Overview

Spring Creek is located in southeastern Green County and is part of the Lower Sugar River watershed. Originating
south of Juda, it flows to the east for ten miles before it drains into the Sugar River, south of Brodhead. Spring Creek
flows mainly through agricultural land, and much of the stream length had been ditched for cropland drainage. The
lower ten miles of the stream are currently listed on the 303(d) list for degraded habitat due to sedimentation from nonpoint
sources. A habitat evaluation was conducted above the CTH G bridge crossing in 2002 and found that about 48%
of the substrate in the surveyed section was composed of fine sediment, which is considered to be “fair” habitat based
on the Department’s habitat rating guidelines. Width to depth ratios averaged 16:1 for this segment of the stream,
which is also considered to be “fair” habitat quality.
A 2002 fish survey, about three miles upstream of where Spring Creek meets the Sugar River, found one brown trout
(25.5 inches) two northern pike (15.5, 21.5 inches) and 16 other minnow and forage species, of which, white sucker
and common shiner were most abundant. Two brassy minnows, which are cool-water indicators, were also seen
during this survey. The HBI score, based on a macroinvertebrate sample taken in 2002, was 5.422, which suggests
“good” water quality with some organic pollution. Currently, Spring Creek is listed as a warm water forage fishery;
however, it has the potential to become a warm water sport fishery. Buffer strips and bank stabilization would
enhance this stream.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

Spring Creek is an impaired (303d) water. The stream flows through highly agricultural land and suffers from streambank erosion. It is turbid even in times of low flow (Amrhein, 2001). Much of its length has been ditched for cropland drainage. The stream currently supports a warm water forage fishery, but has the potential to support sport fish. The stream has not been monitored in the last 10 years.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.

Oakley Branch and an unnamed stream join the headwaters of Spring Creek and drain a broad, gently sloping, flat-bottomed valley. The stream then flows eastward and joins the Sugar River near the Rock County line. In the upper end of its watershed, Spring Creek is fairly steep and meanders through pasture experiencing severe
~Fn-k erosion. Bank cover, where present, consists of grass and sedges. The bottom is primarily gravel and sand, with riffle areas and a few deep scour holes. The lower end of the stream is deep, broad and sluggish and the water is.usually turbid. Its flat bottom is primarily silt with lesser amounts of sand. Most of.its length has been ditched for cropland drainage. Erosion is prevalent in some areas, although bands of trees
and shrubs, lnterspersed with herbaceous plants, line the banks.
An abundant and diverse assemblage of forage fish inhabit Spring Creek, dominated by white suckers and creek chubs. Game fish are limited to the few northern pike and smallmouth bass that move up from the Sugar River.
A 1974 survey found one brown trout. Muskrats are common and 15 acres of adjoining wetlands provide habitat for mallards, teal, wood ducks and coots. A variety of wildlife is present on the Brodhead Wildlife Area
which alsd provides 3.85 miles of stream frontage. Other public access is available from seven road crossings.
Fish Species: Brown trout, northern pike, stoneroller unspecified, carp, hornyhead chub, common shiner,
bigmouth shiner, rosyface shiner, spotfin shiner, sand shiner, suckermouth minnow, southern redbelly dace, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, northern hog sucker, silver redhorse, shorthead redhorse, stonecat, brook stickleback, smallmouth bass, rainbow darter, fantail darter, Johnny darter, banded darter, blackside darter.
Surface Acres = 19.2, Length = 10.0 Miles, Gradient = 13 ft./mi., Base Discharge = 12.9 cu. ft./sec.

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

From: Poff, Ronald J., and C.W. Threinen, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison I, 1961.

Flows northeast into the Suger River. Managed for forage fish. Accessible through public hunting and fishing grounds. One of the small feeders is sometimes referred to locally as "Oakley Creek". Stream through the hunting grounds is ditched and straightened to drain the 46 acres of primarily wooded wetland in the area.

Surface Acres= 9.7, Miles= 10.0, Gradient= 8.0' per mile

Date  1961

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

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

Spring Creek is located in the Lower Sugar River watershed which is 217.85 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (65.80%), grassland (16.90%) and a mix of forest (7.60%) and other uses (9.70%). This watershed has 467.98 stream miles, 202.10 lake acres and 6,999.03 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.