Green
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Searles Creek--
This nine-mile, low gradient stream flows eastward and joins the Sugar River at the north end of Decatur Lake. The
creek's watershed is a broad, flat-bottomed basin, which is heavily tilled for crops. A great deal of the stream has been
straightened because of ditching. Trees and vegetation along the shore buffer some areas, while other areas are grazed
right down to the shoreline. A wetland area just upstream from the confluence with Decatur Lake provides habitat for
wildlife. The existing use as a warm water sport fishery is mainly due to fish species migrating upstream from Decatur
Lake seeking better habitat than which can be found in the lake itself. As part of a structured habitat survey in 2002,
WDNR aquatic biologists observed that the stream bottom had extensive (greater than 60% silt and clay) fines in
riffles and runs. According to the WDNR habitat ratings, this is considered poor habitat. A 2002 fish assessment at
CTH F showed a variety of warm water forage species dominated by bluntnose minnow. The results from a 2002
macroinvertebrate assessment describes this stream as "good" water quality with some organic pollution (HBI =
5.089). Searles Creek is listed on the state's list of impaired (303d) waters because of habitat degradation caused by
primarily sedimentation.
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
This 9-mile, low gradient stream flows eastward and joins the Sugar River at the north end of Decatur Lake. The creek’s watershed is a broad, flat-bottomed basin which is heavily tilled for crops. A great deal of the stream has been straightened because of ditching. Some areas are buffered by trees and vegetation along the shore, while other areas are grazed right down to the shoreline (Amrhein, pers. obs). A wetland area just upstream from the confluence with Decatur Lake provides habitat for wildlife. The existing use as a warm water sport fishery is mainly due to fish species migrating upstream from Decatur Lake seeking better habitat than that which can be found in the lake itself (Bush, pers comm). Searles Creek is listed on the state’s list of impaired (303d) waters because of habitat degradation caused by nonpoint source pollution. It has not been monitored in recent 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.
This fair sized, low gradient drainage stream flows eastward and joins the Sugar River in the north end of
Decatur Lake. Its watershed is a broad, flat-bottomed basin, bounded by two steep ridges about three miles apart. Nearly all of the land is tilled for crops, and a great deal of the stream has been straightened by ditching. The banks are covered moderately well with grasses; however, rapid runoff and flooding during periods of heavy precipitation, combined with localized heavy pasturing, keeps the water turbid. The bottom is primarily gravel and sand intermixed with silt. Instream vegetation and aquatic invertebrates are scarce.The fishery of Searles Creek consists of an abundant and diverse assemblage of forage fish, although game fish occasionally come up from Decatur Lake. Approximately 240 acres of upland hardwood forest join the lower mile of the stream and provide excellent wildlife cover, A variety of migratory waterfowl use the area, and muskrat~ are present throughout the stream. The proximity of Decatur Lake also brings nesting ducks into the area. Access is provided at eight public road crossings.
Fish Species: Central mudminnow, stoneroller unspecified, hornyhead chub, common shiner, bigmouth shiner, spotfin shiner, sand shiner, suckermouth minnow, southern redbelly dace, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, black bullhead, brook stickleback, fantail darter, Johnny darter, blackside darter.
Surface Acres = 5.8, Length = 8.0 Miles, Gradient = 10 ft./mi., Base Discharge = 7.9 cu. ft./sec.
Date 1980
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Flows easterly into Decatur Lake on the Sugar River. Previouly referred to as LIttle Jordan Creek, or Jordan Creek; the name has been changed to avoid confusion with Jordan Creek, T-2-N, R-6-E. Managed for forage fish and suckers. Approximately 10 acres of adjacent wetlands. Channel catfish and carp are present near the mouth. Heavily eroded watersheds; stream bottom mostly silt and clay.
Surface Acres= 6.5, Miles= 8.0, Gradient= 7.5' per mile 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.
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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.
TMDL Implementation
Part of the Sugar Pecatonica Basin TMDL
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 |
|---|
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10009333 | Searles Creek Upstream Cth F | 11/15/2002 | 5/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10029126 | Searles Creek betw. CTH F & Park Rd | 8/31/2008 | 8/31/2008 | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10040409 | Searles Cr at CTH FF | | | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10040410 | Searles Cr at CTH S | 5/24/2013 | 5/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10040851 | Searles Creek at Decatur-Sylvester Rd | 10/7/2013 | 5/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10029048 | Searles Creek at Park Rd | 8/31/2008 | 10/4/2023 | Map | Data |
| 879500 | Searles Creek | 10014330 | Searles Creek-Us Prairie Rd 266m To End Gps | 10/7/2013 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Searles Creek is located in the Lower Middle Sugar River watershed which is 56.40 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (72.20%), grassland (12.40%) and a mix of forest (8.70%) and other uses (6.70%). This watershed has 126.77 stream miles, 142.28 lake acres and 1,552.10 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.