Streamkeeper Report - May 2023

Greetings from your TCTU stream-keepers, and welcome to the spring 2023 season.  We look forward to expanding our “targeted” streams and will be monitoring these streams in 2023:  Belle Creek, Eagle Creek, Hay Creek 320th St, Hay Creek 325th St., Little Cannon, Mall of America Creek, South Branch Vermillion, and Trout Brook.  In addition, we have several “general” Streamkeepers monitoring other streams on a more random and spontaneous manner.  In the coming months, we hope to give you updates on stream conditions in the TCTU area and beyond.  

Streamkeeper Tip of the Month
Are you having difficulty downloading the WISEH2O app on your smartphone?  If so, contact Carter Borden at:  
Carter Borden, at carter@mobileh2o.com

Do you need to order WISEh2O supplies, kits, or test strips?  Please note that the online store will reopen sometime this summer.  In the meantime, supplies can be ordered from:  
Jean Barney at Jean.Barney@tu.org

Below are our latest reports!

Targeted Streamkeepers
Our “targeted” Streamkeepers are monitoring Belle, Eagle, Hay Creek, Little Cannon, Mall of America, South Branch Vermillion, and Trout Brook Creeks.

Belle Creek

• Team of Dean Albrecht (Captain), Paul Frank, and Todd Hustad.  
• This is our second year of monitoring Belle Creek. The stream is located south of the Welch Village Ski Area and north of Highway 19.  I visited Belle Creek recently, and the clear beautiful stream had a number of yellow rumped Warblers dancing over the stream.  I have included one picture of the Belle.  
• May 2, 2023 -  Water quality:  pH= 7.5 (Trout are happy), Alkalinity= 0.0 (Low reading), Hardness= 60.0 (trout are happy), Phosphorous= 100 (Good), Temperature = 54-55 degrees (trout are happy).  Water clarity was very clear, water level was mid-stage, and there were no significant weather conditions to report.  

Eagle Creek

• Team of Thor Benson and Southwest Christian High School students.
• Eagle Creek has been added to our “targeted” monitoring list for 2023.  The site was just added to the WISEH2O app and is located south of the 101 Frontage Road west of Savage near the Eagle Creek Water Management Area.  We have done some habitat work here, and we are looking forward to getting some data on stream health.  

Hay Creek

• Team of Mike Stinson (Captain), Keith Ketchmark, Josh O’Tool, Larry Olson, and Mitch Abbett.
• This is our third year of monitoring Hay Creek.  The stream is located just south of Red Wing and west of highway 58 with two monitoring stations that have been “flagged” on the WISEH2O app at 320th St. and 350th St.  When studying bugs from Hay Creek at Goodhue Ag Day in early April, we were please to find Alderflies and even a BWO hatched in the classroom.  Recent habitat work by the DNR is paying dividends!!

Little Cannon

• Team of Hillary Pennalla (Captain), Rick Phetsavong, Ron Richardson, and Ginger Flaten.
• This is our second year monitoring this stream, and there was a Little Cannon River Dedication Ceremony on April 12th dedication celebrating the upcoming work that will be done on Little Cannon in the area just south of County Highway 49 Blvd.

Mall of America Creek

• Team of Harold Slawik and Veronica Bauer.
• This is our second year of monitoring this steam that is located very close to the Mall of America and has about a mile stretch of some healthy Brook trout that we hope to preserve and protect. 
• April 21, 2023 -  pH= 7.5, Alkalinity= 180, Hardness= 180, Nitrate=1.0 , Nitrite= 0.0 , Phosphorus= 0.0, Temperature= 52 degrees.  Water clarity was clear, the banks were at bank full stage, and there was a recent rainfall.  The trout are happy!
• May 4, 2023 -  pH= 8.0, Alkalinity= , Hardness=, Nitrate= , Nitrite= , Phosphorus= Temperature= 62 degrees.  The water clarity was clear, the banks were at the bank full stage, and there was no significant weather condition.  The trout are happy in these conditions.

South Branch Vermillion

• Doug Moran (Captain), Thomas Walkington (Captain), John Klesch, Matt Kleinheinz, Rowe Winecoff, and Joe Page are the volunteer stream keepers for the South Branch of the Vermillion River.
• This is our third year of monitoring this stream.  Located south of Coates off highway 52, the stream has been the site of extensive stream restoration in recent years.  
• May 6, 2023 - We conducted some on stream training using the WISEH2O app and found all water quality readings in the normal range.  The water temperature was 54 degrees, and the water was murky from recent rainfall.  

Trout Brook

• Team of Matt Lowe (Captain), Dan Erickson, Andy McRae, and Rick Varco.
• This is our third-year monitoring Trout Brook, and the stream is located near Miesville Ravine Park Reserve.  The monitoring site is flagged on the WISEH2O site.
• May 2, 2023 - pH= 7.5, Alkalinity= 120.0,  , Hardness= 120.0, , Nitrate= 2.0, Nitrite= 0.0 , Phosphorus= 0.0, Temperature= 57 degrees.  The trout are happy in these conditions.  

General Anglers
“General” Streamkeepers are busy conducting more random and spontaneous monitoring of streams in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Our General Streamkeepers are already very busy!!!! Here are some of those observations in April 2023…

General Streamkeepers - Minnesota
Rush Creek

• May 2, 2023 -  pH= 8.0, Alkalinity= 180.0, Hardness= 180.0, Nitrate= 2.0, Nitrite= 0.0. Phosphorous= 0.0, Temperature= 53 degrees.  Water clarity was clear, water level was base flow with no significant weather conditions, and stream conditions had erosion.  Trout are happy!
• May 2, 2023 -  2nd Reading at a different location.  pH= 8.0, Alkalinity= 180.0, Hardness=, Nitrate= , Nitrite= , Phosphorus= Temperature= 62 degrees.  clarity was clear, water level was mid-stage, weather had regional rainfall. The trout are happy in these conditions.

Pine Creek

• May 2, 2023 -  pH= 7.0, Alkalinity= 180.0, Hardness= 180.0, Nitrate= 2.0, Nitrite= 0.0, Phosphorus= 0.0, Temperature= 50 degrees.  clarity was clear, water level was baseflow, and there was no significant weather event.  The trout are happy in these conditions.

Peterson Hatchery Area.

• May 2, 2023 -  pH= 7.5, Alkalinity= 80.0, Hardness= 180, Nitrate= 0.0, Nitrite= 0.0 , Phosphorus= 0.0, Temperature= 47 degrees.  Water clarity was clear, water level was baseflow, weather had no significant events, and there was bank erosion.  The trout are happy in these conditions.

Badger Creek

• March 9, 2023 -  pH= 7.0, Alkalinity= 120.0, Hardness= 180.0, Nitrate= 10.0 (a bit high), Nitrite= 10.0 (a bit high), Phosphorus= 100.0 Temperature= 44 degrees.  Water clarity was clear, water level was baseflow, and there was no significant weather event.  The trout are fairly happy in these conditions even with elevated nitrate levels.

Root River

• May 2, 2023 -  pH= 8.0, Alkalinity= 180.0, Hardness= 180.0, Nitrate= 5.0 (a bit high), Nitrite= 0.0, Phosphorus= 0.0, Temperature= 47 degrees.  clarity was clear, water level was baseflow. The trout are happy in these conditions.

Torkelson Creek

• May 2, 2023 -  pH= 7.5, Alkalinity= 180.0, Hardness= 180.0, Nitrate= .5 , Nitrite= 0.0, Phosphorus= 0.0,  Temperature= 47 degrees.  Water clarity was clear, water level was baseflow. The trout are happy in these conditions.

General Streamkeepers - Wisconsin
Elk Creek (Eau Claire area)

• May 3, 2023 -  pH= 6.0, (a bit low), Alkalinity= 40.0 ( a bit low), Hardness= 30.0 ( a bit low), Phosphorus= 53.0, Temperature= 53 degrees.  clarity was clear, water level was mid-stage. The stream conditions are not the best, but trout seem to still be thriving.

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Are you interested in becoming a stream-keeper?  Those who are interested in TCTU Streamkeeper and WiseH2O App monitoring in 2023 can take the steps indicated below.  Also, online training and onsite training is available.

Download the WiseH2O App:  Android and iPhone versions of the WiseH2O App are available for free download at the Google Play Store and Apple Store (search WiseH2O). Instructions for downloading the WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide, located on the MobileH2O website: https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp.

Complete On-Line Training:  Detailed on-line instructions for use of the WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide and the Video Tutorial for Using the WiseH2O App, both located on the MobileH2O website: https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp

For more information on the TCTU Streamkeeper Pilot Project, please contact Jim Sauter at:  jim.sauter@twincitiestu.org.