Dane, Green
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Originating near the Dane County line, Spring Valley Creek runs southward along State Highway 69 and joins the Little Sugar River on the north side of New Glarus. Much of the stream flows through agricultural land that was formerly cultivated or pastured. The transition of the land from these agricultural uses back to a wild state has allowed the development of good herbaceous and woody bank cover (Water Resources of Green Co.). This warm water forage fishery is classified as an ERW. The rare redside dace has been found to inhabit its waters. The stream is impacted by runoff from the adjacent highway and potentially by a new housing development just north of New Glarus. The stream has not been monitored in recent years.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Spring Vallley Creek -T5N, R7E, Sec. 32, Surface acres = 1, Length = 2 miles, Stream order = I, Gradient = 13.3 ft/mile, Base discharge = 1.0 cfs.
Spring Valley Creek is a small tributary to the Little Sugar River which drains about 2 square miles of agrlcultural lands. Its substrate consists of 80% clay-silt and 20% sand. Edge vegetation includes canary grass and sedge. The creek is ditched in several places and has low water quality. Conductivity is high and the water is quite alkaline. Forage fish are the only species present. Access is available on Hwy. G. Fish species: common shiner and dace (unsp.).
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
Historical Description
From: Poff, Ronald J., and C.W. Threinen, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison I, 1961.
Flows south to join the New Glarus Branch in the village of New Glarus. Managed for forage fish. Flows through entirely pastured and cropped land.
Surface Acres= 3.7, Miles= 4.5, Gradient= 17.8' per mile
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
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 |
|---|
|
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
|
|
Watershed Characteristics
Spring Valley Creek is located in the Little Sugar River watershed which is 133.02 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (46.80%), grassland (32.10%) and a mix of forest (13.90%) and other uses (7.00%). This watershed has 351.74 stream miles, 50.40 lake acres and 3,252.10 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.