![Sudan Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) Sudan Branch, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09)](wsSWIMSDocument.ashx?documentSeqNo=14513395)
12.78 Miles
0 - 12.78
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater
2015
Excellent
Iowa
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Sudan Branch is a tributary to the Mineral Point Branch in Iowa County. It is considered a warm water sport fishery stream and is being managed for smallmouth bass. It appears that the smallmouth bass population may be declining, similar to what other smallmouth streams in southwest Wisconsin are experiencing. The reach of the stream near Linden may have the potential to be trout water (WDNR, 1992-932).
Date 2010
Author Aquatic Biologist
Overview
The Sudan Branch, also known as the East Pecatonica River, is the second longest stream in the watershed and is a tributary to Mineral Point Branch. The village of Linden discharges its wastewater to a tributary of the Sudan Branch. The lower 13 miles are classified as a warm water sport fishery and considered a good walleye stream, while the smallmouth bass fishery is fairly limited (Sims). The upper 3 miles has recently been designated by fisheries management as a Class II trout fishery. Past notes include observations of trout redds in this upper portion (Kerr memo). The stream has not been monitored recently.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Sudan Branch (WBIC 929000) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
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
Recommendations
Fish Management, Access
Fisheries management should determine the reason for lack of trout returns in the upper Sudan Branch to determine if it is practical to continue stocking efforts..
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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929000 | Sudan Br | 10011836 | Sudan Br - 50 Meters Upstream Lost Grove Rd | 10/19/2004 | 8/4/2015 | Map | Data |
929000 | Sudan Br | 10043918 | Sudan Branch - CTH E | 1/1/2015 | 10/8/2015 | Map | Data |
929000 | Sudan Br | 10043917 | Sudan Branch - Farm lane (bridge) off Cave Rd | 1/1/2015 | 8/3/2015 | Map | Data |
929000 | Sudan Br | 10043927 | Sudan Branch - End of farm road at 376 Stude Rd | 1/1/2015 | 10/8/2015 | Map | Data |
929000 | Sudan Br | 10031336 | Sudan Branch Gamefish (upstrm Lost Grove Rd) | | | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=SP09)
Watershed Characteristics
Sudan Br is located in the Mineral Point and Sudan Branches watershed which is 108.26 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily grassland (54.60%), agricultural (33%) and a mix of forest (8.10%) and other uses (4.30%). This watershed has 289.93 stream miles, 87.79 lake acres and 699.78 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.
Sudan Branch is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, 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) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent,
mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to 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.