Water Detail - Mill Creek, Onion River Watershed (SH04)

Mill Creek, Onion River Watershed (SH04)

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Mill Creek (52700)

Size

1.80 Miles

Segment

0 - 1.80

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.

2024

General Condition

Good

County

Sheboygan

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 I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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

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

MILL CREEK
T14N R21E Sec. 5 Stream Length = 2.0 miles

Mill Creek is one of two major headwater tributaries to the Onion River, originating in the extreme northwest section of the town of Lyndon as a series of springs. The development of hatchery ponds and raceways on the two major feeder springs has reduced the water quality and eliminated natural reproduction in the brook trout population. Brown trout naturally reproduce in Mill Creek. Some portions of the stream are heavily silted. The fishery consists mainly of brook and brown trout, sucker and minnow populations. Mill Creek is classified as a Class II trout stream. The WDNR is currently working with local organizations to remove the hatchery ponds and raceways to restore the trout stream to its original condition. This will improve both the water quality and biological integrity of Mill Creek, resulting in one of the better trout stream in Sheboygan County.

WDNR personnel surveyed the stream downstream of County Highway “S” in August 2000. The fish community rated good with populations dominated by brown trout. Brook trout, brook stickleback and white sucker were also present. The stream habitat appeared to be in good condition with excellent buffer areas, stable banks, rocky substrate, and abundant fish cover.

Date 2001

Author Aquatic Biologist

Overview

MILL CREEK - T14N R21E Sec. 5, Stream Length = 2.0 miles.
Mill Creek is one of two major headwater tributaries to the Onion River, originating in the extreme northwest section of the town of Lyndon as a series of springs. The development of hatchery ponds and raceways on the two major feeder springs has reduced the water quality and eliminated natural reproduction in the brook trout population. Brown trout naturally reproduce in Mill Creek. Some portions of the stream are heavily silted. The fishery consists mainly of brook and brown trout, sucker and minnow populations. Mill Creek is classified as a Class II trout stream.

From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Supplement to The State of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date 1999

Author Aquatic Biologist

Mill Creek, Onion River Watershed (SH04) Fish and Aquatic Life

Mill Creek, Onion River Watershed (SH04) Recreation

Mill Creek, Onion River Watershed (SH04) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Mill Creek (WBIC 52700) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) 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

Changes to the Draft 2014 Total Phosphorus/Biology Assessments

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR ONION, BEN NUTT AND MILL CREEKS FOR TROUT CLASS 2008

Onion River Creel Survey (2003)

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
52700	Mill Creek	10029650	Mill Creek at footbridge off Silver Spring Rd	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
52700	Mill Creek	10011288	Mill Creek - Mill Creek at Cth S (167m Downstream)			Map	Data
52700	Mill Creek	10011287	Mill Creek - Mill Creek at Cth S (12m Upstream)	10/11/2004	9/13/2021	Map	Data
52700	Mill Creek	10030872	Mill Cr at 2nd footbridge off Silver Spring Rd			Map	Data
52700	Mill Creek	10037978	Mill Creek - first bridge upstream confluence with Ben Nutt Creek	1/1/2015	10/18/2024	Map	Data
52700	Mill Creek	10008173	Mill Creek	11/14/2000	10/11/2004	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Mill Creek is located in the Onion River watershed which is 98.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (62.50%), grassland (17.40%) and a mix of forest (8.70%) and other uses (11.40%). This watershed has 132.85 stream miles, 143.10 lake acres and 5,098.92 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Mill 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.