Liberty Creek, Allen Creek and Middle Sugar River Watershed (SP13)
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Liberty Creek, Allen Creek and Middle Sugar River Watershed (SP13)
Liberty Creek (883800)
2.55 Miles
6.50 - 9.05
Natural Community
Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
Unknown
 
Green
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

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

Overview

The lower 4 miles of this 9 mile long stream are classified as a cold water fishery. The entire stream length is considered an ERW. About 3 miles of Liberty Creek are within the state wildlife area that bears its name. In this area, a high quality wetlands complex exists adjacent to the creek. Liberty Creek has not been monitored since 1983.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

The lower 4 miles of this 9 mile long stream are classified as a cold water fishery. The entire stream length is considered an ERW. About 3 miles of Liberty Creek are within the state wildlife area that bears its name. In this area, a high quality wetlands complex exists adjacent to the creek. Liberty Creek has not been monitored since 1983.

Date  2000

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.
This rather sluggish trout stream flows southward and joins Allen Creek northeast of Albany. In the upper end
of the watershed the stream flows through a mixture of pasture, cropland and hardwood forest. The pastured areas suffer severe bank erosion, but in the cropland, a band of trees and shrubs stabilize the banks. The lower end of the stream flows through an open marsh with low stable banks. The water is generally clear, and one tributary (Cold Spring Creek) enters in Section ll.
Four miles of Liberty Creek upstream from the mouth are managed for trout, but the fishery is .maintained only
through the annual stocking of legal size trout. One mile below CTH "C"is considered as Class II with- the- remainder bein~ Class III. The stream's small flow and the shortage of pool areas limit its trout carrying
capacity. In addition, the bottom is flat and sandy with little instream cover or vegetation. A few smallmouth bass can be found in the lower end of the stream, and there is also a diverse population of forage fish which includes the rare least darter. Approximately 700 acres of wetland adjoin the creek, 505 acres of which are
part of the Liberty Creek Wildlife Area. Nesting and migratory waterfowl extensively use the area, and it is inhabited by a significant muskrat population. Public access is available from five road crossinqs, and the wildlife area provides 4.5 miles of public frontage on Liberty Creek. -
Fish Species: American brook lamprey, brown trout, central mudminnow, northern pike, central stoneroller, brassy minnow, spotfin shiner, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, northern hog sucker, brook stickleback, smallmouth bass, fantail darter, least darter, Johnny darter, blackside darter, mottled sculpin.
Surface Acres = 4.3, Length = 7.1 Miles, Gradient = 15 ft./mi., Base Discharge = 4.5 cu. ft./sec.

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Flows south into Allen Creek. A small portion is managed for brown trout. Estimated 706 acres of hummocky bog and marshland lie adjacent to the stream. no bank cover is afforded as the stream is entirely in an open broad valley.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.Surface Acres= 4.3, Miles= 7.1, Gradient= 8.5' per mile

Date  1961

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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.