Syftestad Creek, Gordon Creek Watershed (SP05)
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Syftestad Creek, Gordon Creek Watershed (SP05)
Syftestad Creek (908200)
5.16 Miles
0 - 5.16
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.
Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.
2015
Good
 
Dane
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
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.
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

Syftestad Creek is a tributary to Kittleson Valley Creek. It is a warm water forage fishery stream that may have trout potential (Day, 1985). Excess sedimentation has resulted in degraded habitat (DCRPC, 19926). Other problems resulting from polluted runoff are also may also exist. Redside dace, a fish on the state's threatened and endangered species list, has been found here.

Date  

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

This stream is very similar to Pleasant Valley Branch in geographic location, hydrological characteristics, and problems. It is a potential cold water stream that currently only supports forage species due to excess sedimentation caused by runoff. It is on the state’s list of degraded (303d) waters. A rare fish species (redside dace) has been found in this stream. While much of the upper half of the stream remains in agriculture, the lower half is buffered by land which has been set aside or returned to prairie (Amrhein, pers. obs.) Fish and habitat monitoring conducted in 2002 showed the presence of mottled sculpin, a cold water indicator species; and a cold water index of biotic integrity of “fair”. However the stream lacks adequate cover to support high numbers of trout (Marshall, pers. comm). The DNR is planning a Redside Dace restoration project for the stream.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Syftestad Creek (Daleyville Branch) -T5N, R6E, Sec. 29, Surface acres = 1.8, Length = 5 miles, Stream order = I, Gradient = 28.2 ft/mile, Base discharge = 0.49 cfs.
Syftestad Creek is a spring-fed tributary to the Kittleson Valley Creek originating in Sections 9 and 17 of Perry Township (T5N, R6E). It drains 6 square miles of hilly pasture land in the driftless area and has good water quality despite bank erosion problems. Presently, Syftestad Creek supports only suckers and forage fish, but it has the potential to support a trout population if soil conservation measures are employed.
Fish species: central stoneroller, redside dace, brassy minnow, common shiner, southern redbelly dace, bluntnose and fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, brook stickleback, Johnny darter, and mottled sculpin.

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

Recommendations

Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands

Standards Details

This water's entire reach downstream to the confluence with Kittleson Valley Creek.

Date  2010

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

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
Wetland Restoration Database2016

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
908200Syftestad Creek10011914Syftestad Creek - Upstream Of Sth 78 At First Farm Rd. Crossing To Second Farm Rd. CrossingMapData
908200Syftestad Creek10058135Syftestad Creek - Confluence with Unnamed Trib (5038004)MapData
908200Syftestad Creek10011915Syftestad Creek - Syftestad Tributary Sth 78 To Farm Rd. CrossingMapData
908200Syftestad Creek10009789Syftestad Creek at County A Bridge6/11/19866/11/1986MapData
908200Syftestad Creek10009362Syftestad Creek At Sth 786/5/19865/13/2015MapData
908200Syftestad Creek10031453Syftestad Creek 100 ft E of Hwy 78 1.5 mi S of County A7/19/20101/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Syftestad Creek is located in the Gordon Creek watershed which is 76.90 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (46.50%), agricultural (25.80%) and a mix of forest (24.40%) and other uses (3.30%). This watershed has 205.79 stream miles, 7.11 lake acres and 487.25 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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.

Natural Community

Syftestad Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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