Overview

A 22-mile section of the Sugar River from the dam at Belleville down to the dam at Albany runs through this watershed. As is the case for most of the river, it is a diverse warm water sport fishery and an ERW.

In fact, the Sugar River has one of the most diverse warmwater fisheries in southern Wisconsin. At least 50 different species have been identified. Seven species of panfish, including black crappies and bluegills as well as gamefish such as channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and northern pike are found in the river.

Numerous backwaters and wetlands adjoin the river and provide excellent wildlife habitat. Mallards, wood ducks, and teal nest in the area. Hunting, fishing, canoeing and wildlife watching are popular recreational uses of the river although its high sediment load and variable flow can restrict these activities in certain places. There are two boat accesses just upstream from Albany Lake. The lake itself is a 102-acre impoundment that provides some limited fishing opportunities. A current plan to create a fish passage around the dam at Belleville will facilitate fish movement up and downstream.

The village of Belleville discharges to the Sugar River. A new treatment plant was completed in year and has helped alleviate past problems with biological oxygen demand and suspended solids.

Date  

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

The Sugar River begins in the Town of Springdale and flows south, where it leaves the Upper Sugar River Watershed at the Village of Belleville. This entire stretch of the Sugar River is classified as an exceptional resource water (ERW). Large wetland complexes exist adjacent to the Sugar River. Much of the lowlands in particular from CTH P in the northwest to its confluence with Badger Mill Creek and from CTH A to Lake Belle View, are designated as wetlands on state wetland surveys. (Maybe do a wetland map instead?)

Water quality in the river is good and has gradually improved (WDNR, 1992-93). The river’s dissolved oxygen concentrations are high enough to support both a warm and cold water fishery. Mottled sculpin are distributed along the main branch of the Sugar River to its headwaters. They are a native species that is capable of living or growing only within a limited range of temperature, and their presence is an indication of cold temperatures and good water quality. Currently, the water from the headwaters to the Frenchtown Road bridge is capable of sustaining, and even promoting growth in trout populations. Typically, however, the trout found in the Sugar River migrate into the Sugar River from Mt. Vernon Creek or Badger Mill Creek. The abundance of forage species allows for excellent growth rates in the larger trout. In 2002, fish monitoring was conducted at 10 stations from Frenchtown Road up to the headwaters. Habitat indices we taken at two sites.

Land use in the watershed has had a significant impact on the river. In fact, the Upper Sugar River Watershed is located on the outskirts of the expanding Madison metropolitan urban area. This transition from agriculture to development in the headwaters not only affects baseflow conditions, but it also can increase nonpoint source pollution and stormwater runoff. Changes in land use also effect the hydrology and sediment transport within the river, which has a particularly pervasive impact on all areas downstream.

Hydrologic modification of the river, particularly wetland draining and stream straightening, has also contributed to degraded habitat and water quality in the river. In fact, the upper reaches of the Sugar River near Riley continue to suffer from heavy erosion due to poor agricultural practices. Other alterations of the river, such as the creation of Lake Belle View, have also had an impact on the river by raising water temperatures and reducing habitat. In addition, the Belleville dam acts to impede fish migration.

The effect of nonpoint source pollution on the river has had several impacts on the river. High fecal coliform levels in the stream have also been of concern, but fortunately, have shown some improvement (DCRPC 1999). Most of all, nonpoint source pollution increases the sedimentation and the turbidity of the water. The high degree of turbidity in the water is detrimental to the trout population in the river. Habitat, however, is the limiting factor in the river (Stewart, 2002). If efforts to improve the aquatic ecosystem, including adjacent wetlands, are successful, this may lead to the establishment of naturally reproducing populations of trout Based on what we saw in 2002, aren’t we already seeing this? and an increase in the population of aquatic insects and forage fish.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Sugar River - T5N, R8E, Sec. 35, Surface acres = 120, Length = 30 miles, Stream order = III, Gradient = 4.1 ft/mile, Base discharge = 70 cfs.
The headwaters of the Sugar River originate in Section 31 of Cross Plains Township (T7N, R7E) and western reaches of the glacial moraine region. The river flows southeastward, draining over 200 miles of pasture and cropland in Dane County and eventually joining the Rock River In Illinois. Sugar River watershed contains approximately 2,000 acres of diverse wetland resources that provide habltat for waterfowl and wildlife. Many additional acres of wetlands have been drained for agricultural use (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a).
Water quality of the Sugar River is affected by the discharge of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) waste and suspended solids from a milk processing plant at Belleville. The town's sewage treatment has also been polluting the river, but construction is underway on a new plant scheduled for completion in June 1983. Fecal coliform levels frequently exceed the recommended maxlmum for body contact recreation (Wis. Dep. Nat. Res. unpubl., Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a). Erosion is also a problem in some areas although this river has not been channelized. Any success in adopting better land use practices and reducing nonpoint source pollution through the efforts of the Upper Sugar River Watershed
Association will benefit the water quality downstream in the Sugar River.
Five tributaries to the Sugar River support trout populations and the potential for fishery improvement in the river itself is good. There are several springs along the river which keep the temperature down, and oxygen levels are generally good. Base discharge is high despite the low stream gradient. Erosion and agricultural runoff must be reduced significantly if any areas of the Sugar River are to support trout. At the present time, the river supports a diverse forage fishery, some panflsh and rough fish, and a smallmouth bass fishery downstream from the Paoli Mill Dam. Some areas of the stream also provide excellent fishing for northern pike and channel catfish. Access is available at 19 crossings and through the mill ponds at Paoli and Belleville. The river is navigable by canoe and recreational value is high on the river itself as well as within adjacent wetlands. Swimming is not recommended because of periodic high bacteria levels.
The river provides opportunities for jump shooting waterfowl, i.e., mallard, blue-winged teal, and wood duck. Beavers, muskrats, and mink attract many trappers.
Fish species: central mudminnow, stoneroller (unsp.), central stoneroller, common carp, brassy and hornyhead chub, common, spotfin, and sand shiner, suckermouth, bluntnose, and fathead minnow, creek chub, redhorse (unsp.), white and northern hog sucker, silver, golden, and shorthead redhorse, brown bullhead, stonecat, channel catfish, brook stickleback, green sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, black crappie, rainbow, fantail, johnny, and blackside darter, walleye, mottled sculpin, and northern pike.

From: Day, Elizabeth A.; Grzebieniak, Gayle P.; Osterby, Kurt M.; and Brynildson, Clifford L., 1985. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1985

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

From: Ball, Joseph R., and Ronald J. Poff, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Rock County, Department of Natural Resources, 1970.

Surface Acres = 128.4, }tiles = 10.6, Gradient = 1.4 feet per mile.

A drainage and seepage fed stream meandering southeast across the southwest edge of the county. It is one of the largest rivers, and has adjoining it probably the most productive marsh area found in the county. The Sugar River bottom is noted for its stand of very large elms and maples and a unique stand of large swamp white oaks. The outstanding aesthetic value of the area can be best appreciated by floating the
river in autumn.

The fishery is composed of smallmouth bass, black crappies, white crappies, channel catfish, brown and black bullheads, northern pike, carp, and numerous ot11er warm-water species. The Sugar River is regarded as one of the best channel catfish streams in southern Wisconsin and an estimated 80 percent of the fishing pressure is directed towards this species.
Wildlife resources found in the Sugar River bottom include deer, squirrels, pheasants, quail, woodcock, red and grey foxes, raccoons, opossums, muskrats, mink, and beaver. The area is heavily used by migrating waterfowl and some nesting occurs. The most common water- fowl species are woodducks, blue-winged teal and mallards. A few geese are also occasionally observed.

Wetland adjoining the river totals 1,347 acres, 87 percent of which is wooded. The unwooded areas include both shallow and deep marsh, and fresh meadow. The Avon Bottoms Wildlife area includes 1,322 acres of public hunting and fishing grounds along the Sugar River. Boat launching and parking is provided at two town road crossings. Access is also possible at the crossing of County Trunk T.

Date  1970

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Sugar River was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired.

Sugar River [Mouth to east of unnamed stream 875900 (mile 0-10.99)]: This segment has been listed as impaired since 2012 for total Phosphorus and no listing change is needed.

Sugar River [Unnamed stream 875900 to Decatur Lake (mile 10.99-31.88) to Albany dam (mile 33.2-38.45) to STH 92 (mile 38.45-56.14)]: Assessment results during the 2018 listing cycle show continued impairment by Total Phosphorus. Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), Temperature, and Chloride levels are appropriate for Aquatic Life use. These segments have been listed as impaired since 2014 for Total Phosphorus and no listing changes are needed.

Sugar River [STH 92 to Paulson Rd. (mile 56.14-82.33)]: Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show total phosphorus levels too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, bugs, and fish, according to 2020 WisCALM standards. Available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e., no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity scored in the poor condition category). Based on the most updated information, this portion of the river was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.

Sugar River [Paulson Rd. to headwaters (mile 82.33-91.86)]: This segment is in good condition for Aquatic life and Fish Consumption uses.

Date  2019

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Sugar River (miles 10.99-56.14) showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

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

Standards Details

Trout Stream Location: From origins at CTH P in T7N, R7E, S 33 of Cross Plains Township to Frenchtown Rd in T5N, R5E in Montrose Township. The water is a Class II based on a 2002 Survey Work. There is the presence of an abundant brown trout resource comprised of multiple classes showing sufficient number and survival as well as natural reproduction. Trout Stream Classification Checklist and Public Notice 7/7/08, and the Survey Report Submitted 6/2005, Kurt Welke.

Date  2008

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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

Sugar River 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.