Spring Brook T02n R14e S27, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01)
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Spring Brook T02n R14e S27, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01)
Spring Brook T02n R14e S27 (791300)
2 Miles
0 - 2
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Cool-Cold Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Rock
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
Yes
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWFF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent forage fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Spring Brook (T2N R14E S22) This four-mile-long spring and seepage creek rises in eastern Rock County 1.5 miles west of the Rock-Walworth county line and flows southerly and at a medium gradient through the Carver-Roehl County Park to its confluence with Turtle Creek. High fecal Streptococcus bacteria counts have been detected in the stream, probably due to the obvious streambank pasturing upstream in the flat terrain of the creek's headwaters adjacent to dairy farm operations. A habitat evaluation in 1996 at the Carver-Roehl Park characterized the stream as having “good” habitat quality at that site.

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

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

A spring and seepage fed stream tributary to Turtle Creek. The flow
is greatly reduced in dry years. The fishery is composed of forage species only. There are 8 acres of adjoining fresh meadow wetland. Access is available from a small county park and two bridge crossings.

Surface Acres = 4.2, Miles = 3.8, Gradient = 21 feet per mile.
From: Ball, Joseph R., and Ronald J. Poff, Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Rock County, Department of Natural Resources, 1970.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Spring Brook T02n R14e S27, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01) Fish and Aquatic LifeSpring Brook T02n R14e S27, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01) RecreationSpring Brook T02n R14e S27, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of Spring Brook (WBIC 791300) showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, no biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological impairment. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list.

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2017 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Spring Brook - Spring Brook Creek At Carvers Rock Bend
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Spring Brook, Spring Brook Creek at Carvers Rock Bend, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Spring Brook E of Carvers Rock Rd: Qualitative Habitat Eval 14Jun2017
Spring Brook East of Carvers Rock Rd: Fish Survey 14Jun2017
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Spring Brook - Spring Brook Creek At Carvers Rock Bend
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
SCR_12_CMP12 - Rock County CBSM NUTRIENT MONITOR Final Project Summary
SCR_12_CMP12 - Rock County CBSM NUTRIENT MONITORING CBSM REPORT
Turtle Creek Watershed Plan 2011 (LR01)

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
SCR_12_CMP12 - Rock County CBSM nutrient monitoring project with WDNR.

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

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
SCR_12_CMP12 - Rock County CBSM NUTRIENT MONITORING2011

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
791300Spring Brook10010968Spring Brook Creek at Carvers Rock Bend5/16/19978/28/2024MapData
791300Spring Brook10039626Spring Brook 300ft up from bridge at Carver Roehl County Park5/19/20117/11/2024MapData
791300Spring Brook543242Spring Brook at Creek Rd5/5/198010/16/1992MapData
791300Spring Brook10010971Spring Brook - East Of Carvers Rock RdMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Spring Brook is located in the Turtle Creek watershed which is 288.47 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (69.80%), grassland (9.10%) and a mix of forest (6.50%) and other uses (14.50%). This watershed has 339.80 stream miles, 590.58 lake acres and 6,590.97 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.

Natural Community

Spring Brook T02n R14e S27 is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.