Dane
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wendt Creek lies between Halfway Prairie Creek and Black Earth Creek and is 6 miles in length. It meets Halfway Prairie Creek to the east of Mazomanie. Like many of the othertributaries; pollution and loss of habitat are the concerns and are responsible for this creek being placed on the list of impaired waters (303(d)). This subwatershed has several wetland areas and some are under WDNR easements or ownership.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Historical Description
Wendt Creek (Spring Brook) -T8N, R6E, Sec. 16, Surface acres = 4, Length = 6 miles, Stream order = I, Gradient = 23.3 ft/mile, Base discharge = 2.7 cfs, Wendt Creek originates in the glacial drift hills in western Berry Township (T8N, R7E) and flows westward through shallow marshes and farmland before emptying into Halfway Prairie Creek just above Black Earth Creek near Mazomanie. It is fed by springs and marsh seepage. A substantial portion of the stream in Mazomanie Township has been ditched and straightened to provide drainage for agricultural lands (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a). The creek waters are of good quality and are slightly alkaline. Its substrate consists of approximately 65% clay-silt and 35% gravel-rubble. Attempts at trout management were made in the creek in the 1950's with no success. At present it supports only a forage fishery. Access is available at four road crossings. Fish species: spotfin shiner, fathead minnow. creek chub, white sucker, fantail and Johnny darter.
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
Wendt Creek is currently on the impaired waters (303d) list for habitat with sediment being the pollutant. Wendt Creek was part of the original Black Earth Creek Priority Watershed (1986-98); it has 6.0 miles listed as impaired. The impaired area has had a significant amount of resources allocated towards sediment reduction. Data will be compared against pre-BMP work. Stream will be evaluated to determine if stream has the potential to be listed as trout water.
Date 2006
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 Water Quality or Sediment
Unmuth: Not likely we can even correct the temperature issue if there is an impoundment on the stream CO: Future sampling to see if there is an actual impairment. ID 10012610; AU 13480
TMDL Implementation
Wendt Creek was identified as one of five TMDL's selected by South Central Region. This stream is currently on the 303d list for habitat with sediment being the pollutant. Wendt Creek was part of the original Black Earth Creek Priority Watershed (1986-98), it has 6.0 miles listed as impaired. That area has had a significant amount of resources allocated towards sediment reduction. Data will be compared against pre-BMP work
Restore Riparian Habitat
Restore riparian habitat along Wendt Creek, which is adjacent to Black Earth Creek.
Trout Classification Mgmt
Wendt Creek was identified as one of five TMDLs selected by South Central Region. This stream is currently on the 303d list for habitat with sediment being the pollutant. Wendt Creek was part of the original Black Earth Creek Priority Watershed (1986-98), it has 6.0 miles listed as impaired. That area has had a significant amount of resources allocated towards sediment reduction. Data will be compared against pre-BMP work. Stream will be evaluated to determine if stream has the potential to be listed as trout water.
Management Plans
Reduction of sediment reaching the stream and the resulting total suspended solids is a primary management goal for this water.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 |
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Watershed Characteristics
Wendt Creek is located in the Black Earth Creek watershed which is 105.20 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (37.80%), agricultural (36.90%) and a mix of grassland (16.20%) and other uses (9.20%). This watershed has 196.86 stream miles, 204.29 lake acres and 1,541.75 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.