Overview

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

Nine Springs Creek is six-miles long and is intermittent until just east of Fish Hatchery Road where it picks up flow from the springs that give the stream its name. It empties into the Yahara River just above Upper Mud Lake. Portions of the stream have been ditched and straightened, and the stream runs through an urbanizing area. Sediment is delivered to the stream from farm fields to the south and from construction sites in the cities of Fitchburg and Madison and their sub-watersheds. Channelization has increased summer water temperatures, reduced habitat, and increased sedimentation and excessive growth of aquatic plants (Marshall, 1990).

A Dane County Highway Department project in Fitchburg resulted in heavy sediment loading to the creek during the summer of 1989. The creek's heavy sediment load results in the lower portion occasionally requiring dredging. Urban storm water from the cities of Fitchburg and Madison also deliver pollutants to the creek. As the upper portions of the sub-watershed continue to be developed, this problem is expected to increase. These factors, plus its low gradient, cause “fair” water quality, with channel straightening having a devastating effect on water quality and habitat.

Detectable levels of mercury have been found in low concentrations in Nine Springs sediment taken at Moorland Road. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) sludge lagoons are adjacent to the stream. One of these lagoons is Superfund site. Citizens have raised concerns about the possibility of toxic substances leaking from the lagoons into Nine Springs Creek and Lake Waubesa. However, the possibility of mercury and other substances moving from the lagoon was evaluated in the Remedial Investigation (RI) conducted as part of the Superfund evaluations for the lagoon site. The RI report, which was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1995, concluded that no sludge constituents are migrating through the lagoon dike walls; no patterns between sludge and sediment constituents were found to indicate possible migration; the peat acts as a capture zone that restricts migration of sludge constituents to the aquifer beneath the lagoons; and groundwater is not affected by the lagoon sludge constituents (MMSD).

In 1996 the city of Fitchburg commissioned a private consultant to work with staff and the Nine Springs Neighborhood Plan Steering Committee to prepare a long-range land use and circulation plan for the Nine Springs Neighborhood. In addition, the 1996 UW-Madison's Water Resources Management Workshop, using a Lake Planning Grant from the WDNR, conducted a scoping study of the Nine Springs E-Way, including hydrologic monitoring and modeling and the identification of critical areas for protection, restoration and/or enhancement of the area's unique springs system (UW-Madison). In 1996 the Nine Springs Network (NSN), a grassroots watershed organization, was formed to protect the E-Way and the creek springs against developmental pressures.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Nine Springs Creek -T7N, RI0E, Sec. 29, Surface acres = 5.8, Length = 6 m1les, Stream order = II, Gradient = 3.3 ft/mile,
Base discharge = 0.1 cfs.
An intermittent outlet from Dunn's Marsh and Seminole Pond, Nine Springs Creek picks up flow in the Nine Springs area and from a small tributary in the Nevln Marsh before emptying into the Yahara River. Parts of the stream have been ditched and the overall gradient is low. Consequently, periods of low flow and warm temperatures occur in the summer. Overall water quality is poor. Runoff from agricultural lands contribute sediment to the stream, and several industries discharge wastewater. The Nevin Fish Hatchery releases 2 million gallons per day from its trout ponds and the quality is good. Large sludge ponds constructed by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District adjoin the stream near its mouth. The dikes have given way in the past, releasing water and sludge of high ammonia content to the stream. Sludge is now trucked away.
Forage fish are plentiful in Nine Springs Creek, and some escaped trout survive below the hatchery. Game fish are found near the mouth. Any attempt to improve the fishery would require a great deal of cooperation. Access is available at four road crossings and through several tracts of publicly owned land. State-owned lands east of the marsh provide habitat and hunting for deer, rabbits, and pheasants. Ducks use the Nevin Marsh extensively.
Fish species: bowfin, rainbow, brown, and brook trout, central mudminnow, common carp, brassy minnow, golden, emerald, common, spotfin and sand shiner, bluntnose and fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, black, yellow, and brown bullhead, brook sllverslde, brook stickleback, white and yellow bass, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, blueglll, smallmouth and largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch. walleye, and freshwater drum.

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

Impaired Waters

Nine Springs Creek (804200) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus and sediment/total suspended solids in 2004. The TMDL for both pollutants was approved by the U.S. EPA in 2011. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). This water was also assessed for temperature and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. 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

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

Nine Springs Creek is located in the Yahara River and Lake Monona watershed which is 93.73 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (24.80%), urban (23.90%) and a mix of agricultural (14.50%) and other uses (36.90%). This watershed has 101.97 stream miles, 6,275.33 lake acres and 5,158.72 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.