Deer Creek, West Branch Sugar River - Mt. Vernon Cre Watershed (SP16)
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Deer Creek, West Branch Sugar River - Mt. Vernon Cre Watershed (SP16)
Deer Creek (886900)
1.08 Miles
4.68 - 5.76
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
Unknown
 
Dane
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Deer Creek rises on the southeast edge of Mount Horeb and flows southeast, joining with Fryes Feeder to become Mount Vernon Creek. Deer Creek is an exceptional resource water (ERW) and redside dace, a rare aquatic species, has been found in the creek. Deer Creek currently supports a Class II trout fishery as brook trout are readily abundant.

Water quality problems stemmed from runoff from barnyards and cultivated fields, excessive grazing, and increased residential development. Stream stabilization (fencing) projects have helped the stream’s trout fishery. In addition, Mt. Horeb, with assistance from the Dane County Land Conservation Department, developed a comprehensive stormwater management plan. Stream and habitat restoration projects have also recently (when?) been completed on the creek with funding from the state’s Targeted Runoff Management program. Re-write with Mike Sorge.1999 and 2000 baseline monitoring Re-write with Mike Sorge

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Deer Creek -T6N, R7E Sec. 33, Surface acres = 4, Length = 5 miles, Stream order = I, Gradient = 42 ft/mile,
Base discharge = 1.7 cu. ft./sec.
This small stream joins Fryes Feeder to form Mount Vernon Creek. Its watershed is extensively pastured, stream bank cover is minimal, and summer water temperatures are quite high. Water quality is generally good, but turbidity and stream bank erosion are problems in pastured areas. The stream supports a good diversity of forage fish species, but has little potential to support a trout fishery. It has minimal value to wildlife or for recreational activities. Access is available at three road crossings and from Mount Vernon Creek. Fish species: stoneroller, redside and southern redbelly dace, creek chub, white sucker, brook stickleback, and mottled sculpln.

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

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.