Cooperator: Dane County Regional Planning Commission
Location: Dane County
Project Number: 9KP41
Period of Project: March 1992−Continuing
Problem
A long-term base of water-quality data is needed for water-resource planning and assessment purposes of the lakes and streams in Dane County.
Objective
The objectives of this program are to collect long-term water-quality data to establish a database, including (1) operating four continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations with automatic water-quality samplers to compute sediment and total-phosphorus loads of selected major tributaries to Lake Mendota, (2) operating one continuous-record streamflow gage on Black Earth Creek, and (3) conducting base-flow water-quality sampling six times per year during the open-water season at selected sites on streams throughout Dane County as agreed upon in an annual work plan.
Approach
Streamflow-monitoring stations with automatic water-quality samplers are operated on three tributaries to Lake Mendota. Samples for analysis of suspended-sediment and phosphorus concentrations are collected at low flow and during periods when surface runoff is entering the streams. The concentration and streamflow data are used to compute annual suspended-sediment and total-phosphorus loads for the stations. On a rotating basis, various water-quality constituents (field measurements, nutrients, and common ions) are measured six times during the year at base flow of four selected streams in the county.
Progress (July 2003–June 2004)
Streamflow and water-quality data collection at four continuous-record monitoring sites (Pheasant Branch at Middleton, Spring Harbor Storm Sewer at Madison, and Yahara River at Windsor and at SH113 at Madison) continued. Suspended-sediment loads were computed for Spring Harbor Storm Sewer; suspended sediment and total phosphorus loads were computed for Yahara River at Windsor and SH113 and at Pheasant Branch for the 2003 water year. Continuous streamflow monitoring at Black Earth Creek near Black Earth was continued for the year.
Base-flow water-quality sampling was completed at a set of four streams (054064509 Black Earth Creek (Stagecoach Rd) near Cross Plains, 05427270 Koshkonong Creek near Sun Prairie, 05427507 Koshkonong Creek at Rockdale, and 05435980 West Branch Sugar River near Mt. Vernon) in the County for 2003. Extra low-flow measurements were made during the prolonged dry period at all sites in September 2003. Base-flow sampling will begin at a new set of four streams in the County for 2004.
All streamflow, load, and concentration data were published in the annual data report “Water Resources Data–Wisconsin, Water Year 2003.”
Plans (July 2004–June 2005)
Streamflow monitoring will be continued at Black Earth Creek; streamflow and water-quality monitoring will be continued at the four continuous-record stations on tributaries to Lake Mendota. Six base-flow water-quality samples will be collected from Six Mile Creek near Waunakee (05427900), Door Creek near Cottage Grove (05429580), Yahara River near Stoughton (05429720), and Mount Vernon Creek near Mt. Vernon (05436000) during calendar year 2004. Final data will be prepared and published in the annual data report, “Water Resources Data–Wisconsin.”
Reports
Contribution published in annual data report for Water Year 2003. |
