Watershed History

Upper Rock River (UR12)

-1995 - URRB Water Quality Management Plan outlines many of the problems facing each of the 13 watersheds within the basin along with management and monitoring recommendations

-Comprises 27% (66,881 acres) of the upland landscape that drains into Horicon Marsh
-57% of this watershed is considered agricultural land
-Includes 2 third order basins: the South Branch and the West Branch of the Rock River
    *South Branch - fed by the Alto Tributary
        -poor water quality due to increased P loading from the WWTF, ditching, cropland and pasture runoff
        -high P levels fuel cattail bog expansion within the marsh, closing off prime wildlife habitats
    *West Branch - principle source of runoff, nutrient and sediment loading into Horicon Marsh

-Point sources within UR 12 include:
    *Brandon WWTP
    *Burnett WWTP
    *Kekoskee WWTP
    *Waupun WWTP
    *National Rivet and Manufacturing Company
-Provides habitat for 22 endangered, threatened, or species of special concern

East Rock River (UR13)

-Encompasses 49% (124,035 acres) of the area that drains into Horicon Marsh
-66% of this watershed is used for agricultural practices
-Includes 3 third order tributaries along with several second and first order tributaries

-Five municipal wastewater treatment facilities and one industrial facility contribute point source nutrient loading into the East Rock River
    *Allenton Sanitary District
    *Brownsville WWTP
    *Lomira WWTP
    *Mayville WWTP
    *Theresa WWTP
    *Brownsville Grande Cheese Company
-Non-point sources of water pollution
    *croplands, barnyards, streambank erosion from cattle operations and urban runoff
-Millponds created by dams in Mayville and Kekoskee impede fish migration and encourage rough fish breeding (including carp)
-Provides habitat for 16 endangered, threatened, or species of special concern.