Water Detail - Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22)

Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22)

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Seeley Creek (1275300)

Size

5.15 Miles

Segment

15.90 - 21.05

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

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.

2015

General Condition

Good

County

Sauk

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.

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.

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 I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.

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

The upper 4 miles of Seeley Creek have been managed as stocked, trout water. Three of these miles are Class I and one mile is a Class II. The upper-most portion, until the mid 1980s, supported a little known, outstanding natural brown trout fishery. At that time the water level dropped drastically. Locals feel this decline is due to heavy blasting in a quarry near Rock Springs. Regardless, the water level decline was associated with a major reduction in this trout fishery.

During the 1990's, wild brown trout adults were transferred into this area and successful natural reproduction is once again occurring. Active farming of much of the upper watershed has disappeared and restricted land use easements (i.e. pasturing, cropping, and logging ) would now be appropriate on the surrounding land to preserve this "little gem." Downstream drift of natural reproduction of the upper area should increase the fishery downstream around Highway W. Farther down, the stream is impounded to create the 49-acre Seeley Lake, a eutrophic, weedy impoundment that supports a warm water sport fishery.

Date 2002

Author Cynthia Koperski

Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22) Fish and Aquatic Life

Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22) Recreation

Seeley Creek, Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed (LW22) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Seeley Creek was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for biological indicators (bug samples) that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired. This water is part of the Wisconsin River Basin TMDL, which was approved by the USEPA in 2019.

Seeley Creek (mile 0-13.12): Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show bug samples that indicate impairment (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity scored in the poor condition category). Available total phosphorus data confirm total phosphorus listing. Based on the most updated information, degraded biological habitat replaced unknown impairment in 2020.

Seeley Creek (mile 13.12-15.90): The most recent assessments show this segment of the creek is in good condition for Fish Consumption and Aquatic Life uses.

Seeley Creek (15.90-21.05): This segment is in good condition for Fish Consumption use and there is not enough information to assess Aquatic Life use.

Date 2019

Author Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Seeley Creek (1275300) from its mouth to Klein Rd. was placed on the impaired waters list in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date 2015

Author Aaron Larson

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

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment

Narrows Creek and Baraboo River Watershed Plan 2011 (LW22)

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
SAUK COUNTY: HLR - SAUK COUNTY HEALTHY LAKES & RIVERS 2024	2024
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10048907	Seeley Creek - 30 M Upstream of Upper County Highway W Crossing			Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10011102	Seeley Creek - Seeley Creek. 175 Meters Downstream From Confluence With Herritz Hollow Branch.			Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10044147	Seeley Creek - Hwy W bridge	6/24/2015	6/24/2015	Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10033984	Seeley Creek 118 Meters Downstream of Orchard Road	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10011021	Seeley Creek - Seeley Creek Herritz Hollow Branch Mouth Upstream To Twin Bridge			Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10011019	Seeley Creek 1000' Below Junction Of Herritz Hollow Trib And Pether Bridge Pond Trib. Upstream To It.			Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10011020	Seeley Creek - Peter Bridge Pond Branch Mouth Upstream To Cement Slab			Map	Data
1275300	Seeley Creek	10033985	Seeley Creek 180 Meters Downstream of Co Trk PF Crossing	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Seeley Creek is located in the Narrows Creek and Baraboo River watershed which is 176.33 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (31.70%), agricultural (30.90%) and a mix of grassland (25.80%) and other uses (11.60%). This watershed has 368.35 stream miles, 331.44 lake acres and 4,694.54 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Seeley Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater 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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