Green
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
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 small tributary to the Juda Branch is listed on the state’s impaired (303d) waters list because of habitat disturbance caused by agricultural non-point source pollution and discharge from a whey factory. It currently supports a limited forage fishery
Date 2006
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
As part of the headwater drainage of Juda Branch. this small stream flows from the virtually treeless upland northwest of Juda and joins Juda Branch in the Village of Juda. It begins as a small, clear brook flowing over a gravel bottom. but becomes turbid and acquires a silt and muck bottom. The stream runs primarily through pasture and experiences extensive bank erosion. Bank cover, where present, consists of grass and sedges and instream vegetation is scarce. A small portion has also been straightened by ditching. In Juda, a two foot high stone dam has created a very small impoundment which has become completely silted in. Below the dam a cheese factory discharges a small amount of effluent into the stream.
The fishery consists of forage species apparently limited to small numbers of creek chubs and brook sticklebacks. Wildlife values are minimal and public access is available from four highway crossings. Fish Species: Creek chub, brook stickleback
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. Surface Acres = 3.0, Length = 3.1 Miles. Gradient = 37 ft./mi.. Base Discharge = 2,8 cu. ft./sec
Date 1980
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of the North Fork Juha Branch (miles 0-1.68) showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, there was no new available biological data to observe further biological impairment (i.e. this water was listed in previous water evaluation cycles, but no new macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores were available). Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
North Fork Juda Branch (877700) was listed for Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and total phosphorus in 1998. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the poor condition category). Based on the most updated information the impairment of Degraded Biological Community was added to the total phosphorus listing.
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
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 |
|---|
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10013166 | N. Fork Juda Br-Cth S Upstream 132 M To End | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10029990 | North Fork Juda Branch downstream of whey outfall | | | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 233242 | North Folk Juda Branch at Sylvester Whey Outfall | | | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10040530 | Juda Branch at N Fork in Juda Park 10 m DS | 4/20/2008 | 10/15/2013 | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10040731 | North Fork Juda Br at STH 11 (furthest dwnstrm crossing) | 10/8/2013 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10012608 | North Fork Juda Branch - 20 Meters Downstream Cth S | | | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10037204 | North Fork Juda Branch in Juda Park 20m US of discharge | 5/10/2012 | 10/24/2023 | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10007870 | Juda Branch N Fork at CTH S | 4/10/1989 | 10/5/2017 | Map | Data |
| 877700 | North Fork Juda Br | 10013163 | North Fork Juda Br-At Sylvester Whey Outfall | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
North Fork Juda Br 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.