Overview

Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.

Murphy (Wingra) Creek is a two-mile channelized stream, with an 8.6 square mile watershed, and connects Lake Wingra with Lake Monona. Murphy Creek (commonly called Wingra Creek) is often choked with weeds and is periodically stagnant due to low base flow conditions and a flat gradient of 2 feet/mile. The stream's channelization started in 1905. Water quality is poor due to urban runoff, aquatic plant growth and sedimentation. Low dissolved oxygen levels and extreme diel fluctuations from the respiration of an excessive number of aquatic plants results in occasional fish kills. Chloride levels are high, principally due to street runoff of road salt. The water is very turbid. In the past, manure from livestock holding pens at the Dane County Fairgrounds washed into Murphy Creek via storm sewers. A major fishkill in 1977 was partly caused by runoff from the fairgrounds. Heavy metals, DDT metabolites, and PCBs have been detected in sediment samples taken from the creek. Despite these problems the creek seasonally supports good populations of bluegills and forage fish. Walleye and northern pike are also present during spawning. The creek is classified as a warm water sport fishery and is a popular fishing and canoeing water.

The city of Madison has designed and implemented during 1996 a streambank stabilization project on the creek between Fish Hatchery Road and Park Street. A bike path travels the length of Wingra Creek, which makes it highly accessible. The potential for recreational use of the creek is very high. WDNR and the city of Madison may work together to enhance the creek's habitat. A central issue for improving the creek's water quality and fisheries value is restoring the creek's water levels by minimizing human-induced fluctuations.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Murphy Creek (Wlngra Creek) -T7N, R9E, Sec. 25, Surface acres = 10, Length = 2.5 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 2.0 ft/mile, Base discharge = 0.1 cfs.
This channeled stream connects Lake Wingra to Lake Monona and the Yahara River system. The stream is often choked with weeds and is periodically stagnant. The stream is navigable by canoe but there are two low head dams. Water quality is poor due to the highly municipal and industrial aspect of the watershed. Dissolved oxygen levels are frequently low (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a) and chloride levels are high. Manure from livestock shows at the Dane County Exposition Center washes into storm sewers which lead to Murphy Creek. A severe fishkill in 1977, in which 27,000 fish died, was partly attributable to this runoff. Murphy Creek also receives non contact cooling water from at least four industries. It supports good populations of bluegllls and forage species. Walleye and northern pike are present during the spawning season. Hybrid muskies enter the lower end at Lake Monona. Low flow and low dissolved oxygen levels limit the fishery of Murphy Creek at the present time. Access is available at several road crossings and nearly all stream frontage is in public ownership, either as parkway or the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. A good boat ramp on the lower end at 0lin Park provides access to Lake Monona. Fish specIes: common carp, northern pike, hybrid muskie, golden and emerald shiner, bluntnose and fathead minnow, white sucker, bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and walleye.

From: Day, Elizabeth A.; Grzebieniak, Gayle P.; Osterby, Kurt M.; and Brynildson, Clifford L., 1985. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Dane County. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

Date  1985

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Wingra Creek was placed under a special fish consumption advisory for PFOS in 2020; the entire stream, two segments, were added to the 2022 Impaired Waters List for PFOS in fish tissue.

Date  2022

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

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

Wingra Creek is located in the Yahara River and Lake Monona watershed which is 93.73 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (24.80%), urban (23.90%) and a mix of agricultural (14.50%) and other uses (36.90%). This watershed has 101.97 stream miles, 6,275.33 lake acres and 5,158.72 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.