Dane, Rock
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.
Saunders Creek rises in southeast Dane County and flows 10 miles south to join the Rock River south of Edgerton. It is a meandering creek draining 36 miles of predominately agricultural lands. Parts of the creek have been ditched and wetlands drained in its watershed. Polluted runoff from pastures and barnyards and erosion from fields--exacerbated by the ditching--carry sediments to the stream, affecting water quality. Some remnant wet meadows between Edgerton and Albion and above Albion still exist, providing limited Northern pike spawning habitat wetlands.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Saunders Creek -T5N, RI2E, Sec. 33, Surface acres = 11, Length = 10 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 5 ft/mile, Base discharge = 3.6 cfs.
Saunders Creek originates near Utica (Sec. 19) in Christiana Township, and flows south to meet the Rock River in Rock County. It is a meandering creek with a low gradient and drains 36 square miles of agricultural lands in southern Dane County. Many parts of the creek have been ditched in order to drain the wet meadows and shallow marshes that were once plentiful in the watershed (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a). Nonpoint pollution from farms and erosion from ditching present problems for elevated alkalinity and conductivity readings. Northern pike spawn in its associated marshes. Some panfish and many species of forage fish also inhabit the creek. Four road crossings offer pulic access.
Fish species: central mudminnow, central stoneroller, common carp, brassy minnow, hornyhead chub, common and bigmouth shiner, northern redbelly dace, bluntnose and fathead minnow, creek chub, pearl dace, white sucker, black bullhead, stonecat, brook stickleback, green sunfish, fantail 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
From: Ball, Joseph R., and Ronald J. Poff, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Rock County, Department of Natural Resources, 1970.
Section 15 (8,3), Surface Acres = 12.5, Miles = 4.3, Gradient = 13.9 feet per mile.
A warm water stream originating in Dane County, entering Rock County north of Edgerton, flowing through Edgerton and then south to the Rock River. ~1anaged for forage species, though fair numbers of northern pike are present and provide some angling opportunities. Pollution is a threat to fish populations, since one small village and a large milk processing plant in Dane County and the Village of Edgerton in Rock County discharge treated wastes into the stream. There are 17 acres of adjoining shallow marsh wetland near the Rock River. Access is available from five city streets and two state highway crossings. It is also possible to enter Saunders Creek from the Rock River.
Date 1970
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
|---|
|
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 808000 | Saunders Creek | 10016408 | Saunders Creek at Edgerton | 9/30/1998 | 9/30/1998 | Map | Data |
| 808000 | Saunders Creek | 10040598 | Saunders Creek 0.5 mi NE of CTH N and Stoughton Rd | 5/22/2003 | 10/29/2003 | Map | Data |
| 808000 | Saunders Creek | 543053 | Saunders Creek at Sth 59 Brg | | | Map | Data |
| 808000 | Saunders Creek | 10010460 | Saunders Creek - Saunders Creek Upstream Of Swift Street | 11/6/2003 | 6/18/2024 | Map | Data |
| 808000 | Saunders Creek | 10040597 | Saunders Creek at Chaucer St | 6/14/2004 | 10/20/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Saunders Creek is located in the Lower Koshkonong Creek watershed which is 265.61 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (54.20%), wetland (11.60%) and a mix of grassland (10.50%) and other uses (23.70%). This watershed has 283.47 stream miles, 1,735.65 lake acres and 18,171.94 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.