The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin July 2002 PUBL WT-559-2002
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The State of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin July 2002 PUBL WT-559-2002 A Report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Cooperation with the Lower Wisconsin River Basin Partnership Team and Stakeholders. GOVERNOR Scott McCallum, Governor NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD Trygve A. Solberg, Chair James E. Tiefenthaler, Jr., Vice-Chair Gerald M. O'Brien, Secretary Herbert F. Behnke Howard D. Poulson Catherine L. Stepp Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Darrell Bazzell, Secretary Franc Fennessy, Deputy Secretary Barbara Zellmer, Executive Assistant Gene Fransisco, Administrator Division of Forestry Steve Miller, Administrator Division of Land Susan L. Sylvester, Administrator Division of Water Ruthe E. Badger, Director South Central Regional Office Marjorie R. Devereaux, Water Leader Susan J. Oshman, Land Leader J. Andy Morton, Lower Wisconsin Basin Water Sub-Team Leader Rick S. Wojciak, Lower Wisconsin Basin Land Team Leader Scott McCallum, Governor South Central Region Headquarters Darrell Bazzell, Secretary 3911 Fish Hatchery Road Ruthe E. Badger, Regional Director Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5397 Telephone 608-275-3266 FAX 608-275-3338 TTY 608-5-3231 July 1, 2002 To Interested Parties of the Lower Wisconsin River Basin: The Lower Wisconsin River Basin is host to a wide variety of high quality natural resource areas that are worthy of protection and enhancement; from the vast Lower Wisconsin State Riverway to the tiny spring creeks that are home to wild populations of brook trout. We need to work together to assure that these many resources are protected for the use and enjoyment of our future generations. The Lower Wisconsin State of the Basin Report was prepared in consultation with local units of government, other agencies, private citizens and other conservation organizations in the Lower Wisconsin River Basin. We hope that the goals, objectives and recommendations in this document will be useful in providing direction for future projects and work in the basin. It is also envisioned that this document, and the accompanying effort that went into its preparation, will serve as a springboard for a multitude of integrated resource management projects throughout the basin. It is hoped that this report will help you understand basic aspects of our natural resources, how they interact and what issues need more attention. This will help provide direction for those of us who work and recreate in the basin and provide guidance concerning policy issues that need to be addressed in the future. Sincerely, Andy Morton Rick Wojciak Lower Wisconsin River Basin Regional Forester Water Leader www.dnr.state.wi.us Quality Natural Resourcesiii Management www.wisconsin.gov Printed on Through Excellent Customer Service Recycled Paper ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Preparation of the Lower Wisconsin River State of the Basin Report represents a combined effort of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with support from partnership groups and WDNR field and central office staff in the Divisions of Water, Land and Forestry. Many individuals contributed information, data analysis or review. We would like to recognize the major contributions of these individuals. Without their insights and input, this integrated plan would not have been possible. Author/Editor/Mapping: Coreen Ripp Co-Authors: Cindy Koperski, Jason Folstad Assistance: Lisa Helmuth, Janel Pike Contributors (WDNR unless otherwise noted): Steve Ales John Exo (UWEX) Andy Morton Ray Amiel Jennifer Filbert John Nielsen Jim Amrhein Steve Fix (DATCP) George Osipoff Russ Anderson Sue Graham Peter Pfefferkorn Jason Barnum Mark Guthmiller Ted Pyrek Joe Behlen Tom Harpt Roger Schlesser Rachel Bender Mark Hazuga Bradd Sims Jim Bertolicini Dan Heim Mike Sorge Julie Bleser Adam Hogan Patrick Sorge Eric Brach Tom Howard Jason Spaeth Paul Brandt Scott Ironside Scot Stewart William Carlson Bill Ishamael Gene Van Dyck Laura Chern Tom Jablonski Dave Vetrano Peggy Compton (UWEX) Neal Kephart Mike Vollrath Alan Crossley Roger Kerr Karen Voss Jane Cummings-Carlson Tim Larson Kurt Welke Mike Degen Roy Lemke Jim Welsh (TNC) Greg Delwiche Rick Livingston (TNC) Rick Wojciak Neil Derkowski Del Maag Matt Zine Rich Edwards Dave Marshall Equal Opportunity Employer The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. This publication can be made available in alternative format's (large print, Braille, audio-tape, etc.) upon request. Please call Lisa Helmuth, 608-266-7768, for more information. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707. This publication was partially funded by 604(b) and 104(b) grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fulfill requirements of Areawide Water Quality Management Planning under Section 208 of the Clean Water Act and NR121 of Wisconsin's Administrative Code. This plan also serves as an implementation component of Wisconsin's Fisheries, Habitat and Wildlife Strategic Implementation Plan. iv ACRONYMS BBS Breeding Bird Survey BMP Best Management Practice CAFO Confined Animal Feeding Operation COE Corps of Engineers CREP Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program CRP Conservation Reserve Program DATCP Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection DOA Wisconsin Department of Agriculture DOT Wisconsin Department of Transportation EQIP Environmental Quality Incentives Program ERW Exceptional Resource Water FACT Farming and Conservation Together FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FIP Forest Incentive Program FSA Farm Services Agency LCD Land Conservation Department LUNKER Little Underwater Neighborhood Keepers Encompaasing Rheotactic Salmonids LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tanks LWSR Lower Wisconsin State Riverway MTBE Methyl tertiary-butyl ether NHI Natural Heritage Inventory NRB Natural Resources Board NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service ORW Outstanding Resource Water PWS Priority Watershed Program RC&D Resource Conservation and Development SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load TRM Targeted Runoff Management TU Trout Unlimited USDA United States Department of Agriculture USEPA United State Environmental Protection Agency USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS United States Geologic Service UWEX University of Wisconsin-Extension VOC Volatile organic compound VSN Valley Stewardship Network WDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources WHIP Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program WPDES Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System WRP Wetland Reserve Program WWTP Wastewater treatment plant v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................................................................................IV ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................ V WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE BASIN REPORT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ............................... 1 THE WATERSHED APPROACH TO NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATION OF WATER AND LAND RESOURCES................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 1: PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS IN THE LOWER WISCONSIN RIVER BASIN ...................... 4 BADGER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT ................................................................................................................. 4 BARABOO HILLS ................................................................................................................................................. 5 BARABOO RIVER RESTORATION.......................................................................................................................... 6 BLACK EARTH CREEK WATERSHED.................................................................................................................... 8 CASTLE ROCK CREEK.......................................................................................................................................... 9 CITIZEN STREAM AND LAKE MONITORING........................................................................................................ 10 DEVIL’S LAKE PROJECT .................................................................................................................................... 13 THE FAIRFIELD MARSH CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP .................................................................................... 14 KICKAPOO RIVER VALLEY ................................................................................................................................15 LITTLE LEMONWEIR EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT ................................................................................... 17 LOWER WISCONSIN RIVERWAY PROJECT.......................................................................................................... 18 RECONNAISSANCE STUDY ................................................................................................................................. 19 SNOW BOTTOM NATURAL AREA....................................................................................................................... 20 REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER ONE....................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER