Swan Creek, Yahara River and Lake Monona Watershed (LR08)
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Swan Creek, Yahara River and Lake Monona Watershed (LR08)
Swan Creek (803800)
4.44 Miles
0 - 4.44
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Dane
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
WWSF

Overview

Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.

Swan Creek flows from Lake Delavan through the city of Delavan to its confluence with Turtle Creek. Urban runoff from the city of Delavan affects this 4.8-mile-long creek. The stream is listed as a default classification, or warm water sport fishery.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Swan Creek -T6N, RI0E, Sec. 7, Surface acres = 2, Length = 2 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 16.1 ft/mile,
Base discharge = 1.1 cfs.
Swan Creek is a small tributary to the Yahara River that originates in Sections 11 and 14 of Fitchburg Township (T6N, R9E) and empties into the southwestern tip of Lake Waubesa. It drains 7 square miles of cropland and disturbed sedge/cattail marsh land known as the Southern Waubesa Wetlands. The stream has been extensively ditched. Swan Creek has a moderate gradient but a low base discharge. Its waters arise from marsh seepage, runoff, and springs. Fertiilty is very high. Swan Creek supports a limited forage fishery of brook stickleback and Johnny darter, although fish from Lake Waubesa migrate up the lower end of the stream. Recreational value is lImited due to low flow.
FIsh species: northern pIke, white sucker, brown bullhead, brook stickleback, and Johnny darter.

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

A seepage fed warm water stream originating near Orfordville, flowing east and then south to empty into Taylor Creek. The stream receives runoff from about 12 square miles of crop land and the lower one-half has been ditched. The fishery is composed of forage species only. Adjoining fresh meadow wetland totals 696 acres, 10 percent of which is wooded.

The wetland area supports a fair pheasant population. Access is available from three town roads and two state highway crossings.Surface Acres = 7.01, Miles = 6.5, Gradient = 14.9 feet per mile.

From: Ball, Joseph R., and Ronald J. Poff, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Rock County, Department of Natural Resources, 1970.

Date  1961

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
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.