Johnson Creek (Rock River tributary)
Encyclopedia
Johnson Creek is a minor tributary
of the Rock River, about 20.8 miles (33.5 km) long, in southeastern Wisconsin
in the United States
. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River
. Its watershed
lies entirely within Jefferson County
.
and follows a J-shaped course through the northern half of the county. Upon entering the city of Johnson Creek from the south, it turns sharply to the west and flows into the Rock River on the west end of the city, near where County Road B crosses the Rock River.
Numerous small streams empty into the creek, and there is one recognized lake in the watershed. The 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) lake is officially unnamed, but is locally called Lake Dorothy. Portions of the creek and its many small branches are channelized.
The watershed, including the majority of Farmington
and portions of Watertown
, Concord
, Jefferson
, and Aztalan
, is mostly rural. U.S. Route 18
passes along the southern edge of the watershed, and Interstate 94
crosses through it from east to west.
s: "the landform pattern is undulating till plain with drumlins, lake plains, and muck areas common. Soils are predominantly moderately well drained silt and loam over calcareous sandy loam till or silty, loamy and clayey lacustrine." Small portions are associated with the Jefferson Lake Plains; the entire area is contained within the southeast glacial plains. The original vegetation cover is primarily sugar maple
, basswood, red oak, white oak
, and black oak, with smaller areas of swamp conifers, lowland hardwoods, and marsh and sedge meadow with lowland shrubs.
Johnson Creek is part of the larger Upper Rock River Basin. The 81.86 miles (131.7 km) of streams comprising the Johnson Creek watershed cover 45.22 square miles (117 km²), or 28939 acres, with 20.38 acres covered by lakes and 5226.41 acres of wetlands.
has plagued the creek's entire length for some years, and another noted aquatic invasive is reed canary grass
along much of the watershed's wetlands. Its entire course is also listed as impaired due to nonpoint sources
and destabilization of the creek's banks, leading to contamination by sediment and suspended solids. This signifies that the water quality does not allow the creek to meet its designated use, necessitating a water quality improvement plan. The creek's total maximum daily load
planning is still in development.
A small stretch of the creek is designated wadable nursery waters for smallmouth bass
by the Wisconsin DNR, but the creek's rated condition for fish and aquatic life is poor as of 2008. Additionally, Jefferson County has been granted a Lake Protection Grant which includes the Johnson Creek watershed. There are seven DNR managed lands, most of which are extensive wildlife habitats.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Rock River, about 20.8 miles (33.5 km) long, in southeastern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Its watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
lies entirely within Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
Course
Johnson Creek rises in northern Dane County within the city limits of WatertownWatertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
and follows a J-shaped course through the northern half of the county. Upon entering the city of Johnson Creek from the south, it turns sharply to the west and flows into the Rock River on the west end of the city, near where County Road B crosses the Rock River.
Numerous small streams empty into the creek, and there is one recognized lake in the watershed. The 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) lake is officially unnamed, but is locally called Lake Dorothy. Portions of the creek and its many small branches are channelized.
The watershed, including the majority of Farmington
Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Farmington is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population in 2000 was 1,498.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles , of which, 35.8 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is...
and portions of Watertown
Watertown (town), Wisconsin
Watertown is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,876 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Ebenezer is located in the town.-Geography:Watertown is located at ....
, Concord
Concord, Wisconsin
Concord is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,023 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.6 square miles , of which, 36.0 square miles of it is land and 0.6 square miles of...
, Jefferson
Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,265 at the 2000 census. The City of Jefferson is located partially within the town.-Geography:...
, and Aztalan
Aztalan, Wisconsin
Aztalan is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,447 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Aztalan and Jefferson Junction are located in the town.-Aztalan State Park:...
, is mostly rural. U.S. Route 18
U.S. Route 18
U.S. Route 18 is an east–west U.S. highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus is in Orin, Wyoming at an interchange with Interstate 25. Its eastern terminus of US 18 is in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, US 18 runs concurrent with other U.S...
passes along the southern edge of the watershed, and Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
crosses through it from east to west.
Geography
The region is predominantly agricultural, with some wetlands, grassland, and forested areas. The Wisconsin DNR labels the majority of the landtype as the Watertown drumlinDrumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
s: "the landform pattern is undulating till plain with drumlins, lake plains, and muck areas common. Soils are predominantly moderately well drained silt and loam over calcareous sandy loam till or silty, loamy and clayey lacustrine." Small portions are associated with the Jefferson Lake Plains; the entire area is contained within the southeast glacial plains. The original vegetation cover is primarily sugar maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
, basswood, red oak, white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
, and black oak, with smaller areas of swamp conifers, lowland hardwoods, and marsh and sedge meadow with lowland shrubs.
Johnson Creek is part of the larger Upper Rock River Basin. The 81.86 miles (131.7 km) of streams comprising the Johnson Creek watershed cover 45.22 square miles (117 km²), or 28939 acres, with 20.38 acres covered by lakes and 5226.41 acres of wetlands.
Conservation
The creek's watershed includes extensive forested and shrub wetlands, most of which are listed as potentially restorable and 28 acres (11.3 ha) of which have been restored. An infestation of rusty crayfishRusty crayfish
The rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, is a large, aggressive species of freshwater crayfish which is native to the U.S. states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee...
has plagued the creek's entire length for some years, and another noted aquatic invasive is reed canary grass
Reed canary grass
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea, is a tall, perennial bunchgrass that commonly forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America.-Description:The stems can reach 2.5...
along much of the watershed's wetlands. Its entire course is also listed as impaired due to nonpoint sources
Nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution refers to both water and air pollution from diffuse sources. Nonpoint source water pollution affects a water body from sources such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source air pollution...
and destabilization of the creek's banks, leading to contamination by sediment and suspended solids. This signifies that the water quality does not allow the creek to meet its designated use, necessitating a water quality improvement plan. The creek's total maximum daily load
Total Maximum Daily Load
A Total Maximum Daily Load is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a value of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards...
planning is still in development.
A small stretch of the creek is designated wadable nursery waters for smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
by the Wisconsin DNR, but the creek's rated condition for fish and aquatic life is poor as of 2008. Additionally, Jefferson County has been granted a Lake Protection Grant which includes the Johnson Creek watershed. There are seven DNR managed lands, most of which are extensive wildlife habitats.