Allen Creek and Middle Sugar River Watershed (SP13)

The Allen Creek and Middle Sugar River watershed is in northeast Green County, northwest Rock County and south Central Dane County. The dominant land use in the watershed is agriculture, though some low intensity urban development exists in the upper reaches of the watershed. Municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges to surface water in the watershed come from Belleville, Brooklyn and Evansville. We know little about existing water quality of streams in this watershed.

Allen Creek

Allen Creek rises in southern Dane County, flows through northwest Rock County and northeast Green County before emptying into the Sugar River. About 4.5 miles of the stream above Lake Leota are classified Class II and Class III trout waters (WDNR, 1980). Allen Creek below Evansville was recently added to the state's antidegradation list (NR 102) as an exceptional resource water (ERW), affording it a greater level of protection. The stream below Evansville has a very good, diverse warm water sport fishery. There is some public ownership along the stream south of Evansville.

Gill Creek

Gill Creek is a warm water forage fishery stream. It has the potential to support a cold water sport fishery but is limited by polluted runoff (Eagan, 1988). Gill Creek was recently added to the state's antidegradation list (NR 102) as an exceptional resource water (ERW), affording it a greater level of protection.

Liberty Creek

Liberty Creek is classified as a Class II and Class III trout stream for about four miles of its length (WDNR, 1980). About 2.5 to three miles are within the Liberty Creek State Wildlife Area. A high quality wetlands complex exists adjacent to the creek. Liberty Creek was recently added to the state's antidegradation list (NR 102) as an exceptional resource water (ERW), affording it a greater level of protection. The least darter, a Wisconsin watch species fish, has been reported in this stream.

Ross Crossing Creek

Ross Crossing Creek is a warm water forage fishery with the potential to become a cold water sport fishery (Eagan, 1988). The redfin shiner, a fish on the Wisconsin watch list, has been found here (Fago, 1982). The stream was recently added to the state's antidegradation (NR 102) as an exceptional resource water (ERW), affording it a greater level of protection.

Albany Lake (Lake Winnetka)

This lake is an impoundment of the Sugar River at Albany. It has poor water quality, similar to other impoundments in the driftless area (Marshall, 1988¹²). This 102-acre lake has a drainage area of about 465 square miles. Sedimentation and turbidity impair uses of the lake. A best-case scenario for the Sugar River at Albany is that the dam be operated as "run of the river" dam, allowing much of the existing millpond to become a riverine wetland complex. The Albany State Wildlife Area borders the northwest corner of the lake.

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