Cold Water Habitat Evaluation
Gilbert Creek & Elk Creek
June – August 2005
Matthew D. Rasmussen
Applied Science Undergraduate
UW-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
Methods
Biological Information collected using Hobart H-10 Multimeter
pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and salinity
Continuous Onset TidBit Temperature Loggers
Collected water temperature every 30 minutes
Nitrogen & Phosphorus concentrations utilizing HACH Kit
Compare results to USEPA standards
E.coli & Coliform testing
Compare results to Wisconsin code NR 102.04
Water velocity using Global Waters FP-101 Flow Probe
Chlorophyll content in algae ASTM D3731-87
Study to analyze phosphorus trend in Elk Creek
Gilbert Creek
Date of Sample
8/30/2005
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
GCF
8/9/2005
5
0
8/2/2005
GCE
7/26/2005
GCD
7/19/2005
15
10
7/12/2005
GCC
7/5/2005
25
20
6/28/2005
GCA
6/21/2005
35
30
Coliform (per 1mL)
8/30/2005
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
8/9/2005
8/2/2005
7/26/2005
7/19/2005
7/12/2005
7/5/2005
6/28/2005
6/21/2005
E.coli (per 1mL)
Findings
40
GCB
- E.coli and Coliform levels are high
- Levels are not to exceed 4 per mL
- Correlate to rain fall
Date of Sample
12
10
GCA
8
GCB
6
GCC
4
GCD
GCE
2
GCF
0
0.03
GCA
0.02
Salinity
-Self-Sustaining buffer!
-Presence of salinity buffers pH
GCB
0.02
GCC
0.01
GCD
GCE
0.01
-May influence microbial species
GCF
10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
GCA
GCB
GCC
GCD
GCE
Date of Sample
8/30/2005
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
8/9/2005
8/2/2005
7/26/2005
7/19/2005
7/12/2005
7/5/2005
6/28/2005
GCF
6/21/2005
pH
Date of Sample
5
/2
00
8/
16
20
05
8/
9/
20
05
5
8/
2/
/2
00
5
7/
26
/2
00
5
7/
19
/2
00
7/
12
20
05
/2
00
7/
5/
brook trout
6/
28
6/
21
/2
00
5
-Excellent environment to sustain
5
0.00
Branch of Creek
South
Middle
North
Simpson's Index of
diversity(1-D)
.61
.63
.81
WAV Biotic Index
2.0 (poor)
2.2 (fair)
2.8 (good)
Macroinvertabrate quality increases as quality of habitat increases. This is easily
seen by the Biotic Index
South branch = scuds
Middle branch = scuds
North branch = mayflies, caddis flies
The North branch water quality & habitat is clearly the ideal habitat for brook
trout in Gilbert Creek
**Data was obtained by Bio-135 Students, end of Sept. 2005**
Sediment Characteristics
Site
Sediment
Depth
Sediment depth lowest in 2003
2004 restoration sites.

Description
(meters)
GC-A
<1
Silt
GC-B
0.20
Silt
Spawning
habitat more
abundant in sites C and D
GC-C
(2003) 0.13
Sand/Silt
Sediment Quality correlated
to biotic index
GC-D
(2004) 0.38
Pebbles/Sand

GC-E
0.53
Sand
GC-F
0.81
Silt

Restoration provides results!
Elk Creek
Date of Sample
8/30/2005
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
8/9/2005
8/2/2005
7/26/2005
7/19/2005
7/12/2005
ECJ
7/5/2005
20
10
0
6/28/2005
ECI
6/21/2005
60
50
40
30
Coliform (per 1mL)
8/30/2005
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
8/9/2005
8/2/2005
7/26/2005
7/19/2005
7/12/2005
7/5/2005
6/28/2005
6/21/2005
E.coli (per 1mL)
80
70
ECG
ECH
-E. coli and Coliform levels are high
-Levels are not to exceed 4 per mL
-Correlate to rain fall
Date of Sample
35
30
25
ECG
20
ECH
15
ECI
10
ECJ
5
0
ECI
8.60
8.40
8.20
8.00
7.80
7.60
7.40
7.20
7.00
6.80
ECG
ECH
ECI
Date of Sample
8/23/2005
8/16/2005
8/9/2005
8/2/2005
7/26/2005
7/19/2005
7/12/2005
7/5/2005
6/28/2005
ECJ
6/21/2005
pH
5
20
0
6/
00
5
8/1
/2
00
5
/2
Date of Sample
8/9
5
8/2
6/
20
0
5
7/2
9/
20
0
5
7/1
20
0
2/
7/1
/2
20
0
8/
6/2
20
0
1/
6/2
00
5
ECJ
5
-Rain fall has greater effect on water
ECH
5
-Ground water infiltration creates an
increase in pH over time
ECG
7/5
Salinity
-No salinity = No buffer
1.00
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
Sediment Characteristics
Site
Sediment
Depth

Quality of habitat increases
down stream

Restoration done above site
G in 1999

Sediment Quality relates to
biotic index
Description
(meters)
EC-G
0.46
Silty Muck
EC-H
0.43
Sand/Pebbles
EC-I
0.66
Sand
0.18
Rocks/pebbles
(Ideal!!)
EC-J
Site
Location
Simpson's Index of
WAV Biotic Index
EC-G
.835
2.0 (poor)
EC-H
.660
2.25 (fair)
EC-I
.614
2.5 (fair)
EC-J
.842
2.8 (good)
diversity(1-D)
Water quality increases downstream,
thus biotic index increases
EC-G contains muddy sediment & slow
moving water. Mainly scuds & tubifex
EC-J is fast moving with riffles and
pools. Contains a rocky sediment and
habitat for trout. Mainly caddisflies and
stoneflies
N & P Concentrations in Elk Creek
Nitrogen (mg/L)
Phosphorus (mg/L)
Date
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
Date
ECG
ECH
ECI
ECJ
21-Jun
0.92
1.80
1.80
1.50
21-Jun
6.67
3.33
2.83
2.33
28-Jun
0.35
0.86
0.84
0.96
28-Jun
13.50
11.50
9.00
8.20
5-Jul
0.82
0.94
0.98
0.96
5-Jul
13.80
9.50
7.50
8.00
12-Jul
0.40
0.96
0.78
0.62
12-Jul
17.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
19-Jul
0.66
0.77
0.87
0.72
19-Jul
18.00
7.50
11.00
8.00
26-Jul
0.23
0.37
0.66
0.88
26-Jul
16.00
15.00
9.00
7.00
2-Aug
0.25
1.00
0.96
1.00
2-Aug
17.00
8.00
8.00
7.00
9-Aug
0.20
0.34
0.56
0.36
9-Aug
16.50
8.50
7.00
6.50
16-Aug
0.22
0.38
0.46
0.58
16-Aug
15.00
8.00
7.00
6.50
23-Aug
0.50
0.84
0.42
0.62
23-Aug
18.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
30-Aug
0.38
0.86
0.90
1.00
30-Aug
17.00
19.00
9.00
7.50
N & P Trend Upstream to
Downstream
Chlorophyll Concentration by Site
Nitrogen & Phosphorus Trend
IN-STREAM PRODUCTIVITY
1
18
0.9
16
16
14
14
EC-I
EC-J
Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.7
12
0.6
10
EC-H
0.5
EC-G
0.4
8
EC-I
EC-J
6
0.3
Chla [mg/l]
EC-H
Phosphorus (mg/L)
EC-G
0.8
18
12
4
2
0.1
2
0
0
0
-Decrease in Phosphorus downstream
-Possible Chlorophyll explanation?
-Nitrogen loading between EC-G & EC-H?
Week 3
6
4
-Data averaged over course of summer
Week 2
8
0.2
Location (Upstream to Downstream)
Week 1
10
G
H
I
J
Upstream to downstream
-Standard Practices for Measurement
of Chlorophyll Content in Algae in
Surface Waters (ASTM D3731-87)
-Algal Cells not responsible
-Some other mechanism, periphyton?
Conclusions

Gilbert Creek
 Data
shows improvement in spawning habitat
and invertebrate diversity in restored areas
 E.coli
and Coliform levels being introduced to
the creek are high. This is detrimental to the
success of this trout stream.
Conclusions

Elk creek
 Invertebrate
diversity represents water quality and
aquatic habitat quality.

N
(Site J-most downstream)
and P issues of concern
 E.coli
and Coliform levels are exceedingly high.
Especially during rainfall events
Acknowledgments







Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Ojibleau Chapter Trout Unlimited
University of Wisconsin-Stout Biology
City of Menomonie, Waste-Water Treatment
Facility
Biology 135 Students, Fall 2005
Steve Nold, Department of Biology
Martin Ondrist, Department of Chemistry