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Collaborative Effort to Fund Monitoring Program in Black Earth Creek Watershed

Collaborative Effort to Fund Monitoring Program in Black Earth Creek Watershed

Photo by Gateway to The Driftless
Photo by Gateway to The Driftless

Water quality and flow monitoring in the Black Earth Creek watershed will continue for the next five years thanks to collaboration among regional stakeholders and a DNR Surface Water Grant.

Following completion of the Black Earth Creek Watershed Green Infrastructure Plan (GI Plan) in 2022, the Steering Committee has continued its work to support collaborative flood resilience and water quality. Over the past year, the Steering Committee prioritized finding support for continued monitoring activities along Black Earth Creek and Brewery Creek within the watershed as the previous funding source was ending.

CARPC and several Steering Committee members played a key role in facilitating the partnerships and funding support needed to make this possible. We are happy to say that 11 different entities will contribute financially, with several other local municipalities supporting the effort in other ways.

The monitoring program is conducted by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and will collect flow and water quality data at four monitoring stations located on upper Black Earth Creek and Brewery Creek (Station ID: 05406469, 05406457, 05406479, and 05406500). Real-time data will be available on the USGS National Water Dashboard and USGS WaterAlert.

To support the monitoring effort, CARPC completed three separate applications to the Wisconsin DNR’s Surface Water Grants program, ultimately receiving a total of $21,900 in March 2024. These funds will be used to directly pay for the monitoring work through USGS.

Black Earth Creek is a Class 1 and 2 trout stream that carries both Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Water designations. Prized for its recreational value by local residents and visitors alike, the creek is a focal point of the communities it flows through.

Long term, continuous monitoring stations will provide the objective water quality and quantity data crucial for making science-based management decisions for the watershed. CARPC is excited to see such strong collaboration among regional stakeholders to ensure continued monitoring and support the long-term health and enjoyment of this valuable resource.