Rock
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This warm water stream originates near Orfordville and flows west, then south to empty into Taylor Creek. The lower 5 miles of stream currently supports a warm water sport fishery. However, the fish manager feels the lower 5 miles could potentially be a Class II trout stream because of a 1997 survey which showed populations of naturally occurring fingerlings in this section (Bush, pers. comm.). The upper two miles of stream are classified as limited forage fishery. The department has proposed changing this upper portion to a limited aquatic life classification due to intermittent flow in this area (Marshall, 1988). However, several environmental groups have challenged the department’s proposal. Monitoring will be conducted to assess contemporary conditions in the upper section of the stream. The stream receives effluent from the Ofordville sewerage treatment plant. The plant was upgraded in 1981which improved the water quality of the stream (Marshall, 1988). Agricultural nonpoint source pollution and channelization have impacted the habitat in the stream.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
From: Ball, Joseph R., and Ronald J. Poff, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Rock County, Department of Natural Resources, 1970.
Surface Acres = 7.01, Miles = 6.5, Gradient = 14.9 feet per mile.
A seepage fed warm water stream originating near Orfordville,
flowing east and then south to empty into Taylor Creek. The stream receives runoff from about 12 square miles of crop land and the lower one-half has been ditched. The fishery is composed of forage species only. Adjoining fresh meadow wetland totals 696 acres, 10 percent of which is wooded. The wetland area supports a fair pheasant population. Access is available from three town roads and two state highway crossings.
Date 1970
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Swan Creek (876700), from miles 0 - 5, was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Temperature data met 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use.
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
Recommendations
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Swan Creek should be added to the 303(d) list of impaired waters for phosphorus that exceeds the criteria.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 876700 | Swan Creek | 543083 | Swan Creek - Bl Orfordville Stp Chanl | 4/15/1975 | 10/21/2002 | Map | Data |
| 876700 | Swan Creek | 543079 | Swan Creek - Above Orfordville Stp | 4/15/1975 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 876700 | Swan Creek | 543084 | Swan Creek at Hanson Rd Bl Orfdvlle | 4/15/1975 | 1/29/1976 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Swan Creek is located in the Lower Sugar River watershed which is 217.85 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (65.80%), grassland (16.90%) and a mix of forest (7.60%) and other uses (9.70%). This watershed has 467.98 stream miles, 202.10 lake acres and 6,999.03 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.