Vernon
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
South Branch Creek, also known as the South Branch of the Baraboo River, flows in a northeasterly direction for 6.5 miles before reaching the West Branch of the Baraboo River at Hillsboro Lake in Hillsboro. Some people and references in older documents erroneously identify the South Branch of the Baraboo River as extending below Hillsboro Lake to its confluence with the Baraboo River near Union Center. The river below Hillsboro Lake, however, is in fact the West Branch of the Baraboo River. South Branch Creek, located in northeastern Vernon County, has a gradient of approximately 23 feet per mile and drains hilly agricultural and forested lands. The creek is a Class III trout stream for its entire length upstream of HWY 80 just south of Hillsboro. The lower half mile of the stream contains warm water fish species also found in Hillsboro Lake.
The South Branch Creek suffers from flooding, sedimentation of pools and riffles, manure runoff, and lack of in-stream habitat for adult trout. The most recent biological survey, conducted in 1968, documented very few brown trout and numerous forage fish species. A habitat survey, conducted in 1994, documented a stream bottom consisting of equal amounts of gravel, cobble, sand and silt; however, in-stream cover for adult trout was lacking. There is a USGS gauging station at Hillsboro. WDNR records indicate that the South Branch Creek
has been stocked with brown trout consistently since 1960. Access to this stream is from five road crossings.
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
This stream, a tributary to Hillsboro Lake, is a Class III trout stream (WDNR, 1980). It
has generally good water quality in its upper reaches. In-stream habitat is degraded by
nonpoint sources of water polltrtion (Biebl, 1991). Sediment from eroding farm fields
and streambanks fill riffles and deep pools, elirrlinatirlg habitat. Elevated stream
temperatures in the lower reaches and organic and bacterial pollutant loadings from
livestock are all thoght to be problems (Biebl, 1991).
Date 1994
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
South Branch Creek, from its mouth to Hwy 80 (miles 0 to 1.25), was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022; phosphorus levels were too high, but bug and fish communities were in good health. This water is part of the Wisconsin River TMDL, approved in 2019.
South Branch Creek, from Hwy 80 to its headwaters (miles 1.25 to 9.44) was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022; temperature, fish, and bug data indicated a healthy system. This stream segment is on the Healthy Waters List.
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
Natural Community Review or Change
DNR should monitor South Branch Creek downstream of CTH Q to determine if the natural community designation of cold water is correct. Currently, the stream is designated as cold-water in the lower stretch near the stream mouth and at the stream outlets to Hillsboro Lake, which is a shallow warm-water lake; this water backs up into South Branch Creek downstream of CTH Q even during small rain events.
Best Management Practices, Implement
South Branch Creek has some stream segments and springheads that are highly eroded from livestock grazing, therefore, DNR and partners should implement agricultural BMPs to reduce soil erosion.
Natural Community Review or Change
DNR should change the natural community designation of South Branch Creek from cool-cold to cool-warm.
Natural Community Review or Change
South Branch Creek was previously listed on the 303(d) list in 2014 as impaired for phosphorus from STH-80 Bridge to the mouth. However, biological information rated good to excellent and does not support a 303(d) listing for biological impairment.
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 |
|---|
| 1289800 | South Branch Creek | 10017179 | South Branch Baraboo at Cth Q | 11/5/1973 | 10/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1289800 | South Branch Creek | 10015761 | South Branch Baraboo River - 70 Yds Above Bridge On Sth 80 | 3/17/1994 | 8/14/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1289800 | South Branch Creek | 633121 | South Branch Baraboo R. And Beaver Ck. - | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
South Branch Creek is located in the Seymour Creek and Upper Baraboo River watershed which is 171.73 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (36.60%), grassland (33.40%) and a mix of agricultural (20.30%) and other uses (9.80%). This watershed has 414.62 stream miles, 124.03 lake acres and 4,637.96 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium 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.