Dane
Yes
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Ryan Creek is a Class II trout stream and is considered an exceptional resource water (ERW).
The stream meets up with Elvers Creek in Dane County to form the East Branch of Blue
Mounds Creek. The creek is affected by hydrologic modification, including the ditching of
the stream to drain a nearby wetland. In addition, cattle access to the stream has created
significant erosion problems and has affected in-stream habitat. The stream has been ranked
as a high priority for nonpoint source pollution would benefit from a nonpoint source
pollution reduction project. In 1999, LUNKERS were installed in the creek and part of the
streambank was rip-rapped in an effort to improve in-stream habitat in the creek.
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
Historical Description
Ryan Creek -T7N, R6E, Sec. 17, Surface acres = 4.5, Length = 6 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 106 ft/mile, Base discharge = 5.8 cfs.
Ryan Creek, sometimes called Elvers Creek, originates in Section I of T6N, R5E in Iowa County. It flows northward to meet Elvers Creek where they Join to form the East Branch of Blue Mounds Creek. Ryan Creek drains 5.5 square miles of hilly pasture land, upland and lowland forest. The lower portion has been ditched in an effort to drain a wetland area consisting of wet meadow and shallow marsh. Its flow is traced to 5 springs (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a) and the water quality is good. Because the watershed is steep and cattle have access to the creek in many areas, grazing causes a fair amount of erosion. Erosion is also significant in the ditched section of the creek. Ryan Creek is managed for brown trout, but access is limited by extensive posting of adjacent lands. A native brook trout population present before 1970 no longer inhabits the creek. Access is available through DNR land at the headwaters, on DNR land below Hwy. F, and at four road crossings. Ducks, pheasants, rabbits, and deer inhabit the state owned land below Hwy. F. Furbearers are also common.
Fish species: brook lamprey, brown and rainbow trout, central mudminnow, brassy minnow, creek chub, white sucker, green sunfish, Johnny darter, and mottled sculpin.
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
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 |
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1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10009463 | Ryan Creek Upstream M. Alberts Driveway | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10010001 | Ryan Creek Remap 104-X | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10013389 | Ryan Creek 1 | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10013391 | Ryan Creek at Moyer Road [3] | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10052821 | Ryan Creek @ Mountain Bike Trail Bridge - Blue Mounds State Park | 9/25/2019 | 9/25/2019 | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 133445 | Ryan Creek - Ryan Creek | 6/30/2003 | 11/14/2003 | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10010002 | Ryan Creek - Ryan Creek Remap 104-B | 6/17/2009 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 133446 | Ryan Creek at HWY F Bridge | 6/30/2003 | 8/10/2015 | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10009464 | Ryan Creek Upstream Of Andersons Lunkers | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10013390 | Ryan Creek 2 | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10009465 | Ryan Creek Upstream Of Moyer Rd/Ryan Rd | | | Map | Data |
1251400 | Ryan Creek | 10052658 | Ryan Creek at Shower Rd | | | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=LW15)
Watershed Characteristics
Ryan Creek is located in the Mill and Blue Mounds Creek watershed which is 186.74 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (54.60%), grassland (20.40%) and a mix of agricultural (15.30%) and other uses (9.80%). This watershed has 382.87 stream miles, 106.91 lake acres and 6,596.99 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.