5.65 Miles
0 - 5.65
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm Headwater
2024
Poor
Degraded Biological Community
Total Phosphorus
Dane
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.
This tributary to Upper Mud Lake, rising in section 14 T7N R10E, has poor habitat due to low flows, channel straightening and sedimentation from farm field and urban runoff. Despite the poor habitat, its Family Biotic Index (FBI) indicates “very good” water quality. This FBI score, coupled with growth of curly leaf pondweed and elodea, indicate groundwater discharge and cool water temperatures.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of this Unnamed Tributary to Upper Mud Lake showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). 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
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 |
|---|
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10042801 | Unnamed Trib (804100) [Penitto Creek] to Upper Mud Lk at I90/94 | 10/2/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10041121 | Penitto Creek at Stoughton Rd | 9/19/2013 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10041516 | Confluence of tribs (5035708 and 804100) at Beltline culvert | 1/24/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10042176 | Unnamed Tributary (804100) [Penitto Creek] to Upper Mud Lake at CTH AB | 5/23/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10042379 | Un-named Trib (804100) [Pennito Creek] to Upper Mud Lake at Femrite Drive | 7/3/2014 | 5/21/2024 | Map | Data |
| 804100 | Unnamed | 10042376 | Unnamed Trib (804100) [Penitto Creek] to Upper Mud Lake at Marsh Rd | 7/3/2014 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Yahara River and Lake Monona watershed which is 93.73 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (24.80%), urban (23.90%) and a mix of agricultural (14.50%) and other uses (36.90%). This watershed has 101.97 stream miles, 6,275.33 lake acres and 5,158.72 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.
Unnamed Creek Trib To Upper Mud Lake is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, Cool-Warm 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 (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.
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.