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

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

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Ryan Creek (1251400)

Size

6.44 Miles

Segment

0 - 6.44

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.

2019

General Condition

Excellent

County

Dane

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.

Yes

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

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.

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

Overview

Ryan Creek is a Class II trout stream and is considered an exceptional resource water (ERW).
The stream meets up with Elvers Creek in Dane County to form the East Branch of Blue
Mounds Creek. The creek is affected by hydrologic modification, including the ditching of
the stream to drain a nearby wetland. In addition, cattle access to the stream has created
significant erosion problems and has affected in-stream habitat. The stream has been ranked
as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution would benefit from a nonpoint source
pollution reduction project. In 1999, LUNKERS were installed in the creek and part of the
streambank was rip-rapped in an effort to improve in-stream habitat in the creek.

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

Ryan Creek -T7N, R6E, Sec. 17, Surface acres = 4.5, Length = 6 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 106 ft/mile, Base discharge = 5.8 cfs.
Ryan Creek, sometimes called Elvers Creek, originates in Section I of T6N, R5E in Iowa County. It flows northward to meet Elvers Creek where they Join to form the East Branch of Blue Mounds Creek. Ryan Creek drains 5.5 square miles of hilly pasture land, upland and lowland forest. The lower portion has been ditched in an effort to drain a wetland area consisting of wet meadow and shallow marsh. Its flow is traced to 5 springs (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a) and the water quality is good. Because the watershed is steep and cattle have access to the creek in many areas, grazing causes a fair amount of erosion. Erosion is also significant in the ditched section of the creek. Ryan Creek is managed for brown trout, but access is limited by extensive posting of adjacent lands. A native brook trout population present before 1970 no longer inhabits the creek. Access is available through DNR land at the headwaters, on DNR land below Hwy. F, and at four road crossings. Ducks, pheasants, rabbits, and deer inhabit the state owned land below Hwy. F. Furbearers are also common.
Fish species: brook lamprey, brown and rainbow trout, central mudminnow, brassy minnow, creek chub, white sucker, green sunfish, Johnny darter, and mottled sculpin.

From: Day, Elizabeth A.; Grzebieniak, Gayle P.; Osterby, Kurt M.; and Brynildson, Clifford L., 1985. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1985

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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

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

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

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

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
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10009463	Ryan Creek Upstream M. Alberts Driveway			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10052821	Ryan Creek @ Mountain Bike Trail Bridge - Blue Mounds State Park	9/25/2019	9/25/2019	Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10013389	Ryan Creek 1			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10013391	Ryan Creek at Moyer Road [3]			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10010001	Ryan Creek Remap 104-X			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	133445	Ryan Creek - Ryan Creek	6/30/2003	11/14/2003	Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10010002	Ryan Creek - Ryan Creek Remap 104-B	6/17/2009	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10009464	Ryan Creek Upstream Of Andersons Lunkers			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	133446	Ryan Creek at HWY F Bridge	6/30/2003	8/10/2015	Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10013390	Ryan Creek 2			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10052658	Ryan Creek at Shower Rd			Map	Data
1251400	Ryan Creek	10009465	Ryan Creek Upstream Of Moyer Rd/Ryan Rd			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Ryan 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.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

Ryan 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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