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THE COLD-WATER CHRONICLES (BLOG)

Streamkeeper Report - August 2023: The Dog Days of Summer

8/6/2023

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By Jim Sauter
​
The Dog Days of Summer have arrived.  Technically, the Dog Days of Summer are from July 3 to August 11 soon after the summer solstice.  Usually, these are the hottest and most unbearable days of the year.  But where did this term come from?    

According to Greek mythology, Sirius was the dog of the hunter Orion, and the ancient Romans placed the star in the constellation Canis Major (Latin for “Greater Dog”). The Romans thus referred to the sweltering period when the rising of the sun and Sirius converged as the “dies caniculares” or “days of the dog star.” By the 1500s, the English world began to call the same summertime point on the astronomical calendar as the “dog days.”

Due to a wobble in the Earth’s rotation that shifts the position of the stars in the night sky, the dates of the “dog days” now fall several weeks later on the calendar than they did thousands of years of ago.  Eventually in the distant future, the “sky dog days” will be during winter months.  (Source:  Christopher Klein, The History Channel)

The implications of this time of year for stream monitoring and fishing is that our air and stream temperatures are at their peaks.  Fishing early morning hours or at dusk is a good strategy.  On extremely hot days, it may be best to stay home and tie some hoppers.  Our highest water temperatures during this last month were recorded on Belle Creek and the Little Canon River at a toasty 68 degrees.  The lowest water temperatures that I noticed on a metro streams in July wer 59 degrees on Hay Creek and Eagle Creek.  I did also notice an amazing 51 degree reading on Trout Creek on July 24th in southern Wisconsin.​
Streamkeeper Tip of the Month: Accessing Wise H20 Stream Observations

Recently a TCTU member asked, “Is there a way to view Wise H2O observations made on various streams? I am specifically looking to see if temperature can be viewed from observations made in western Wisconsin and SE Minnesota.”

Yes, there is a way to view WiseH2O observations on streams.  You can access water quality data from streams and stream temperatures.  Here are the steps:
  1. Open the WiSEH2O app.  If you do not have it, download the app free from an app store.
  2. Hit the three bars in the upper left corner.
  3. Click Preferences.
  4. Click Monitoring Networks.
  5. If checking the metro streams that we are monitoring, click TCTU.  Each flag indicates a stream that we are monitoring along with the coordinates.  If checking other streams, click TU.  Then click the back arrow to get to the main screen.
  6. Click the three bars in the lower right corner of the screen.
  7. Filter by dates.  Observations made during that time frame will appear as a blue tab like image.
  8. Sometimes zooming in and out will help “find” some observations, i.e., more of the blue tabs. In some cases, you may need to zoom way in to see the blue tab.
  9. Click the blue tab and open the observation to obtain the readings.  For example, the latest reading on the Little Canon was on July 16.  Click “View Details”.  The temperature was a balmy 68 degrees.

Even by clicking the TCTU preferences for monitoring sites, you may be able to get some of the readings from other areas.  For example, I just looked at an observation on the South Branch of the Root River near Forestville State Park.  The observation was taken on July 28 and the stream temp was 68 degrees.  All other tests came back with good results except for nitrates.

I hope that helps.  Sometimes you need to be patient and start zooming in and out to see the blue tabs and readings.  We even have access to some of the stream readings from Wisconsin, Iowa, and beyond.

Targeted Streamkeepers
Our “targeted” Streamkeepers are monitoring Belle Creek, Eagle Creek, Hay Creek, Little Cannon, Mall of America Creek, South Branch Vermillion, and Trout Brook.  Below are some recent chemical readings on these streams.
 
Belle Creek
  • Team of Dean Albrecht (Captain), Paul Frank, and Todd Hustad  
  • July 2, 2023.   Water quality:  pH= 7.0 (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 0.0 (Low reading), Hardness= 30.0 (low reading), Nitrate= 1.0 (Good), Nitrite= 0 (Good), Phosphorous= 0 (good), Temperature = 68 degrees (high).  Water clarity was very clear, water level was baseflow, and there were no significant weather conditions to report.  

Eagle Creek
  • Team of Thor Benson and Southwest Christian High School students
  • July 20 ,2023.  Water quality:  Ph= 7.5 (Trout are happy), Alkalinity= 0 (low), Hardness= 30.0 (low), Nitrate= 1.0 (trout are happy), Nitrite= 0 (trout are happy), Phosphorous= 0 (good), Water temperature= 59 degrees (trout are happy).  Water clarity was clear.  Water level was mid-stage.  There was no recent weather event.

Hay Creek 
  • Team of Mike Stinson (Captain), Keith Ketchmark, Josh O’Tool, Larry Olson, and Mitch Abbett
  • Report from Mike:  "On a perfect summer day I surveyed Hay creek mid-morning. Water was crystal clear, and fish were rising. There was no disturbance in the creek, and the new restoration at 320th street has really opened the area. I saw three other people fishing. This was more than any I have ever seen since coming to Hay creek."
  • July 28, 2023, 320th St.  Water quality:  pH= 7.5 (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 180.0 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 50.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.15 (good), Phosphorous= 100 (trout are happy), Temperature= 63 degrees (trout are happy).  Clear water.  Mid-stage level.  There was a recent thunderstorm.
  • July 28, 2023, 325th St.  Water quality:  pH= 7.5 (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80.0 (trout are happy), Hardness= 120 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 50.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.3 (good), Phosphorous= 100 (trout are happy), Temperature= 59 degrees (trout are happy).  Clear water.  Mid-stage level.  There was a recent local thunderstorm.

Little Cannon
  • Team of Hillary Pennalla (Captain), Rick Phetsavong, Ron Richardson, and Ginger Flaten
  • July 16, 2023.  Water quality:  Ph= 7.0 (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80.0 (trout are happy), Hardness= 0 (low), nitrate= 50 (high), nitrite= 3 (high), phosphorous= 100 (moderately high), temperature= 68 degrees (moderately high), water clarity is clear, water level is mid-stage, and there were now recent weather events.  

Mall of America Creek
  • Team of Harold Slawik and Veronica Bauer
  • July 10, 2023.  Water quality:  Ph= 8 (Good), Alkalinity= 180 (Good), Hardness = 120 (Good), Nitrate= 1.0 (Good), Nitrite= 0 (Good), Phosphorus= 0.0 (trout are happy), Temperature= 65 degrees (trout are happy), the water clarity was clear, the banks were at mid-stage, and there was no recent weather event.
Picture
Doug Moran had a bit of a surprise on the South Branch of the Vermillion when this snapper appeared.
South Branch Vermillion
  • Team of Doug Moran (Captain), Thomas Walkington (Captain), John Klesch, Matt Kleinheinz, Rowe Winecoff, and Joe Page
  • July 17, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 8.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 180 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 50.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.3 (moderate), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 61 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there was no recent weather event.
  • August 4, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 120 (trout are happy), Hardness= 120.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 5.0 (Moderate), Nitrite= 0.3 (moderate), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 64 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.

Trout Brook
  • Team of Matt Lowe (Captain), Dan Erickson, Andy McRae, and Rick Varco.
  • June 3, 2023.  Water quality:   pH= 7.5 (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80.0 (trout are happy), Hardness= 120.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 20 (high), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 100.0 (fair), Temperature= 55 degrees (trout are happy).  Water was clear with baseflow water level. 

General Anglers
“General” Streamkeepers are busy conducting more random and spontaneous monitoring of streams in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

General Streamkeepers - Minnesota

Middle Fork Whitewater River
  • July 7, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 8.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 180 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 20.0 (High), Nitrite= 1.5 (high), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 58 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.

South Branch Root River
  • July 24, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.5, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 10.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.0 (a bit high), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.

South Fork Root River
  • July 10, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 8.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 180 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 10.0 (high), Nitrite= 10.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 68 degrees (a bit high).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.

West Indian Creek
  • July 28, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 40 (a bit low), Hardness= 120.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 5.0 (Moderate), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 62 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.

General Streamkeepers - Wisconsin

Borst Valley Creek (2 Readings on the same day)
  • July 20, 2023.  Water quality:  Temperature was 57 degrees.
  • July 20, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.5, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80 (trout are happy), Hardness= 120.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 20.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 100.0 (good), Temperature= 64 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was murky, level was baseflow, and there was a recent thunderstorm.  

Buffalo River
  • JULY 18, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 6.0, (LOW), Alkalinity= 40 (LOW), Hardness= 30.0 (low), Nitrate= 5.0 (moderate), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 100.0 (good), Temperature= 63 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.  

Elk Creek
  • AUGUST 1, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80 (trout are happy), Hardness= 0.0 (low), Nitrate= 2.0 (trout are happy), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 300.0 (high), Temperature= 62 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events. 

Kinni
  • AUGUST 1, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.5, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 80 (trout are happy), Hardness= 120.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 20.0 (high), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 60 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events.  There was bank erosion, trash, and pipe/ drain outflow.

Trout Creek
  • JULY 24, 2023.  Water quality:  pH= 7.0, (trout are happy), Alkalinity= 180 (trout are happy), Hardness= 180.0 (trout are happy), Nitrate= 5.0 (moderate), Nitrite= 0.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorus= 0.0 (good), Temperature= 51 degrees (trout are happy).  The water clarity was clear, level was baseflow, and there were no recent weather events. 

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