Lafayette
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Furnace Branch is formed by the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Water quality and in-stream habitat are also degraded by the runoff from the roaster piles at Mineral Point (Schlesser, 1990). Polluted runoff from stream bank grazing may also affect water quality and in-stream habitat, although presently masked by the pollution from the roaster piles. While the stream has not been formally classified, we assume its present biological use to be limited aquatic life. It has the potential to support a warm water forage fishery, and possibly even a trout stream if conditions improve (Schlesser, 1990).
Date
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
Furnace Branch is formed by the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Water quality and in-stream habitat were historically degraded by the runoff from nearby roaster piles. Little monitoring has been conducted on this stream in recent years. The current codified use is warm water sport fish for the lower 2 miles and limited aquatic life for the remaining portion. The proposed codified use is for the default classification to cover the entire length of the stream.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Furnace Creek - Mouth location T4N, R3E Section 18 -15, Surface area = 0.7 acres, Length = 0.4 miles, Gradient = 0.0 (in Iowa County), Total alkalinity = 240 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.5 cfs.
Furnace Creek begins at the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. The water quality of Rock Branch is very good and is managed as a trout stream. Brewery Creek (see above) is polluted by ore wastes and its waters are considered of poor quality. Although over half of this stream's base flow is contributed by Rock Branch, the waters of Brewery Creek create extreme turbidity. Seining surveys indicate extremely low biological productivity at least insofar as the fishery is concerned. It is not known whether this is due to the pollution or turbidity, or both. Flooding is common during periods of heavy runoff and bank erosion is severe. The sport fishery is restricted to the presence of a few smallmouth
bass. If the pollution is corrected conditions might be suitable for trout. Forage fish species include white suckers, common shiners and creek chubs. At least five farm ponds are known to be located in its watershed. None of them was considered as having good fish production but all serve as erosion controls. Because of the well-drained nature of its basin aquatic game assets are limited to muskrats throughout its length and some waterfowl nesting near the mouth. Public lands are absent from the watershed. Presently, it is not accessible in Iowa County except from private lands. However, there are two road crossings in Lafayette County.
From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1968
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Furnace Creek, T4N, R2E, Sections 25-8, Surface acres = 3.6, Miles = 2.4, Gradient = 12.5 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 246 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.5 cfs.
Being tributary to Mineral Point Branch, its waters eventually reach the West Branch of the Pecatonica River. The stream begins in Iowa County at the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Rock Branch is a brown trout stream which is stocked annually. It also contains some smallmouth bass.
Brewery Creek is considered to be polluted from old mine dump seepage in Mineral Point (Iowa County) and contains little or no fishery. Both streams are restricted to Iowa County in their entirety and their characters are covered in more detail
in that report. Furnace Creek water chemistries are abnormal and suggest the possibility of contamination from Brewery Creek waters. The principal fishery values in Furnace Creek consist of a limited smallmouth bass and forage minnow populations. Presently, it is managed for forage fishes. Game populations in Furnace Creek's watershed, within the county, are restricted to upland species with some waterfowl nesting near its mouth. The dominant bottom type is silt
and most of the land in the basin has been cleared for agricultural purposes. Public access is confined to two road bridges.
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
General Condition
Furnace Creek (WBIC 928000) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
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
Natural Community Review or Change
The classification of Furnace Branch should be updated to reflect the current biota using a contemporary classification system.
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 |
|---|
| 928000 | Furnace Creek | 10044949 | Unnamed Tributary - Airport Road near County O | 7/10/2016 | 7/10/2016 | Map | Data |
| 928000 | Furnace Creek | 10030388 | Furnace Branch at machine crossing in pasture | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 928000 | Furnace Creek | 333206 | Furnace Creek at CTH O | 5/10/1979 | 10/7/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Furnace Creek is located in the Mineral Point and Sudan Branches watershed which is 108.26 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (54.60%), agricultural (33%) and a mix of forest (8.10%) and other uses (4.30%). This watershed has 289.93 stream miles, 87.79 lake acres and 699.78 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.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.