Watershed - Marsh Creek (LR05)
Marsh Creek Watershed

Details

The Marsh Creek Watershed drains 44 square miles and is surrounded by agricultural fields. It has a medium susceptibility for groundwater contamination based on WDNR groundwater susceptibility mapping. Marsh Creek watershed was selected as an Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) project. This program, funded by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), targets critical watersheds for implementation of agricultural best management practices that will also protect water resources. This watershed does not contain any municipalities within its boundaries, nor any named lakes.

Date  2002

Ecological Landscapes for Marsh Creek Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Southeast Glacial Plains Ecological Landscape makes up the bulk of the non-coastal land area in southeast Wisconsin. This Ecological Landscape is made up of glacial till plains and moraines. Most of this Ecological Landscape is composed of glacial materials deposited during the Wisconsin Ice Age, but the southwest portion consists of older, pre-Wisconsin till with a more dissected topography. Soils are lime-rich tills overlain in most areas by a silt-loam loess cap. Agricultural and residential interests throughout the landscape have significantly altered the historical vegetation. Most of the rare natural communities that remain are associated with large moraines or in areas where the Niagara Escarpment occurs close to the surface. Historically, vegetation in the Southeast Glacial Plains consisted of a mix of prairie, oak forests and savanna, and maple-basswood forests. Wet-mesic prairies, southern sedge meadows, emergent marshes, and calcareous fens were found in lower portions of the Landscape. End moraines and drumlins supported savannas and forests. Agricultural and urban land use practices have drastically changed the land cover of the Southeast Glacial Plains since Euro-American settlement. The current vegetation is primarily agricultural cropland. Remaining forests occupy only about 10% of the land area and consist of maple-basswood, lowland hardwoods, and oak. No large mesic forests exist today except on the Kettle Interlobate Moraine which has topography too rugged for agriculture. Some existing forest patches that were formerly savannas have succeeded to hardwood forest due to fire suppression.

Date  2010

Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/2012
Waters Involved
Mud Lake
Status
Complete

Rock-Koshkonong Lake District: Res-Lake Koshkonong/Mud Lake Wetland Restoration: The Rock Koshkonong Lake District will use dredge spoils from a nearby location on the lake to re-create an eroded barrier of land that protects the Mud Lake wetland from the main lake\2019s wave action, arm the barrier with riprap, and re-create a wetland behind the barrier. This restored wetland is the subject of the grant, as well as the Mud Lake wetland complex which is being protected. Another facet of protecting the Mud Lake wetland from carp congregating there, the District will also build a navigation-friendly carp barrier between the lake and the wetland. In the spring, without such a barrier, carp migrate in great numbers into Mud Lake, creating disturbance to aquatic plants and displacing other fish spawning.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2002
Waters Involved
Rock River
Status
Complete

Rock River Coalition, Inc: Rock River Basin Community & Citizen Outreach: Rock River Coalition will increase citizen participation in the Rock River Coalition river protection activities, reduce point and nonpoint pollution in the Rock River Basin, and increase riverfront revitalization efforts.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2007
Waters Involved
Rock River
Status
Complete

Rock River Coalition, Inc: Rock River Basin-Water Star Community Program: The primary goal of this Rock River Basin project is to improve/protect water quality by promoting urban stormwater management through a program to recognize communities that conduct a stormwater managment program that meets performance standards as well as enhance groundwater protection, habitat protection, and human health. Objectives include: 1) Organizing a statewide partnership of stakeholders concerned about urban stormwater/urban environment; 2) developing "star water program" elements, activities, point structure, incentives, etc., and 3) establishing at least three pilot Water Star Communities within the Rock River Basin.

Please note: Final report deliverables help us ensure that the grant has been satisfactorily completed, and that state dollars are being spent wisely. Every deliverable, no matter how minor, must be completed in order to receive full reimbursement for the state share of costs. Ranking questions used to obtain this award, and specific deliverables mentioned in your grant description, constitute final report deliverables. If any deliverable is not adequately provided in the final report, only partial reimbursement, at the department's discretion, will be made. The only exception will be if there is a well-justified and department-approved scope amendment. If you have any question about what a specific ranking question or other deliverable means, please contact your river coordinator BEFORE you sign this agreement.


Grant Details
River Protection Grant
Date
4/1/2000
Waters Involved
Beckmans Millpond
Status
Complete

Friends Of Beckman Mill Inc: Friends Of Beckman Mill, Inc. Fish Passageway: The Friends of Beckman Mill, Inc. will construct a natural looking fish passageway that will protect the threatened and endangered species found in the stream. The fish passageway will also increase public awarenes about fish behavior and solutions to fish migration around obstructions.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.


Grant Details
River Protection Grant
Date
4/1/2000
Waters Involved
Raccoon Creek
Status
Complete

Friends Of Beckman Mill Inc: Friends Of Beckman Mill, Inc. Fish Passageway: The Friends of Beckman Mill, Inc. will construct a natural looking fish passageway that will protect the threatened and endangered species found in the stream. The fish passageway will also increase public awarenes about fish behavior and solutions to fish migration around obstructions.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.


Marsh Creek Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
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.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
TMDL Monitoring
Dougherty Creek TMDL
Date
Status
Monitor impaired portion of creek for D.O., nutrients, and BOD to determine level of impairment. Fisheries IBI conducted to determine contemporary status of stream. Sondes, conduct monthly nutrient analysis (12) and event sampling (10). Conduct watershed assessment to determine sources. Conduct macroinverterbrate analysis at 3 sites. July 06-June 07 Upper 4 miles of Dougherty Creek
7/1/2006
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Marsh Creek WatershedWatershed History Note