Furnace Creek/Brewery Creek, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09)
Furnace Creek/Brewery Creek, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09)
Furnace Creek/Brewery Creek (928000)
1.41 Miles
1.96 - 3.37
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 Mainstem
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.
2016
Good
 
Iowa, Lafayette
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.
No
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.
No

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.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport 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.
LAL
Streams capable of supporting macro-invertebrates or occasionally fish that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically small streams with very low-flow and very limited habitat. Certain marshy ditches, concrete line-drainage channels, and other intermittent streams. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters are tolerant of many extreme conditions, but typically require concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain about 1 mg/L.

Overview

Furnace Branch is formed by the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Water quality and in-stream habitat are also degraded by the runoff from the roaster piles at Mineral Point (Schlesser, 1990). Polluted runoff from stream bank grazing may also affect water quality and in-stream habitat, although presently masked by the pollution from the roaster piles. While the stream has not been formally classified, we assume its present biological use to be limited aquatic life. It has the potential to support a warm water forage fishery, and possibly even a trout stream if conditions improve (Schlesser, 1990).

Date  

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

Furnace Branch is formed by the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Water quality and in-stream habitat were historically degraded by the runoff from nearby roaster piles. Little monitoring has been conducted on this stream in recent years. The current codified use is warm water sport fish for the lower 2 miles and limited aquatic life for the remaining portion. The proposed codified use is for the default classification to cover the entire length of the stream.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Furnace Creek - Mouth location T4N, R3E Section 18 -15, Surface area = 0.7 acres, Length = 0.4 miles, Gradient = 0.0 (in Iowa County), Total alkalinity = 240 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.5 cfs.
Furnace Creek begins at the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. The water quality of Rock Branch is very good and is managed as a trout stream. Brewery Creek (see above) is polluted by ore wastes and its waters are considered of poor quality. Although over half of this stream's base flow is contributed by Rock Branch, the waters of Brewery Creek create extreme turbidity. Seining surveys indicate extremely low biological productivity at least insofar as the fishery is concerned. It is not known whether this is due to the pollution or turbidity, or both. Flooding is common during periods of heavy runoff and bank erosion is severe. The sport fishery is restricted to the presence of a few smallmouth
bass. If the pollution is corrected conditions might be suitable for trout. Forage fish species include white suckers, common shiners and creek chubs. At least five farm ponds are known to be located in its watershed. None of them was considered as having good fish production but all serve as erosion controls. Because of the well-drained nature of its basin aquatic game assets are limited to muskrats throughout its length and some waterfowl nesting near the mouth. Public lands are absent from the watershed. Presently, it is not accessible in Iowa County except from private lands. However, there are two road crossings in Lafayette County.

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

Historical Description

Furnace Creek, T4N, R2E, Sections 25-8, Surface acres = 3.6, Miles = 2.4, Gradient = 12.5 feet per mile, Total alkalinity = 246 mg/l, Volume of flow = 5.5 cfs.
Being tributary to Mineral Point Branch, its waters eventually reach the West Branch of the Pecatonica River. The stream begins in Iowa County at the confluence of Brewery Creek and Rock Branch. Rock Branch is a brown trout stream which is stocked annually. It also contains some smallmouth bass.
Brewery Creek is considered to be polluted from old mine dump seepage in Mineral Point (Iowa County) and contains little or no fishery. Both streams are restricted to Iowa County in their entirety and their characters are covered in more detail
in that report. Furnace Creek water chemistries are abnormal and suggest the possibility of contamination from Brewery Creek waters. The principal fishery values in Furnace Creek consist of a limited smallmouth bass and forage minnow populations. Presently, it is managed for forage fishes. Game populations in Furnace Creek's watershed, within the county, are restricted to upland species with some waterfowl nesting near its mouth. The dominant bottom type is silt
and most of the land in the basin has been cleared for agricultural purposes. Public access is confined to two road bridges.

From: Piening, Ronald; Poff, Ronald; Threinen, C.W., 1967. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Lafayette County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1967

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Furnace Creek/Brewery Creek, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) Fish and Aquatic LifeFurnace Creek/Brewery Creek, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) RecreationFurnace Creek/Brewery Creek, Mineral Point and Sudan Branches Watershed (SP09) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Furnace Creek (WBIC 928000) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate and 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

Natural Community Review or Change
The classification of Furnace Branch should be updated to reflect the current biota using a contemporary classification system.

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

Watershed Characteristics

Furnace Creek 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.

Natural Community

Furnace Creek/Brewery Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem 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.