Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22)
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Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22)
Seeley Creek (1275300)
13.12 Miles
0 - 13.12
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2022
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Biological Community
Total Phosphorus
 
Sauk
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

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

Overview

The upper 4 miles of Seeley Creek have been managed as stocked, trout water. Three of these miles are Class I and one mile is a Class II. The upper-most portion, until the mid 1980s, supported a little known, outstanding natural brown trout fishery. At that time the water level dropped drastically. Locals feel this decline is due to heavy blasting in a quarry near Rock Springs. Regardless, the water level decline was associated with a major reduction in this trout fishery.

During the 1990's, wild brown trout adults were transferred into this area and successful natural reproduction is once again occurring. Active farming of much of the upper watershed has disappeared and restricted land use easements (i.e. pasturing, cropping, and logging ) would now be appropriate on the surrounding land to preserve this "little gem." Downstream drift of natural reproduction of the upper area should increase the fishery downstream around Highway W. Farther down, the stream is impounded to create the 49-acre Seeley Lake, a eutrophic, weedy impoundment that supports a warm water sport fishery.

Date  2002

Author  Cynthia Koperski

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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.