Grant
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Sanders Creek is a tributary to the Wisconsin River at Boscobel. The stream is a Class II trout
stream for four miles of its length, above the former Boscobel Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The lower 1.5 miles are currently classified as a limited forage fishery (LFF). The discharge
to this stream has been removed, however, and the stream should be re-surveyed to determine
its current use. The stream has a history of supporting brown trout. A cursory habitat
evaluation of the creek was conducted in the summer of 2001. The survey determined that the
creekýs habitat was in fair condition, but in some places was closer to poor. The watershed
and the creek exhibited areas of erosion. This erosion has led to sedimentation in the stream.
The creek is also the focus of citizen monitoring. Volunteers began to monitor the stream in
July 2000 for turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and the overall health of the habitat
and the biotic community in the creek. Today, the lower reach could probably support a
warm water sport fishery. This segment, however, has very little in-stream habitat and floods
often. Sanders Creek has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution
reduction. Intensive agricultural activity occurs in the subwatershed and runoff from
barnyards and feedlots, cattle access to the stream and streambank erosion are problems.
From: Ripp, Coreen, Koperski, Cindy and Folstad, Jason. 2002. The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin.
PUBL WT-559-2002. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 2002
Author Cynthia Koperski
Overview
Sanders Creek is a tributary to the Wisconsin River at Boscobel. The stream is a Class II trout stream for four miles of its length, above the former Boscobel Wastewater Treatment Plant. The lower 1.5 miles are currently classified as a limited forage fishery (LFF). The discharge to this stream has been removed, however, and the stream should be re-surveyed to determine its current use. The stream has a history of supporting brown trout. A cursory habitat evaluation of the creek was conducted in the summer of 2001. The survey determined that the creek’s habitat was in fair condition, but in some places was closer to poor. The watershed and the creek exhibited areas of erosion. This erosion has led to sedimentation in the stream. The creek is also the focus of citizen monitoring. Volunteers began to monitor the stream in July 2000 for turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and the overall health of the habitat and the biotic community in the creek.
Today, the lower reach could probably support a warm water sport fishery, particularly since it no longer receives treated discharge. This segment, however, has very little in-stream habitat and floods often. Sanders Creek has been ranked as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution reduction. Intensive agricultural activity occurs in the subwatershed and runoff from barnyards and feedlots, cattle access to the stream and streambank erosion are problems.
Date 2001
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Saunders Creek is a tributary to the Wisconsin River at Boscobel. The stream is a Class
II trout stream for four miles of its length (WDNR 1980). The lower 1 -5 mil
classified as a limited forage fishery (LFF), riance stream classification (1991) .
This lower reach could probably support a warm water sport fishery (Schlesser 1991),
particularly since the Boscobel wastewater treatment plant no longer discharges
to it. The stream has experienced a recent fishkill, possibly caused by nonpoint
source(s) of pollution (Kerr 1991) . Intensive agricultural activity occurs in the
subwatershed (Schlesser 199122). Runoff from barnyards and feedlots, and cattle access
to the stream are problems (Kerr 1991).
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
From: Smith, Tom D., and Ball, Joseph R., Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Grant County, Department of Natural Resources, 1972. Surface Area = 4.85 acres, Length 5.0 miles, Gradient 22 ft./mile, Flow = 4.7 c.f.s.
A spring-fed stream beginning six miles southwest of Blue River and flowing in a northwest direction through Boscobel and an extensive marsh area before entering the Wisconsin River. About 3.5 miles of this stream is considered trout water with brown trout dominating the fishery. Forage fish are common to abundant and an abundant population of northern pike fry can be found in the lower reaches. Fishing pressure is heavy during the early part of the season. Overgrazing is common along the banks and the banks and channel are quite severely eroded. Suitable spawning material is scarce, and flat, open water is present in manyareas. Flooding has been a severe problem in past years. Damage to crops, roads and bridges, and urban property in Boscobel led to a proposed P.L. 566 Watershed Project. If this project had not been scrapped the three structures to have been built would have greatly improved the quality of the stream. The Boscobel Sewage Treatment Plant is considered a potential source of pollution. Aquatic game assets found in the 38 acres of adjoining wetland include muskrats, mink, and migratory waterfowl. Public frontage totals 0.75 mile in the lower reaches. The stream can also be reached from six bridge crossings and a county highway which parallels the trout stream portion.
Date 1972
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Saunders Creek (WBIC 1205800) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new temperature sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1205800 | Sanders Creek | 10008347 | Sanders Cr. Station 1 - 30m Upstream Hwy 133 | 9/15/1999 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1205800 | Sanders Creek | 10032689 | Saunders Creek at US Hwy 61 Boscobel | | | Map | Data |
| 1205800 | Sanders Creek | 10037203 | Sanders Cr. US STH133 | 6/7/2012 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1205800 | Sanders Creek | 10013176 | Sanders Creek Baseline (N. Of Sth 133) | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Sanders Creek is located in the Green River and Crooked Creek watershed which is 125.71 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (46.60%), grassland (26.30%) and a mix of agricultural (16.80%) and other uses (10.30%). This watershed has 278.95 stream miles, 257.04 lake acres and 4,127.32 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.