Sugar River East Channel, Lower Middle Sugar River,Lower Sugar River Watershed (SP11)
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Sugar River East Channel, Lower Middle Sugar River,Lower Sugar River Watershed (SP11)
Sugar River East Channel (878400)
3.19 Miles
0 - 3.19
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 Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
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.
2023
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Green
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.
No
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Sugar River East Channel, in the Lower Middle Sugar River and Lower Sugar River Watersheds, is a 3.80 mile river that falls in Green County. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2016

Author  Ashley Beranek

Sugar River East Channel, Lower Middle Sugar River,Lower Sugar River Watershed (SP11) Fish and Aquatic LifeSugar River East Channel, Lower Middle Sugar River,Lower Sugar River Watershed (SP11) RecreationSugar River East Channel, Lower Middle Sugar River,Lower Sugar River Watershed (SP11) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Sugar River - East Channel was placed on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in 2016. Evaluation in the 2018 cycle confirmed high phosphorus levels.

Date  2018

Author  Ashley Beranek

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
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
2014 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Sugar River at Mill Race
2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -Sugar River at Mill Race

Recommendations

Rivers Planning Grant
The USRWA will participate in the River Planning Grant program by establishing a Lower Sugar River Watershed organization. Project deliverables include the following: 1.) Organize and develop the governance structure of LWRWA, including forming a 401c3 organization 2.) Collect, organize and develop open web access to existing resource data, 3.) Develop a Citizen Science-based network and education program and deploy a series of "Acquainting with Your Watershed" events to engage volunteers, 4.) Collect, assimilate, prepare and present online the collected data, 5.) Design an online "live map" to allow participants to post and share observations in the LSRWA area, 6.) Further develop the "live map" to allow for sharing of a variety of annual events and observations, 7.) Create an adaptable, expandable engagement strategy around a comprehensive program to engage, educate, and inspire people in the LSRW area.
Review, Update Use Designation
The department should review land use and nutrient management efforts in this sub-watershed to determine if any improvements can be made to reduce phosphorus delivery to the stream.

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
UPPER SUGAR RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION: Lower Sugar River Watershed Assoc. Capacity Building2011
DECATUR LAKE MILLRACE ASSOC: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study2017

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
878400Sugar River -East Channel233015Sugar River - Universal Foods Inc Cooling H20MapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel233014Sugar River - A Cth F Ab Univ. FoodsMapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel10039969Sugar River at Mill Race5/18/201310/17/2015MapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel10058232Sugar River - East Channel 9/28/20239/28/2023MapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel10056450Sugar River at Putham ParkMapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel233017Sugar River - Brodhead StpMapData
878400Sugar River -East Channel233016Sugar River - Universal Foods Brodhead OverfloMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Sugar River -East Channel 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.

Natural Community

Sugar River East Channel is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.