loadings in the rural areas be carried out throughout the watershed. The type
of practices recommended to be considered for this level of nonpoint source
control are summarized in Appendix A.
It is further recommended that local agencies charged with responsibility for
nonpoint source pollution control prepare refined and detailed local-level
nonpoint source pollution control plans to identify the nonpoint source pollution
control practices that should be applied to specific lands in the most cost-
effective manner.    In this regard, the watershed should be included in the
Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed Pollution Abatement Program in order
to make State cost-sharing programs available for nonpoint source pollution
control measures. The current priority ranking of watersheds for inclusion in
that program is documented in a memorandum report4 prepared by the Regional
Planning Commission using Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources procedures
and is summarized in Chapter XVIII.       That ranking included the Oak Creek
watershed in the high category, indicating that inclusion in the program will be
possible within a reasonable time from when the existing planning projects are
completed, or additional funds and staff become available within the Department
of Natural Resources.
WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN ELEMENT
Existing Conditions and Status of Implementation
While substantial progress has been made in the regional water quality management
plan elements described in the previous sections, the most direct measure of the
impact of plan implementation on water quality conditions can only be achieved
by a well-planned areawide water quality and biological condition monitoring
program.
As of 1993, long-term monitoring has been carried out in the Oak Creek watershed
on a sustained basis by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) at
seven stations located on the Oak Creek main stem.      Data from four of these
stations were used to document current long-term water quality conditions in the
watershed, as shown on Map X-5. Short-term monitoring was also conducted at one
site on the North Branch of Oak Creek in this watershed by the Wisconsin Depart-
ment of Natural Resources during the period 1988 through 1993, as shown on Map
X-5 and described later in this chapter.
Current Plan Recommendation
Increased water quality and biological condition monitoring will be needed in the
watershed to document current conditions and to demonstrate water quality
condition changes over time. It is recommended that water quality data collec-
tion be continued by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District at the current
stations on Oak Creek on a continuing basis. This program is considered adequate
for the assessment of water quality conditions on the main stem of Oak Creek.
In addition, it is recommended that an intensive water quality and biological
condition monitoring program be conducted over a one-year period at two selected
additional stations located on the major tributaries of Oak Creek, with one
station each being located on the North Branch of Oak Creek and the Mitchell
Field Drainage Ditch.    During this one-year period, it is recommended that
biological monitoring also be conducted at the sites for which water quality data
4See SEWRPC Memorandum entitled, "Assessment and Ranking of Watersheds for
Nonpoint Source Management Purposes in Southeastern Wisconsin: 1993."

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