Green
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This 14-mile long stream flows eastward throug a broad, flat valley and enters the Sugar River south of Brodhead. The lower 8.4 miles of the stream supports a warm water sport fishery while the next 4 miles of the stream supports a cold water fishery and is classified as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERW). Enrollment of surrounding lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has help improve the water quality of the stream (Bush, 2001). Still, stream habitat is impacted by agricultural nonpoint source pollution, stream bank erosion, and channelization. Monitoring has not been conducted recently.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
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.
This 14-mile long stream flows eastward throug a broad, flat valley and enters the Sugar River south of Brodhead. The lower 8.4 miles of the stream supports a warm water sport fishery while the next 4 miles of the stream supports a cold water fishery and is classified as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERW). Enrollment of surrounding lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has help improve the water quality of the stream (Bush, pers. Comm). Still, stream habitat is impacted by agricultural nonpoint source pollution, stream bank erosion, and channelization. Monitoring has not been conducted recently.
Date 2006
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Flows east-southeast into the Sugar River. Managed for rainbow trout and brown trout. Channel catfish and common white suckers are present in the lower section of the stream. Ditched and channeled in section 20. Approximately 20 acres of adjoining wetland harbor a significant muskrat population.
Surface Acres= 9.7, Miles= 10.0, Gradient= 14' per mileFrom: Poff, Ronald J., and C.W. Threinen, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison I, 1961.
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Sylvester Creek (WBIC 877400, Balls Mill Rd. to headwaters) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
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
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 877400 | Sylvester Creek | 10040782 | Sylvester Creek at STH 59 | 10/9/2013 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 877400 | Sylvester Creek | 10014324 | Sylvester Creek -Upstream Balls Mill Rd 191 M To End | 3/9/2006 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 877400 | Sylvester Creek | 10012119 | Sylvester Creek - Upstream Of Prien Rd | 3/9/2006 | 3/9/2006 | Map | Data |
| 877400 | Sylvester Creek | 10014321 | Sylvester Creek-Upstream Goepfert Rd 100 M To End | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Sylvester 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.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.