Columbia, Dodge
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Beaver Creek is the main waterbody that flows through this watershed. It is a 14-mile long low gradient tributary that has its origin west of the Village of Randolph and flows 6 miles southwest before turning northeast in the Paradise Marsh Wildlife area and flowing another 8 miles until it joins Beaver Dam Lake.
Beaver Creek rises in the Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area and is a tributary to Beaver Dam Lake. Cultivation and poor land management practices are extensive in this subwatershed. An intensive nonpoint source management effort is needed to improve the condition of the stream so that it can support a warm water sport fishery (WDNR, 1991).
From: Johnson, Ruth C., 2002. The State of the Rock River Basin. Upper Rock River Watershed Management Plans. PUBL # WT-668b-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI. and 2020 Beaver Dam TWA Report, Amrhein.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Beaver Creek is a small, low gradient stream tributary to Beaver Dam Lake in Dodge
County. The headwaters tributaries exhibit parallel drainage disciplined by
drumlins oriented in a northeast-southwest direction. Since wetland swale
drainage is the prime water source fluctuating water levels are an annual
problem. Under optimum conditions the stream supports forage species.
About five miles of stream have been straightened to speed drainage. Access
is possible at four highway crossings. A large 424-acre wetland extends for
several miles in the main stream valley. T12N, R12E, Section 24, Surface Acres = 8.13, Miles = 6.1, Gradient = 2.46 feet per mile.
From: Poff, Ronald J. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Columbia County: Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Department of Conservation, Madison, WI.
Date 1965
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
The Beaver Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; total phosphorus and the results clearly exceeded 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for Fish and Aquatic Life use. Biological data indicated impairment (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). This water was not meeting this designated use and is considered impaired. No listing change was required to this already impaired water.
Beaver Creek had already been assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the poor condition category).
Date 2017
Author Amanda Smith
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
Monitor Aquatic Biology
Fish IBI
Macroinvertebrates MIBI
DNI
Habitat and Flow
Management Plans
In 2017, the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association received a Lake Management Planning Grant to look at ways to protect/improve water quality and habitat of the lake. As part of this grant, students from the University of Wisconsin ? Madison Water Resource Management Program conducted a study to evaluate nutrient and sediment delivery from the watershed through Beaver Creek. In coordination with this project, the department initiated a targeted watershed assessment to obtain contemporary data on the fish, habitat, and macroinvertebrates of the streams in the watershed and potentially identify areas of management to help the gamefish and other non-game species to thrive in this agriculturally dominated watershed.
Date 2020
Author James Amrhein
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10007664 | Beaver Creek at Cth Fw | | | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10048828 | Beaver Crk at CTH G (upper crossing) | 7/25/2017 | 10/6/2017 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10048826 | Beaver Crk at CTH C | 7/25/2017 | 6/14/2025 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10048829 | Beaver Crk at CTH A | 7/25/2017 | 7/25/2017 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 143120 | Beaver Creek at CTH G | 7/20/1973 | 8/23/2021 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10030028 | Beaver Creek at State Road 73 | 11/6/2009 | 10/6/2017 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10049276 | Beaver Creek US County Road DG | 5/26/2017 | 10/6/2017 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10048825 | Beaver Crk at Hollnagel Rd | 7/26/2017 | 10/10/2017 | Map | Data |
| 836500 | Beaver Creek | 10021222 | Beaver Creek At Cth Cd | 8/1/2007 | 7/7/2022 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Beaver Creek is located in the Beaver Dam River watershed which is 290.25 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (62.90%), wetland (13.80%) and a mix of grassland (9.50%) and other uses (13.90%). This watershed has 421.30 stream miles, 3,607.03 lake acres and 29,349.96 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.