Water Detail - Underwood Creek, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03)

Underwood Creek, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03)

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Underwood Creek (16700)

Size

2.84 Miles

Segment

0 - 2.84

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-Warm Mainstem

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.

2021

General Condition

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Acute Aquatic Toxicity, Elevated Water Temperature, Degraded Biological Community, Recreational Restrictions - Pathogens, Chronic Aquatic Toxicity

Pollutants include

Chloride, Total Phosphorus, Unknown Pollutant, Fecal Coliform

County

Milwaukee

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.

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.

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.

FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - waters that do not have a specific use designation subcategory assigned but which are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

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.

FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - waters that do not have a specific use designation subcategory assigned but which 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 Variance

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Variance for DO and Pathogens. Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable with the exception of their meeting water quality standards for dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform.

Overview

Underwood Creek is a eight and a half mile long tributary to the Milwaukee River origniating near Brookfield in Waukesha County and flowing East.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Underwood Creek, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Fish and Aquatic Life

Underwood Creek, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Recreation

Underwood Creek, Menomonee River Watershed (MI03) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Underwood Creek, from the Milwaukee/Waukesha County line to headwaters (miles 2.84 to 8.54) was identified as impaired in the 2010 cycle for recreation restrictions due to bacteria (fecal coliform). During the 2018 cycle both phosphorus and chloride were identified as pollutants on this stream segment, which was confirmed by the 2020 and 2022 cycles.

Date 2022

Author Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Underwood Creek, from the confluence with the Menomonee River to the Milwaukee/Waukesha County line (miles 0 to 2.84), was put on the Impaired Waters List in the 2010 cycle based on bacteria and recreational restrictions. In the 2012 cycle degraded biology was identified. In the 2016 and 2018 cycles elevated water temperature and chloride were identified as additional pollutants. Evaluation in the 2022 cycle confirmed chloride impairment.

Date 2022

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

2016 Impaired Waters Delisting Documentation

Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL USEPA Approval Letter

USEPA Decision Document for the Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL, WI

Underwood Creek, Underwood Creek 2M DS of concrete E of Hwy 100 overpass, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

Underwood Creek DS HWY 100 Overpass: Qualitative Habitat Eval 18Jul2017

Underwood Creek DS HWY 100 overpass: Fish Survey 18Jul2017

Underwood Creek fIBI Corrections 2017

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Underwood Creek at Gravel Sholes Park

Menomonee River Watershed Plan (MI03)

UNDERWOOD CREEK, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, SOLVOX MANUFACTORING WWTP USE DESIGNATION

UNDERWOOD CREEK, WAUKESHA COUNTY, NOTRE DAME HEALTH CARE CENTER, KOPPERS CO. INC. (THEIM CORP.), LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL, KEARNEY AND TRECKER CORP., UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, TURNER HEAT TREATING USE DESIGNATION

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
Underwood Creek at Pedestrian Bridge by UPS	2010
Milwaukee River TMDL	2012
VILLAGE OF ELM GROVE: Stormwater Utility Evaluation & Establishment	2004
Underwood Creek upstream Dousman Ditch	2012
VILLAGE OF ELM GROVE: Stormwater Retention Storage Sites	2003
Underwood Creek at Gravel Sholes Park	2010
VILLAGE OF ELM GROVE: Underwood Creek Streambank Stabilization	2003

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10037820	Underwood Creek at Wauwatosa WI	4/1/1990	4/1/1990	Map	Data
16000	Menomonee River	413293	Empire Level Mfg Corp			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10047977	Underwood Creek DS HWY 45 at 107th Street	1/1/2015	11/9/2021	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10039649	Underwood Creek at Underwood Pkwy and N 119th St	6/29/2010	6/29/2010	Map	Data
16000	Menomonee River	413299	Stroh Die Casting Company Inc	8/5/1985	8/5/1985	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10031613	Underwood Creek at Gravel Sholes Park	6/10/2010	8/10/2021	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10014159	Underwood 2 - (West Of 115th St)	3/27/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10012135	Underwood Creek - Underwood 2			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10015593	Underwood Creek 2			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10010557	Underwood Creek			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10013453	Underwood 2			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10032514	Underwood Creek at mouth Wauwatosa			Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	413007	Underwood Creek at Ush 45 At Wauwatosa WI	1/13/1975	10/15/2002	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10047973	Underwood Creek US 124th Street at W Bleumound Road (HWY 18)	1/1/2015	11/9/2021	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	413779	Underwood Creek at 115 Street Wauwatosa	1/1/2015	11/9/2021	Map	Data
16700	Underwood Creek	10037398	Underwood Creek 2M DS of concrete E of Hwy 100 overpass	8/29/2012	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Underwood Creek is located in the Menomonee River watershed which is 136.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (34.50%), urban (32.70%) and a mix of agricultural (11.10%) and other uses (21.70%). This watershed has 174.17 stream miles, 352.64 lake acres and 5,967.40 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Underwood Creek is considered a Cool-Warm Mainstem under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model resultsand 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.

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