Mineral Point Branch Watershed (SP09)

The Mineral Point and Sudan Branches watershed in southwest Iowa County and a very small part of northwest Lafayette County is dominated by agricultural land uses. Mineral Point, Linden and Bloomfield Manor discharges to surface water in the watershed. Historically, mining was a major industry in the Mineral Point area. Mine waste piles, called roaster piles, remaining from the lead, zinc, and copper mining have degraded water quality.

Brewery Creek

Brewery Creek rises near Mineral Point and flows south to the junction with Rock Branch, where it becomes Furnace Creek. Runoff from roaster piles has severely degraded water quality and in-stream habitat, demonstrated by the limited aquatic life biological use classification of the stream (Schlesser, 1988). A 1990 report documented low fish populations and poor fish diversity in the reach below the roaster pile (Schlesser, 1990). Additional monitoring in the summer of 1992 confirmed this (Marshall, 1992-93). An Environmental Repair Fund (ERF) project to consolidate and cap the roaster piles began in early 1992, and was completed in the fall of 1993, with the purpose of improving water quality and in-stream habitat. A portion of the highly degraded streambed near the consolidated roaster pile was filled, with a new stream channel dug and the stream diverted to it. Brook trout were planted in the new stream channel in the fall of 1993. Wetlands immediately adjacent the consolidated roaster pile have also been degraded by runoff from the pile. We expect that water quality and in-stream habitat will improve significantly once the ERF project is completed, perhaps allowing the stream to be reclassified as at least supporting forage fishery. Southern District Water Resources Management staff monitored the stream in 1994 to assess conditions, including surface water quality, in-stream habitat, fisheries, stream bottom sediment and wetlands to determine success of the ERF project.

In the spring of 1994, brook trout were still present in Brewery Creek, along with a variety of forage fish. Water quality chemistry parameters had improved although the levels for zinc are still considered high. Levels of heavy metals in stream sediment vary. Ins-tream habitat is poor in some reaches.

Southern District staff will continue to monitor the creek in 1995. A formal stream classification for Brewery Creek will be done once the stream has stabilized.

Furnace Branch

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).

Mineral Point Branch

Mineral Point Branch rises near Dodgeville and flows south to the Pecatonica River. It partially supports a warm water sport fishery, with a portion managed for smallmouth bass. This fishery may be degraded by polluted runoff. A 1990 smallmouth bass survey indicates that the bass fishery in the stream may be affected by whatever factors are causing the decline of the smallmouth bass fishery in southwestern Wisconsin (WDNR, 1992-93¹). A dam across the stream forms Ludden Lake. We have no information about the effects of that dam on the fishery or water quality below the dam. Two fish species on the state's threatened and endangered species list have been found in this stream, the slender madtom and the Ozark minnow (Fago, 1982).

Pedler Branch

Pedler Branch is a tributary to Sudan Branch in Iowa County. Polluted runoff from barnyards and streambank grazing have degraded in-stream habitat and water (Schlesser, 1993). One permitted facility discharges to the stream. The facility had some problems, but these have been corrected. Recent monitoring resulted in a stream classification change, upgrading the limited forage fishery reach to warm water forage fishery. This represents an improvement in water quality (Schlesser, 1989). The wastewater treatment facility at Bloomfield Manor is being upgraded and this should further improve water quality of the stream. The slender madtom, a fish on the state's endangered species list has been found here (Fago, 1982).

Sudan Branch

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).

Ludden Lake

Ludden Lake is an impoundment on the Mineral Point Branch near Mineral Point. We have no water quality data for the lake, though we assume water quality to be poor and similar to that of other impoundments in the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin (Marshall, 1988). Use of the lake is limited by poor public access. Property owners around the lake have formed a lake district as a first step in addressing water quality and lake use issues. The dam that forms the lake was repaired in 1993. No entity has taken responsibility for ownership of the dam at this writing, but that issue is expected to be resolved in 1994.

Any comments or suggestions, please email the watershed contact Jim Amrhein.