Streamkeepers Update: October 2025

by Jim Sauter
Greetings from TCTU Streamkeepers.  Welcome to October.
 
"Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with people who are doing something you don't believe is right."  Jane Goodall, English Primatologist and Anthropologist, April 3, 1934- October 1, 2025
 
Let the dialogue continue as we strive to make a difference preserving our cold water resources and fisheries.  
The TCTU Streamkeepers are winding down our season as we monitor streams until the end of October.  Once the temperatures start creeping below 0 degrees C, the accuracy of some of our tests diminish.  We continue taking water temperatures, salt tests, and water clarity testing, but this is done on a much more random basis through late fall, winter, and early spring months.  Our "official" 2026 monitoring season will start up again next April.
Our Streamkeepers are ending the season with a "SPLASH."  We have already set a new single season record of 111 monitoring observations for 2025, and we still have the rest of October.  Last year we had a total of 75 observations, so we have already exceeded that number by 36 observations.  This data is added to the Izaak Walton League Clean Water Hub and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency databases.  This gives us  the bigger picture about what is happening in our streams in Minnesota and beyond.
To add a bit of excitement to our monitoring efforts as we conclude the 2025 season, we have launched the September/ October Splash.  During this time, we are challenging all Streamkeepers and TCTU members to get out there and make some observations.  You can help TCTU characterize the water quality conditions and identify stream disturbances throughout the 8 targeted TCTU streams and beyond.  

Do you want to join the effort?  Easy.  You can simply take one or more readings on a stream in the coming weeks in October and enter the data on our Google form.  If you do not have a kit, you can still enter by just taking the water temperature and water clarity observations and leaving the other entries blank.  The form is here
 
As a bonus, if you monitor a stream one or more times in September or October, you will be eligible to win a prize.  Once you have submitted an entry on the Google Form, you are eligible.  The prizes will include a $25 gift certificate from Orvis and some TCTU merchandise.  
 
A drawing will be held in early November, and winners will be notified by email.  Prizes include a $25 gift card from Orvis and some TCTU merchandise.
 
Let's end our 2025 monitoring season with a Splash!  
 
(Credit to Dan Dauwalter, Sara Strassman, the Hiawatha Chapter of TU, and Carter Borden for coming up with a similar idea with the September Blitz using the WiseH2O app)
 
STEAMKEEPER READINGS
The 2025 stream monitoring season is about 90% complete.  Currently, we have 111 chemical readings for the year.

• Water Temperatures.  Our TCTU streams are cooling down.  All stream temps were near or below 60 degrees F except for Browns Creek that came in at a whooping 71 degrees F on September 17.  The 90 degree air temperature days in October are becoming more common.
• Nitrate Levels.  The nitrate levels continue to be a concern with the numbers ticking up slightly at Belle Creek, Hay Creek, and the South Branch of the Whitewater. 
• Salt/ Chloride Levels.  We had high levels at the MOA/ Ike's Creek and South Branch of the Vermillion.
• Phosphate, Alkalinity, and Hardness.  All numbers are looking good.

 
BELLE CREEK
Observer:  Dean Albrecht, 9/22/25
·      Weather=  Overcast
·      Water Clarity= Muddy
·      Water Temperature=  16.1 degrees C, 61 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  5 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  240 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8
·      Phosphate=  0 ppm
·      Chloride=  Not recorded
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= Pipe/ Drain Outflow
·      Notes=  1.5 inches of rain previous evening
 
 
BROWNS CREEK
Observer:  Fred Schulze, 9/17/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Clear, 80 cm
·      Water Temperature=  21.5 degrees C, 71 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  0 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  180 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8
·      Phosphate=  50 ppm
·      Chloride=  Not recorded
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= Pipe/ Drain Outflow
·      Notes=  Stream level way down
 
EAGLE CREEK
Observer:  Todd Christenson, 9/26/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Clear, Secchi tube= 100 cm
·      Water Temperature=  15.1 degrees C,  59 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  0 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  220 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8.0
·      Phosphate=  0 ppm
·      Chloride=  60 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  None
 
HAY CREEK- 305th St
Observer:  Mitch Abbett, 10/6/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Murky
·      Water Temperature=  12.5 degrees C,  54 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  5 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  240 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8.0
·      Phosphate=  100 ppb
·      Chloride=  25 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  Perfect color. Beautiful shape. Fish abundant and frisky
 
HAY CREEK- 320th St
Observer:  Mitch Abbett, 10/6/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Murky
·      Water Temperature=  12.6 degrees C, 55 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  2 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  180 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  7.5
·      Phosphate=  100 ppb
·      Chloride=  25 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  Perfect color, excellent flow
 
HAY CREEK- 325th St
Observer:  Mitch Abbett, 10/6/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Murky
·      Water Temperature=  11.5 degrees C, 53 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  5 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  180 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  7.5
·      Phosphate=  0 ppb
·      Chloride=  25 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  Beautiful shape
 
LITTLE CANNON RIVER
Observer:  Ginger Flaten, 9/30/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity= Murky
·      Water Temperature= 17.22 degrees C, 63 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  3 ppm, Improved over last month
·      Nitrite=  .0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  240 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8
·      Phosphate=  0 ppb
·      Chloride=  25 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= Erosion
·      Notes= Water was much clearer than previous visits. Small amount of trash
 
MALL OF AMERICA/ IKE'S CREEK
Observer:  Veronica Bauer, 10/4/25
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity=  Clear, Secchi Tube= 60 cm
·      Water Temperature=  15 degrees C, 59 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  2 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  240 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8.0
·      Phosphate=  0 ppb
·      Chloride=  264 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  None
 
TROUT BROOK
Observer:  Brian Siemens, 9/17/25
·      Weather=  Overcast
·      Water Clarity= Clear
·      Water Temperature=  11 degrees C, 52 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  0 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  240 ppm
·      Hardness=  60 ppm
·      pH=  6
·      Phosphate=  200 ppb
·      Chloride=  Not recorded
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  None
 
 
VERMILLION RIVER, SOUTH BRANCH
Observer:  Rowe Winecoff, 10/4/25 
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity=  Clear, Secchi Tube = 100 cm
·      Water Temperature=  14 degrees C, 57 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  5 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  180 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  7.5
·      Phosphate=  .5 ppb
·      Chloride=  275 ppm
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None
·      Notes=  Water level low but stream is free flowing
 
WHITEWATER, SOUTH BRANCH
Observer:  Mike Tanguay, 10/3/25 
·      Weather=  Sunny
·      Water Clarity=  Clear
·      Water Temperature=  14.22 degrees C, 58 degrees F
·      Nitrate=  10 ppm
·      Nitrite=  0 ppm
·      Alkalinity=  180 ppm
·      Hardness=  180 ppm
·      pH=  8
·      Phosphate=  0 ppb
·      Chloride=  Not recorded
·      Dissolved Oxygen=  Not recorded
·      Stream Disturbances= None

• Notes=  None

 
That's all for now.  Tight lines.
 
Jim Sauter, TCTU Streamkeeper Coordinator
 
Photos #1:  Bycatch!
​Photo by Jim Sauter, Common Northern Water Snake accidently caught on a back cast using a #18 Primrose & Pearl midge on the Rush River, Wisconsin on 9/8/25.  Non- venomous, will bite, saliva contains a hemotoxic anticoagulant which can cause more bleeding to occur but generally poses little risk to humans.

Photos #2:  Fall Colors
Photos by Jim Sauter.  Fall colors are starting to pop!  The pre-spawning colors of Brown and Brook trout are amazing this time of year!