Sawmill Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
Sawmill Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03)
Sawmill Creek (906000)
4.39 Miles
4.03 - 8.42
Natural Community
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.
Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
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.
2024
Good
 
Green, Lafayette
Trout Water 
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.
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
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.
No
Impaired Water 
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.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
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.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
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.
Cold (Class II Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.
Designated Use
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.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

This tributary to the East Branch of the Pecatonica River begins in the driftless area of Green County and flows southwestward into Lafayette County. Most of the stream is managed as a Class II trout fishery. In the flatter stretches, the bottom is composed primarily of silt, while the steeper sections contain mostly gravel and rubble (Surface Water Resources of Green County, 1980). Most macroinvertebrate samples taken from 1985 through 1990 indicated “very good” water quality. The stream suffers from bank erosion and low flow in the headwaters and sediment deposition, turbidity, and channel straightening in the lower reaches.

Monitoring conducted in 2004 and 2007 shows the stream to contain brown trout as well as eurythermal species. Most of the species making up this latter category are species tolerant to habitat disturbance such as creek chub and white sucker; however, there are also several darter species and simple lithophils such as common shiner and southern redbelly dace. Macroinvertebrate samples continue to show “very good” water quality from an organic loading standpoint. Macroinvertebrate IBIs vary between “poor” and good”. Indications are that the stream is a disturbed cool-warm transitional stream that has not changed much over the past 2 decades.

Date  2010

Author  James Amrhein

Historical Description

This moderate sized trout stream flows southwest through the driftless area of Green County and into Lafayette County, where it enters the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. An unnamed tributary enters Sawmill Creek in Section 15 and Erickson Creek, another trout stream, enters just inside the Lafayette County line. The creek flows through cropland, pasture and hardwood forest. In the flatter stretches the bottom is composed primarily of silt, while in the steeper segments (Sections 20 and 29) the bottom is predominantly gravel and rubble.

Bank erosion is moderate to heavy in the pastured areas and the water is generally turbid. Sawmill Creek is managed as Class II brown trout water in its entirety. Trout spawning occurs in Sections 20 and 29 where there is a gravel bottom and a good pool-riffle ratio. The lack of good spawning substrate in other stretches limits natural trout reproduction. Forage fish densities are very high and a few northern pike are present. Wildlife values consist of muskrats and a very limited number of migrating ducks. Public access and frontage consists of seven public road crossings.

Fish Species: Brown trout, northern pike, central stoneroller, hornyhead chub, common shiner, southern red- belly dace, bluntnose minnow, creek chub, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, brook stickleback, fantail darter, Johnny darter.

Surface Acres = 8.6, Length = 6.0 Miles, Gradient = 26 ft./mi., Base Oischarge = 11.5 cu. ft./sec.

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.

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Sawmill Creek begins in Green County and flows southwesterly into Lafayette County. In less than three miles, it enters the East Branch of the Pecatonica River. The vegetative cover of the direct drainage area is predominantly agricultural crops. The floodplain is mostly in meadow pasture and woodland while the uplands are in crops and wooded pasture. Bank erosion is moderate within the county. The most common bottom types are silt, hardpan and gravel, in that order. For fish management purposes, it is considered a better than average trout stream. However, most of the more productive portion is in Green County. Erickson Creek, a major tributary, is also considered a good trout stream and enters Sawmill Creek within the county. The section within Lafayette County contains some trout and also smallmouth bass. Both streams are stocked annually with brown trout. Aquatic game consists principally of muskrats. Upland game species found in the basin are pheasants, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, and the common upland mammals. There are no lands in public ownership. Access is restricted to two road bridges, and is considered adequate.

From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1967

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Sawmill Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Fish and Aquatic LifeSawmill Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) RecreationSawmill Creek, Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers Watershed (SP03) Fish Consumption

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

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

Sawmill Creek is located in the Lower East Branch Pecatonica Rivers watershed which is 144.80 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (44.90%), agricultural (35.10%) and a mix of forest (16%) and other uses (3.90%). This watershed has 370.96 stream miles, 107.68 lake acres and 2,029.49 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Sawmill Creek is considered a Coldwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

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