Iowa
Yes
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Whitford Creek is a Class II trout tributary to Dodge Branch. Flow and sedimentation may be water quality problems in the lower end of the stream (WDNR, 1992-931). There is a nice, though small, wetlands complex adjacent to part of the stream.
Date 2010
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
Whitford Creek is a 3 mile tributary to Dodge Branch. The lower 2 miles are classified as a Class II trout fishery. It flows through a rather wide valley and has a high gradient. The upper end has an absentee landowner which aids in limiting the streambank erosion. Temperature monitors placed in the creek in 1998 and 1999 showed the temperature remained below 75oF, and is suitable for brown trout. Stocking of “browns” has continued through 2001.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Whitford Creek - Mouth location T5N R4E Section 23 -3, Surface area 1.3 acres, Length = 2.0 miles, Gradient = 60.0 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 270.0 mg/l, Volume of flow = 1.1 cfs.
Whitford Creek is a small spring fed tributary of Dodge Branch which supports a trout fishery. It flows through a rather wide valley and although it has a high gradient its lightly pastured bank helps reduce erosion. Its sport fishery consists of stocked brook and brown trout. Forage fishes include white suckers, creek chubs and sculpins. Aquatic game consists of muskrats which are common throughout its length. There are no public lands along this stream but it is accessible from a town road crossing.
From: Piening, Ronald and Threinen, C.W., 1968. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of
Iowa County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1968
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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911900 | Whitford Creek | 10031315 | Whitford Creek #2 | | | Map | Data |
911900 | Whitford Creek | 10054236 | Whitford Cr DS Hutchinson Cr confluence | | | Map | Data |
911900 | Whitford Creek | 10031312 | Whitford creek at Sylvan Rd | 1/1/2015 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=SP06)
Watershed Characteristics
Whitford Creek is located in the Upper East Branch Pecatonica River watershed which is 140.18 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (52.10%), agricultural (22.10%) and a mix of forest (20.70%) and other uses (5.10%). This watershed has 395.65 stream miles, 61.72 lake acres and 834.33 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.