Cooperator: Village
of Cross Plains, Village of Black Earth, Village of Mazomanie, City of Middleton,
Town of Black Earth, Town of Vermont, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Chiefs: Randall J. Hunt; David J. Graczyk
Location: Western Dane County
Project Number: 9KC31
Period of Project: July 2003–September 2007
updated 2/20/07
Problem
Six miles of Black Earth Creek is classified as Class I trout water with an additional
six miles of stream classified as Class II trout water. Urbanization within Dane
County may affect the water resources that are critical to maintaining the coldwater
fishery. A DNR report on the 2001 fish kill on Black Earth Creek notes that “increased
development which brings with it an increase in impervious surfaces poses a long-term
threat to the stream ecosystem.”
Objective
The objective of the study is to use new and existing data from the watershed
to construct a ground-water and surface-water model suitable for watershed-scale
urbanization and associated mitigation scenario simulations.
Approach
The hydrologic system will be simulated using a ground-water/surface-water
numerical model. The ground-water-flow model was extracted from a regional Dane
County model with subsequent vertical and horizontal detail and refinement of
surface-water features. The surface-water model was developed using the high-resolution
digital elevation model and data sets available for the basin.
Progress (January 2006 to June 2006)
Field data from the watershed collected in 2004-2005 were compiled and compared
to historical data. The surface-water model was expanded to include the watershed
below the Black Earth Creek gage. Recalibration of the models to the new and
historic data was started.
Plans (July 2006 to December 2006)
Model runs will be finalized and the project report will be written.
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