Rock Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09)
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Rock Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09)
Rock Branch (928200)
2.96 Miles
0 - 2.96
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.
2024
Fair
 
Iowa
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 small stream serves as a tributary to Brewery Creek. A baseline survey conducted in 2000 and a sportfish survey conducted in 2001 confirmed this stream’s status as a Class II trout stream (Sims). Both brown and brook trout were found in the surveys. With its fairly high gradient, the fish manager feels this stream has the potential as a Class I trout stream. Although impacted by agricultural non-point runoff, the water quality appears to be improving as the stream continues to run clear even after rains (Sims).

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Rock Branch - Mouth location T4N R3E Section 18 -13, Surface area = 4.0 acres, Length = 4.0 miles, Gradient = 57.5 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 282.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 3.0 cfs.
Rock Branch begins as warmwater seepage stream on a north-south ridge which extends from Dodgeville into Lafayette County. As the stream progresses, springs become its principal water source. It meets with Brewery Creek about two miles south of Mineral Point and is called Furnace Creek thereafter. Its basin is subject to fluctuating water levels which result in heavy bank erosion. This is brought about mostly because of its steep gradient and about 92 percent of' its watershed is cleared for beef cattle grazing and crops.
Its sport fishery consists mainly of brown trout with some smallmouth bass near the mouth. Brook trout have been known to inhabit its water in the past but it is doubtful if any exist today. Brown trout are stocked annually to maintain the fishery. Forage fish species present include white and hogsuckers; bluntnose and stoneroller minnows; hornyhead and creek chubs; redbelly dace, johnny darters, and brook sticklebacks. Aquatic game assets are limited to some muskrats near the mouth.
There are no public lands on the stream but some fishing easements on the best trout water are desirable. Presently, it is accessible from five road crossings.

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

Rock Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) Fish and Aquatic LifeRock Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) RecreationRock Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Rock Branch (miles 0-2.96) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Rock Branch Station 1-Suthers Rd NC Validation 2017
Final Report of an Assessment of Water Quality in the Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (HUC 10: 0709000301) 2015

Recommendations

Fish Management, Access
Fisheries management should determine the reason for lack of trout returns in the Rock Branch to determine if it is practical to continue stocking efforts.

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
Mineral Point Branch TWA WQM Plan, 20172015
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
928200Rock Br10008039Rock Branch Station 1-Suthers Rd11/15/20001/1/2015MapData
928200Rock Br10034365Rock Branch at Suthers Rd1/1/201510/30/2024MapData
928200Rock Br10054252Rock Br US Brecken RdMapData
928200Rock Br10016429Rock Br - End Of Station 1 (STH 23)11/15/20006/4/2015MapData
928200Rock Br10015980Rock Br - Ferndale R5/15/19905/16/1994MapData
928200Rock Br10016288Rock Br - 20 M Downstream From 1st Fenceline11/15/20007/9/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Rock Br 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.

Natural Community

Rock Branch 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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