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.
Swan Creek flows from Lake Delavan through the city of Delavan to its confluence with Turtle Creek. Urban runoff from the city of Delavan affects this 4.8-mile-long creek. The stream is listed as a default classification, or warm water sport fishery.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Swan Creek -T6N, RI0E, Sec. 7, Surface acres = 2, Length = 2 miles, Stream order = II, Gradient = 16.1 ft/mile,
Base discharge = 1.1 cfs.
Swan Creek is a small tributary to the Yahara River that originates in Sections 11 and 14 of Fitchburg Township (T6N, R9E) and empties into the southwestern tip of Lake Waubesa. It drains 7 square miles of cropland and disturbed sedge/cattail marsh land known as the Southern Waubesa Wetlands. The stream has been extensively ditched. Swan Creek has a moderate gradient but a low base discharge. Its waters arise from marsh seepage, runoff, and springs. Fertiilty is very high. Swan Creek supports a limited forage fishery of brook stickleback and Johnny darter, although fish from Lake Waubesa migrate up the lower end of the stream. Recreational value is lImited due to low flow.
FIsh species: northern pIke, white sucker, brown bullhead, brook stickleback, and Johnny darter.
From: Day, Elizabeth A.; Grzebieniak, Gayle P.; Osterby, Kurt M.; and Brynildson, Clifford L., 1985. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1985
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
A seepage fed warm water stream originating near Orfordville, flowing east and then south to empty into Taylor Creek. The stream receives runoff from about 12 square miles of crop land and the lower one-half has been ditched. The fishery is composed of forage species only. Adjoining fresh meadow wetland totals 696 acres, 10 percent of which is wooded.
The wetland area supports a fair pheasant population. Access is available from three town roads and two state highway crossings.Surface Acres = 7.01, Miles = 6.5, Gradient = 14.9 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 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of Swan Creek 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
Recommendations
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
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 |
|---|
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10039667 | Swan Creek at CTH MM and Lalor Rd | 5/13/2008 | 10/13/2010 | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10030148 | Swan Creek at CTH MM | 5/28/2009 | 6/30/2024 | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10010972 | Swan Creek - Swan Creek At Lalor Road | 12/1/1989 | 9/26/2023 | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10050750 | Swan Creek - mouth at Lake Waubesa | 4/22/2018 | 5/22/2018 | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10050749 | Swan Creek - confluence with trib near Hwy 14 | 4/22/2018 | 10/31/2018 | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10017163 | Ted'S Junk Site | | | Map | Data |
| 803800 | Swan Creek | 10053720 | winnebago_test_line | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Swan Creek 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.