Little Sugar River, Little Sugar River Watershed (SP14)
Little Sugar River, Little Sugar River Watershed (SP14)
Little Sugar River (880100)
3.86 Miles
26.76 - 30.62
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2021
Good
 
Dane, Green
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
Yes
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The river for which this watershed is named begins in southern Dane County and runs 28 miles before merging with the Sugar River at the Albany Millpond. Although warm water forage species dominate the lower 19 miles from the mouth up to the Sugar River State Trail, this portion of the river is managed as a warm water sport fishery. Gamefish and panfish, while not abundant, are present in this stretch of the river (Surface Waters of Green Co.). Approximately 1,200 acres of wetlands adjoin the lower portion of the river as part of the Albany State Wildlife Area, which provides valuable habitat for wildlife, buffers the stream and provides other important wetland functional values.

Six miles of river above New Glarus, a stretch commonly known as the New Glarus Branch, is managed as a Class II trout stream and is classified as an ERW. Brown trout are stocked in this section of stream wherever the habitat is suitable (Bush, pers comm).

The New Glarus wastewater treatment facility discharges to this river. In year, the village built a new facility in order to eliminate problems caused by its previous aging plant. The new facility has not had problems meeting its Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit limits. In summer of 2002, a fish kill occurred on a small section of stream in New Glarus due to chlorine to disinfection of the village’s new waterlines. Approximately 200 fish were killed including a dozen brown trout.

A 2002 fish and habitat survey conducted above New Glarus showed various year classes of brown trout and cold water forage species, but overall the stream lacks good habitat. The fishery may respond favorably to habitat work and reduction in sediment load to the stream.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Sugar River (New Glarus Branch) -T5N, R7E, Sec. 32, Surface acres = 1.5, Length = 2 miles, Stream order = I, Gradient = 7.5 ft/mile, Base discharge = 1.6 cfs.
The Little Sugar River is a small spring-fed stream originating in southwestern Dane County and flowing south to the Sugar River in Green County. Pastured land dominates the watershed. The stream bottom is gravel, sand, and silt. Many species of aquatic plants are found in the stream including arrowhead, flat-leaved pondweed, Elodea sp., watercress, speedwell, and bulrush. Water quality is good in Dane County, though overgrazing and streambank erosion are problems. It is managed as a Class III trout stream. Good populations of forage fish are present. Access is provided by one road crossing in the county.
Fish species: redside dace, fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, mottled sculpin, and brown trout.

From: Day Elizabeth A.; Grzebieniak, Gayle P.; Osterby, Kurt M.; and Brynildson, Clifford L., 1985. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

Date  1985

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Beginning in southern Dane County, the Little Sugar River runs through New Glarus and becomes quite large before it merges with the Sugar River at the Albany Millpond. The watershed consists mainly of cropland, pasture and hardwood forest, although the lower end of the river flows through a sizable wetlands area. Bank erosion is heavy in some of the pastured areas, and several stretches have been ditched. Silt and muck are the primary bottom types although gravel runs are common above New Glarus. In Green County, a total of two unnamed and eight named streams enter the Little Sugar River, of which three (Hammerly Creek, Ward Creek and the Little Sugar River west Branch) are trout streams.

The entire stream above Section 24 (locally referred to as New Glarus Branch) is managed as Class II trout water, although there is very little natural reproduction below New Glarus. Current management is for brown trout although rainbow trout were stocked prior to 1960. r"1anagement below New Glarus is for warm water species with the fishery being dominated by forage species. Gamefish and panfish are not abundant, but those found include --brown trout, northern pike," catfish, smallmouth bass, green sunfish and black bullheads. The redside dace, a special concern species in Wisconsin, is also present.

Approximately 1,150 acres of wetlands adjoin the stream and provide a valuable habitat for muskrats, migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. Over 1,100 acres of state owned land in this area are part of the Albany Wildlife Area and furnish 17 miles of public frontage on the Little Sugar River. Fourteen public road bridges span the river, of which four above New Glarus provide the only public frontage on the trout waters. Additional public access is available in places from 14 miles of the Sugar River State Trail which parallels the river between New Glarus and Albany, and navigable water access can be achieved from Albany Millpond.

Fish Species: Brown trout, central mudminnow, northern pike, redside dace, spotfin shiner, sand shiner, bluntnose ~innow, fathead minnow, bullhead minnow, creek chub, quillback, white sucker, northern hog sucker, silver redhorse, shorthead redhorse, black bullhead, channel catfish, brook stickleback, green sunfish, smallmouth bass, Johnny darter, blackside darter, mottled sculpin. Surface Acres = 57.6, Length = 24.0 miles, Gradient = 2.2 ft./mi., Base Discharqe = 79.0 cu.

Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Little Sugar River, Little Sugar River Watershed (SP14) Fish and Aquatic LifeLittle Sugar River, Little Sugar River Watershed (SP14) RecreationLittle Sugar River, Little Sugar River Watershed (SP14) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Little Sugar River (miles 0-19) showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Little Sugar River (880100), from the mouth to Ward Creek, was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Hydrology, Morphology
Evaluate potential stream improvement project for channelized areas of the Little Sugar River. In progress through landowners and NRCS project.

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Little Sugar River is located in the Little Sugar River watershed which is 133.02 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (46.80%), grassland (32.10%) and a mix of forest (13.90%) and other uses (7.00%). This watershed has 351.74 stream miles, 50.40 lake acres and 3,252.10 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Little Sugar River is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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