Kummel Creek, East Branch Rock River Watershed (UR13)
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Kummel Creek, East Branch Rock River Watershed (UR13)
Kummel Creek (863500)
3.96 Miles
14 - 17.96
Natural Community
Warm Headwater, COOL-Warm Headwater
Year Last Monitored
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Low DO, Degraded Habitat
Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
 
Fond Du Lac
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
LFF

Overview

Kummel Creek (also known as Kiefer Creek) is located in the Upper Rock River Basin of Dodge County near Brownsville, Lomira, and Theresa, Wisconsin. It is 18 miles long and runs southeast into the Rock River near Theresa, WI. Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural with some residential development. Kummel Creek is west of and in close proximity to the Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area. This stream experiences degraded habitat due to sediment and phosphorus by non-point source runoff from adjacent agricultural fields and point sources (Brownsville wastewater treatment plant and Grande Cheese). Additional problems include sediment and silt deposition in pool areas and channelization of portions of the stream. Water quality monitoring has been conducted between 2004-2006 in preparation for a TMDL report.

Date  2006

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Kummel Creek begins just above the village of Brownsville and joins with the East Branch of the Rock River 16 miles downstream at Theresa Marsh. Sediment and silt deposition is severe in pool areas of the stream. Portions of the creek have been channelized. In 2000, the DNR conducted baseline monitoring in the stream. The water quality monitoring, fisheries and habitat assessment data has not been completely evaluated (as of December 2001). Initial evaluation shows the creek to be in fair to poor condition.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Facilities Management

Kummel creek has its headwaters located in the northern part of the Town of Lomira in Dodge County just above the Village of Brownsville. Flowing southeasterly, this small shallow creek enters the East branch of the Rock River near the Village of Theresa.

Sixteen miles long, in an agricultural watershed, this creek receives limited recreational attention. Some of its best potential is within the downstream reaches where depths are greater and fish and wildlife uses increase. These downstream reaches are within a state wildlife refuge.

The uppermost segment between Brownville and County Highway HH is designated
Intermediate fish and aquatic life. The data gathering during 1987 supports this designation. The following narrative will only deal with this segment.

Flows are continuous and USGS has calculated the Q7, 2 at G. 13 CFS and the Q7, 10 at 0.02 CFS. (1) The average flow, based on five measurements between 1972 and 1976 was calculated to be 2.06 CFS (S.D. ? 1.43). Although the variance classification listed in NR 104 indicates Kummel Creek to be non-continuous, it is recommended this be redesignated continuous, based on field observations and USGS data.

Water quality appears to be acceptable at points above the outfalls for Grande Cheese and the Village of Brownsville WWTP's. A HBI sampling on 11/10/87 was assigned a tolerance value of 3.8 which indicates that oxygen values are sufficient to maintain diverse aquatic life. Oxygen levels below the WWTP mixing zones however, may be more depleted. Fish monitoring on 11/25/87 upstream and downstream of the mix zones demonstrated the existence of a tolerant forage fish base consisting primarily of brook stickleback, Culaea
inconstans, with less dense populations of central mudminnows, Umbra limi, and the creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus. The stickleback and creek chub tolerate silted habitat conditions well and the mudminnow reportedly is capable of tolerating very low oxygen levels. (3) All three species are widely distributed in Wisconsin. Fago, (1982), reported 8 species, all tolerant, within the upper half of Kummel Creek. (5)

A habitat inventory conducted above and below the mixing zone reflects tell tolerant virtues of the forage fish collected. Silt deposition is severe in observe1l reaches when velocity allows particles to settle out. Silt depths
averaged 0.15 meters in runs and pools. Detrital content of the creek substrate was low, indicating soil sources. Velocity in these reaches was <0.1 FPS.

Width averages 2 - 3 meters. Depth is limiting in much of the variance segment. Pool depths are generally less than 2 feet deep and runs are shallow. .Riffles are rare, as only one was observed downstream of STH 49. This is not surprising as the gradient is 4 feet/mile. (B) Instream vegetation and overhead bank vegetation provide the available fish habitat. Very little overhead shading occurs yet stream banks are relatively stable.

Various upstream reaches within the variance segment have been ditched and straightened. These reaches do not provide sufficient habitat. The habitat rating value is 217 (see attached) which indicates poor quality. (2)
Much of this is due to row crop erosion upstream of Brownsville and the past ditching activity. Siltation is severe and runoff related NPS impacts are significant.

There are indications that some point source organic overload may be occurring. Two point sources are at this location. One is from the Brownsville municipal WWTP and the other is from Grande Cheese Company.
During the field investigation, it was unclear which outfall was municipal as the two discharges are located close to each other. Sphaerotilus, filamentous bacteria, was present in the mix zone and indicates a high organic strength discharge. Also, during the field investigation, one of the outfalls was discharging a turbid looking wastewater. In light of these observations it is recommended that these permits be reviewed for compliance with limits.

The upper reaches of Kummel creek on impacted by controllable and uncontrollable factors. Uncontrollable factors include low flows, in stream habitat, urban runoff, and ditching. Controllable factors include cropland and barnyard runoff and the two point sources discussed.

Fish species reflect a tolerant and low diversity fish community. Habitat quality is lacking due to physical stream conditions including shallow depths and low flows. Even with the elimination of controllable factors, the aquatic community here would likely remain unbalanced.

It is, therefore, recommended that Kummel creek, from Brownsville WWTP downstream to CTH "HH" remain classified intermediate fish and aquatic life, use class D, but with a "continuous" hydrologic classification.

Date  1988

Author  Paul Laliberte

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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Streams capable of supporting small populations of forage fish or tolerant macro-invertebrates that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically limited due to naturally poor water quality or habitat deficiencies. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 3 mg/L.