Lower Middle Sugar River watershed (SP12)

The Lower Middle Sugar River watershed is located in eastern Green County and a very small portion of Rock County. Agriculture is the predominant land use. Two permitted wastewater treatment facilities discharge to surface water in the watershed: The village of Albany and the city of Brodhead. A large wetland complex exists adjacent to the Sugar River in this watershed. Other large areas of wetlands have been drained and put into cultivation. The Sugar River in this watershed is considered to be Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW) under the state's antidegradation rules.

Norwegian Creek

Norwegian Creek, a small stream tributary to the Sugar River above Brodhead, has a diverse forage fishery, though game fish may be found very near its mouth (Bush et.al., 1980). Much of the stream has been straightened. The least darter, a species on the state watch list, has been found in the stream (Fago, 1982). The stream has recently been added to the state's antidegradation list under administrative codes NR 102 as an ERW. A narrow wetland buffer exists along the stream's lower reaches. Many of these wetland areas have been disturbed by grazing or prior farming. Other large areas of wetlands have been drained and put into cultivation.

Sugar River

The Sugar River in this reach is classified and managed as a warmwater sport fishery and possesses an excellent diversity of sport fish. The Green County reach was recently added to the state's antidegradation waters list as an ERW. One state threatened and one state watch species of clam are known to reside in this reach of the stream (Wisconsin DNR, 1993³¹). The gravel chub, on the state's endangered species list and the river redhorse, redfin shiner and the weed shiner, on the state's watch species list have also been found in this reach (Fago, 1982).