
No
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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

Inlet of Lake Ripley, in the Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed, is a 4.00 mile river that falls in Jefferson County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2016

Author  Ashley Beranek

Inlet of Lake Ripley, Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed (LR11) Fish and Aquatic LifeInlet of Lake Ripley, Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed (LR11) RecreationInlet of Lake Ripley, Lower Koshkonong Creek Watershed (LR11) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Inlet of Lake Ripley (WBIC 809700) showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, no biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological impairment. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

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

Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd Station 283213 temperature graph 2013
Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd Station 283213 tp graph 2013
Koshkonong Creek Targeted Watershed Assessment: A Water Quality Plan to Restore Wisconsin Watersheds
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Targeted Watershed Assessment Evaluation of the Koshkonong Creek Watershed Monitoring Report (2016)
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Trib to Lake Ripley- Inlet Dwstm of Hwy 18
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd
2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Lake Ripley Inlet at HWY 18
2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Trib to Lake Ripley - Inlet Dwstm Conserv Rd
Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd Station 283213 DO graph 2013
Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd Station 283213 ph graph 2013
Lake Ripley Inlet at HWY 18 temperature at cbsm 2013

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
809700 is the WBIC for Lake Ripley in and around the outlets.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan.

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
LAKE RIPLEY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT: Lake Ripley Paleoecolog & Behavior Change Analysis2007
Lake Ripley 2013 Special Monitoring in 20132013
LAKE RIPLEY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT: HLK-2017 Lake Ripley Healthy Lakes Project2017
LAKE RIPLEY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT: Lake Ripley Watershed Assessment & Mgmt. Planning2007

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
809700Unnamed10050593Inlet to Lake Ripley - Preserve East5/1/20185/14/2018MapData
809700Unnamed10052013Unnamed (809700) Lake Ripley Inlet4/27/20215/16/2024MapData
809700Unnamed283213Lake Ripley - Trib Ripley Rd4/12/199310/24/2024MapData
809700Unnamed283121Ripley Lake - Inlet7/12/19734/26/1993MapData
809700Unnamed10039787Lake Ripley Inlet at HWY 185/12/201310/25/2024MapData
809700Unnamed283211Trib To Lake Ripley - Inlet Dwstm Conserv Rd3/11/199310/25/2024MapData
809700Unnamed283212Trib To Lake Ripley - Inlet Dwstm Of Hwy 183/11/19934/24/2023MapData
809700Unnamed10050591Inlet to Lake Ripley - Preserve Central5/1/201810/25/2024MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the Lower Koshkonong Creek watershed which is 265.61 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (54.20%), wetland (11.60%) and a mix of grassland (10.50%) and other uses (23.70%). This watershed has 283.47 stream miles, 1,735.65 lake acres and 18,171.94 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

Inlet of Lake Ripley is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.