Gelena River, Galena River Watershed (GP01)
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Gelena River, Galena River Watershed (GP01)
Gelena River (935500)
32.64 Miles
19.43 - 52.07
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2015
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Biological Community
Unknown Pollutant
 
Lafayette
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
WWSF
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

The Galena River, locally known as the Fever River, is the major river system for which this watershed is named. It rises in western Lafayette County and flows south 35 miles into Illinois. While smallmouth bass have been reduced in numbers in many southwestern Wisconsin streams, the Galena River is still considered one of the best bass streams in southern Wisconsin. It was added to the state’s list of Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) in 1995, in part due to the significance and importance of the smallmouth bass fishery. Two municipalities, Benton and Hazel Green, operate wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to the river. While Galena River Watershed Plan 2010 there are a number of abandoned lead and zinc mines and mining waste piles in the watershed, they seem to have little effect on the river’s water quality. A bioassay conducted in 2010 showed no toxicity to aquatic organisms. Fisheries surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008 on the lower ½ of the river showed good numbers of smallmouth bass as well as a diversity of non-game species. The Ozark minnow, a state threatened species, was found at one of the sites. While intense agriculture and manure runoff likely have impacted the Galena River just as it has other streams in the watershed, the stream appears to be maintaining its use as a cool-warm transitional stream and an important smallmouth bass resource.

Date  2010

Author  James Amrhein

Historical Description

The Galena River rises in western Lafayette County and flows south into Illinois. It is also called the Fever River by local residents, and is identified on recent state highway maps as the Fever. The river is one of the best smallmouth bass streams in southern Wisconsin (Lyons, 1990). The Galena was added to the state’s list of Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) in 1995 in part due to the significance and importance of the smallmouth bass fishery.

Evaluation monitoring done as a follow-up to the priority watershed project indicates that installed BMPs were effective in reducing non-point source pollution. However, other uncontrolled pollution sources may be undoing or at least masking the improvements made by BMP installation (Kroner, et.al., 1992). The river carries excessive sediment loads during and after summer storm events. This sediment is from cropland and streambank erosion (Fix, 1991). As a result, instream habitat, fisheries and recreational uses are still being affected by non-point sources of pollution.

There are a number of abandoned lead and zinc mines and mining waste piles in the Galena Watershed. It is not known what effect, if any, these are having on the river’s water quality, instream habitat and fisheries. Past water chemistry grab samples showed no unusual or elevated levels of heavy metals in the water column. Results of recent bio-assays tests also showed no indication of a toxicity problem in the stream (WDNR, 2000).

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) monitoring at two sites on the Galena in 1994 showed “fair” and “good” water quality. Instream habitat ratings at the same two sites indicated “good” and “excellent” habitat (Wang et.al., 1994). Fish surveys conducted over five years at one site on the river has shown wide fluctuation in the number of smallmouth bass caught at that site (Wang,et.al., ibid). The variability of the smallmouth bass population has been studied and reported (Forbes, 1989). Macroinvertebrate sampling conducted in 1995 and 1996 found the Galena to have fair water quality with a high percentage of mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies which can indicate fairly good water quality (Marshall, 1999).

In the spring of 2000, monitoring was conducted on two sites in the river’s headwaters at the Platteville Ag Stewardship Farm (PASF). This macroinvertebrate sampling, just below College Farm Road, found fair water quality. Some mayflies were sampled, but a large percentage of macroinvertebrates were of the order diptera, or two winged flies (WDNR 2000). Baseline sampling conducted in October 2000 determined cool or cold water habitat to be poor or very poor for fish. Habitat evaluations at the sites found very silty conditions, mostly likely due to cropland erosion, streambank pasturing and streambank erosion in the Galena River subwatershed (WDNR 2000). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency assessed eighteen miles of the Galena River in Illinois. The resource quality in that portion of the river was rated as “good” for nine miles and “fair” for nine miles. Nutrients and habitat alterations were the major causes of impairment. A couple of pollution sensitive aquatic species listed on Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered species list have been found in the Galena River.

The DNR has acquired fishing easements along some reaches of the Galena River for additional public access. Two municipalities, Benton and Hazel Green, operate wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to the Galena River. Hazel Green’s population growth rate between 1990 and the end of 1997 was 0.5%, while Benton’s growth rate during the same period was about 0.6%. This shows that neither community is growing and indicates that urban stormwater and non-point sources of pollution are not considered a major problem.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.