Bear Creek Habitat Improvement Project
The Bear Creek project started with a phone call in November of 2008. Ron Fargen contacted us about a possible restoration project on his family's land. All told there are roughly two miles of stream running through the Fargen land, and the WIDNR was happy to purchase a public fishing easement on this segment. Once the easement was concluded in late 2009 project planning began. In November 2009, the Sauk County Land Conservation Department, with the assistance of ALCTU volunteer Eric Lorenzen, surveyed the lower 1 mile of stream in the easement. Brent Bergstrom at the LCD drew up designs for the project over the winter, and by May 2010 permits were applied for through the WIDNR. Gene Van Dyck in the WIDNR Dodgeville office completed all of the permit applications so that by early June 2010 all of the permirts were approved.
The Bear Creek Watershed, Bear Creek itself and its feeder creeks are part of the overall
four-state Driftless Area. The objective of this stream restoration project, in keeping with
TU DARE’s stated strategies is to elevate Bear Creek from a Class II cold water trout stream
to the superior Class I trout stream status. By doing so, Bear Creek will become sustainable
native, wild brook trout habitat. Wild brown trout, and rainbow trout populations will also
greatly benefit.
Years of agricultural practices have caused mass erosion and unstable banks along this stream. 2008 flooding events also damaged the stream’s hydrology and morphology. Erosion deposits have filled in-stream habitat, reduced spawning areas and cover for aquatic species. Undesirable overhead tree cover limits sunlight needed for insect growth.
Stream bank tapering and prairie plantings along the riparian strip will increase flood control/capacity and capture non-point water run-off and nutrient flow to the stream. Narrowing and deepening the stream with rock will improve water quality and lower water temperature. In-stream structures (vortex weirs, submerged logs, bank undercuts and rip-rap) will create pools and riffles which increase in-stream refugia and propagation opportunities for fish and other stream wildlife. Upon completion, the perpetual public fishing easement and stream restoration will provide a new outdoor opportunity of the highest quality for the general public.
In summer 2011 we completed the first mile of restoration on the lower 1 mile of stream in the Fargen easement. We hope to complete the restoration of the upper 1 mile in 2012. Once that portion is finished weplan to continue on to other segments of the stream, both upstream and down. Additionally, habitat improvement on the various feeder streams of Bear Creek are possible and would compliment the work being done on the main stem. Many of these feeders streams are excellent brook trout streams, Biser Creek is already Class 1 water, so the possibilities throughout the watershed are excellent.