Green, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
SP03
900700
0.00 - 4.06
4.06
Water is impaired due to one or more pollutants and associated quality impacts.
Notes
On NR104 Phase II list. TMDL approved 2005.Pollutant
Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
Listed For
Fish and Aquatic Life
Impairments
Degraded Habitat
Current Use
Unsupported Aquatic Life
Listing Status
TMDL Approved
Attainable Use
Coldwater - aquatic life, spawning
Priority
Not Applicable
Designated Use
Coldwater - aquatic life, spawning
303(d) ID
57
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
This stream originates in Green County and flows westward primarily through pastureland. It enters Lafayette County where it converges with the East Branch Pecatonica River. The warm water forage stream is on the state’s list of impaired waters, but has the potential to be a cool-cold water stream. A fish shocking survey conducted in 1990 showed the presence of tolerant and very tolerant warm water forage fish species. Macroinvertebrate sampling conducted that same year indicated “very good” water quality although the streambank substrate was predominantly sand and streambank erosion reduced habitat (Marshall, 1991). The objectives of the priority watershed project were to improve wildlife habitat, increase diversity of forage species, protect and restore wetlands and to reduce bank erosion.
Sampling in 2007 generally confirmed what was reported during the 1990’s. Even though the stream is stocked routinely with brown, brook and rainbow trout, there does not appear to be much carry-over from year to year. Tolerant fish dominate the assemblage though no species is present in very high numbers. This is likely due to lack of habitat rather that water quality. The stream meanders through wet meadow and agricultural land. The HBI continues to indicate low organic loading and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, an indicator of high groundwater flow, dominate the macroinvertebrate assemblage. The stream may be too cool to harbor a large variety of eurythermal species with a preference for warmer water, and devoid enough of habitat needed to accommodate cool/coldwater indicators and especially top level predators. Braezels Branch should remain on the list of impaired waters. If the department continues stocking the stream, regular surveys should be conducted to determine survivability of the trout. (J.Amrhein, 2010)
Date
3/27/2010
Impaired Water Notes
Braezels Branch (900700, miles 0-4.06) is part of the Sugar-Pecatonica River Basin and the sediment TMDLs were approved by the USEPA August 24, 2005.
Date
4/25/2005