The Cold-water Chronicles | Twin Cities Trout Unlimited Blog

TCTU Streamkeeper Report - June 2022

6/18/2022

TCTU Streamkeeper Report
June 11, 2022
By Jim Sauter

Welcome to June. Our days are getting longer as we approach the summer solstice, the stream water temperatures are warming up nicely in the 50 degree plus rise range, the hatches have been very active, and the water levels have been replenished with ample spring rains. This bodes well for our streams! Most of our streams continue to be healthy, with a few having elevated nitrate levels. We may need to take more accurate readings on these if the pattern continues.

I just checked, and our sunrise is at 5:28 am with the sunset at 9:01 pm. I love these long summer days!

I have also noticed a lot of parsnip on trails near some streams. In a recent conversation with a very wise and seasoned environmentalist, he observed that there seems to be a pattern of parsnip in places where DNR stream restoration has occurred. The theory is that some seeds tag along on the heavy equipment during restoration efforts.

In addition to posting updates about our Streamkeeper efforts, I will be including a monthly “tip” about taking WISEH2O tips on area streams. This will help us collect more consistent data with our monitoring efforts.

JUNE WISEH2O TIP

Once you have downloaded the WISEH2O app on your smartphone, you can check the results. On the WISEH2O app, select “filter by date.”
Filter by Date: Allows you to select and view observations collected only during a specific time frame of your choice. For example, if you want to know the water level, clarity, or water temperature of a specific stream in the past week, you can select “Last Week” from the menu of date options.
Under preferences in the settings section, you may select “TCTU” to view our streams that are being monitored. We are currently expanding the flagged locations for our monitoring efforts on the WISEH2O app. The sites from last year include Vermillion River (South Branch), Trout Brook, and two sites on Hay Creek. We are expanding sites to include Belle Creek, Little Cannon, and the Mall of America Creek. You may select “TU” to get a broader overview of streams that have been monitored. Many of these are in the southwestern Wisconsin.
The flag indicates a specific monitoring site. By hitting the light blue tab, you can “view the details” for the readings from a particular site that may include stream disturbances, water clarity, water level, pH, alkalinity, hardness, nitrates, nitrites, phosphorus, and the water temperature. Zooming in and out can help bring some of these observations into view.
For example, below is a recent reading from the South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River at 900th street. Thr water temp was 57 degrees, and the phosphorus level was zero.

You can also filter specific recent real time data such as temperatures on area streams. This information may be helpful as you plan your fishing adventure on some of our fantastic streams.
STREAMKEEPING REPORTS FOR JUNE, TCTU MONITORING SITES FROM TARGETED STREAMKEEPERS

BELLE CREEK
Reading on May 20, 2022. Water temperature= 55 degrees.

HAY CREEK
Readings on June 6, 2022. Water temperature was 59 degrees.

LITTLE CANNON RIVER
Reading on May 12, 2022. Water temperature was 66 degrees.

MALL OF AMERICA CREEK
June 6, 2022. Water temperature was 58 degrees. Report by Harold Slawik.
We're just getting started with our monitoring at Mall of America Creek (aka Ike's Creek and Hust Creek). We completed our initial training yesterday, June 6. The water is high and is actually overflowing the bank in places. The creek has been improved over the last 10 years, is about 3 feet across where improved. The surface is now largely overgrown with vegetation. The water is running real clear despite the flooding. Scuds are plentiful.