Overview

The Galena River, locally known as the Fever River, is the major river system for which this watershed is named. It rises in western Lafayette County and flows south 35 miles into Illinois. While smallmouth bass have been reduced in numbers in many southwestern Wisconsin streams, the Galena River is still considered one of the best bass streams in southern Wisconsin. It was added to the state’s list of Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) in 1995, in part due to the significance and importance of the smallmouth bass fishery. Two municipalities, Benton and Hazel Green, operate wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to the river. While Galena River Watershed Plan 2010 there are a number of abandoned lead and zinc mines and mining waste piles in the watershed, they seem to have little effect on the river’s water quality. A bioassay conducted in 2010 showed no toxicity to aquatic organisms. Fisheries surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008 on the lower ½ of the river showed good numbers of smallmouth bass as well as a diversity of non-game species. The Ozark minnow, a state threatened species, was found at one of the sites. While intense agriculture and manure runoff likely have impacted the Galena River just as it has other streams in the watershed, the stream appears to be maintaining its use as a cool-warm transitional stream and an important smallmouth bass resource.

Date  2010

Author  James Amrhein

Historical Description

The Galena River rises in western Lafayette County and flows south into Illinois. It is also called the Fever River by local residents, and is identified on recent state highway maps as the Fever. The river is one of the best smallmouth bass streams in southern Wisconsin (Lyons, 1990). The Galena was added to the state’s list of Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) in 1995 in part due to the significance and importance of the smallmouth bass fishery.

Evaluation monitoring done as a follow-up to the priority watershed project indicates that installed BMPs were effective in reducing non-point source pollution. However, other uncontrolled pollution sources may be undoing or at least masking the improvements made by BMP installation (Kroner, et.al., 1992). The river carries excessive sediment loads during and after summer storm events. This sediment is from cropland and streambank erosion (Fix, 1991). As a result, instream habitat, fisheries and recreational uses are still being affected by non-point sources of pollution.

There are a number of abandoned lead and zinc mines and mining waste piles in the Galena Watershed. It is not known what effect, if any, these are having on the river’s water quality, instream habitat and fisheries. Past water chemistry grab samples showed no unusual or elevated levels of heavy metals in the water column. Results of recent bio-assays tests also showed no indication of a toxicity problem in the stream (WDNR, 2000).

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) monitoring at two sites on the Galena in 1994 showed “fair” and “good” water quality. Instream habitat ratings at the same two sites indicated “good” and “excellent” habitat (Wang et.al., 1994). Fish surveys conducted over five years at one site on the river has shown wide fluctuation in the number of smallmouth bass caught at that site (Wang,et.al., ibid). The variability of the smallmouth bass population has been studied and reported (Forbes, 1989). Macroinvertebrate sampling conducted in 1995 and 1996 found the Galena to have fair water quality with a high percentage of mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies which can indicate fairly good water quality (Marshall, 1999).

In the spring of 2000, monitoring was conducted on two sites in the river’s headwaters at the Platteville Ag Stewardship Farm (PASF). This macroinvertebrate sampling, just below College Farm Road, found fair water quality. Some mayflies were sampled, but a large percentage of macroinvertebrates were of the order diptera, or two winged flies (WDNR 2000). Baseline sampling conducted in October 2000 determined cool or cold water habitat to be poor or very poor for fish. Habitat evaluations at the sites found very silty conditions, mostly likely due to cropland erosion, streambank pasturing and streambank erosion in the Galena River subwatershed (WDNR 2000). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency assessed eighteen miles of the Galena River in Illinois. The resource quality in that portion of the river was rated as “good” for nine miles and “fair” for nine miles. Nutrients and habitat alterations were the major causes of impairment. A couple of pollution sensitive aquatic species listed on Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered species list have been found in the Galena River.

The DNR has acquired fishing easements along some reaches of the Galena River for additional public access. Two municipalities, Benton and Hazel Green, operate wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to the Galena River. Hazel Green’s population growth rate between 1990 and the end of 1997 was 0.5%, while Benton’s growth rate during the same period was about 0.6%. This shows that neither community is growing and indicates that urban stormwater and non-point sources of pollution are not considered a major problem.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Impaired Waters

Galena River (935500) from Beebe Road to headwaters was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) average scored in the poor condition category).

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

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

Watershed Characteristics

Fever River is located in the Galena River watershed which is 241.84 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (63.10%), grassland (26.40%) and a mix of forest (5.70%) and other uses (4.60%). This watershed has 572.33 stream miles, 65.18 lake acres and 681.01 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.