Roundtree Branch, Little Platte River Watershed (GP03)
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Roundtree Branch, Little Platte River Watershed (GP03)
Roundtree Branch (946000)
2.46 Miles
0 - 2.46
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
2022
Good
 
Grant
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

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

Overview

Rountree Branch is a seepage and spring fed tributary to the Little Platte River just west of Platteville. The stream is considered a smallmouth bass nursery in its lower reaches. In the 1960's the stream was considered to have no fisheries value due pollution from various sources in and near Platteville (Smith and Ball, 1972). These sources included industrial and municipal point sources, abandoned mining waste piles, and urban and agricultural non-point sources of pollution. Water quality and instream habitat conditions have improved generally since then and the stream is capable of supporting at least a limited sport fishery (Fix, 1991). Recent evaluations by fisheries biologists have resulted in a recommendation to consider 6 miles of Rountree as a class II trout fishery (WDNR,2000).

While conditions have improved, there are still problems. The State Laboratory of Hygiene biomonitoring tests done in 1998 showed that water samples taken from Rountree were chronically toxic to Ceriodaphnia dubia, a small aquatic organism. Metals are the most likely source of the toxicity (Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 1998). Elevated zinc levels in the water column have been detected in some monitoring done in 1996 at one location on the stream and recent monitoring has shown that the concentration of lead, zinc and copper increased dramatically during a large rainfall event (WDNR, 1998; Marshall 1999). In addition, urban non-point sources of pollution from Platteville and agricultural non-point sources are still a problem.

The City of Platteville’s wastewater treatment plant discharges to Rountree Branch. It is a generally well-run facility. GHC Evergreen Village, Inc. on the east edge of Platteville also has a permitted wastewater discharge to the stream. In 1999, a dairy processing operation requested water quality based limits be determined for a proposed discharge to Rountree.

A local group has been formed in Platteville to enhance Rountree Branch. The primary goals of this group are to establish a sport fishery in one reach of the stream and build a recreational trail along the stream. Overall, there are a variety of groups interested Rountree Branch. For a complete list of groups and their activities, see Volume 2.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

A seepage- and spring-fed stream beginning near the Grant and Lafayette County line and flowing in an easterly direction through the City of Platteville to enter the central portions of the Little Platte River. This stream flows through a rather scenic valley in its lower reaches and Wisconsin State University-Plattevill is located on the north bank in the central portion. Rubble and a stratified limestone bedrock are the principal bottom types. This stream has no fishery value at the present time due to the fact that it has been heavily polluted. Very few forage fish are present and aquatic food organisms are scarce. Improperly treated effluent entering the stream from the Platteville Sewage Treatment Plant caused a large fish kill in 1970. Many crayfish were also killed. This pollution killed catfish and smallmouth bass in the Little Platte River. The stream has been heavily polluted for many years by many different sources. The sewage plant a dairy, the Platteville Water Department, and a trailer court in Lafayette County are considered potential sources of pollution at the present time. Efforts are being made by the Department of Natural Resources to stop this pollution in order to make this a productive stream once agaLn. Gam. assets are restricted to the upland varieties at the present time. Public access is available from five bridge crossings and 15 dwellings adjoin the stream.

From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area = 17.46 acres, Length = 18.0 miles, Gradient 12 ft./mile, Flow = 5.4 c.f.s.

Date  1972

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Roundtree Branch, T3N, R1E, Sections 18-6, Surface acres = 0.5, Miles = 0.8, Gradient = 50.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 298 mg/l, Volume of flow = 0.5 cfs.
Roundtree Branch is one of the two streams in Lafayette County which is tributary to the Little Platte River. Although the watershed area within the county is not too significant, there is a considerable volume of flow. The principal bottom types are rubble and gravel. Most of the watershed is either in agricultural cropland or firm pasture. Although the stream gradient is high, bank erosion is light to moderate throughout its length within the county. Presently, it is managed for forage fish in Lafayette County. In Grant County it is managed for smallmouth bass. Game assets in the watershed are limited to pheasants, quail, squirrels, rabbits and deer. There are no public lands in the watershed. Public access is restricted to one town road bridge.

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

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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.