Cutler Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
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Cutler Creek, Mill and Blue Mounds Creek Watershed (LW15)
Cutler Creek (1245000)
3.22 Miles
0 - 3.22
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
Good
 
Iowa
Trout Water 
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Cold (Class II Trout)
Designated Use
Cold

Overview

Cutler Creek is a major tributary to Mill Creek in Iowa County. It is a spring fed stream and
has a high gradient that has caused problems due to heavy erosion during runoff events. A
flood control structure exists on Cutler Creek near its mouth. Currently, the stream supports a
Class II brown trout fishery, but, with proper management and in instream habitat
improvement, the stream shows the potential to be upgraded to a Class I stream.

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

Cutler Creek - Mouth location T6N R4E Section 8 -2, Surface area = 1.7 acres, Length = 2.5 miles, Gradient = 88.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 255 mg/l, Volume of flow = 3.5 cfs.
Cutler Creek, with the waters from Canyon Park Creek, can be considered one of the principal tributaries of Mill Creek. It begins as a spring head and flows northeasterly into Mill Creek. Its gradient is one of the highest in the county and over twice the average of other streams its size in the county. This accounts for the heavy erosion which takes place during the rapid runoff. At the present time there is a flood water retaining structure being built near its mouth as part of the Twin Valley Watershed Program under Public Law 566 to help control the effects of flooding. However, this probably will not benefit the upper portions of this stream. A reduction in the intensity of farming in its immediate basin would probably be of more benefit, since over two-thirds of the watershed is either cropped or grazed. Although its primary source of water is springs, the steep gradient restricts the formation of any large pools for large trout habitat. Presently, it is stocked with legal-size brown trout on an annual basis. Survey seining revealed that the forage species present include bluntnose minnows, creek chubs, redbelly dace, johnny darters and brook sticklebacks. There are no public lands along this stream but 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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
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.
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.
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.