Calamus Creek
Encyclopedia
Calamus Creek is a minor tributary
of the Beaver Dam River
, about 23.7 miles (38.1 km) long, in southeastern Wisconsin
in the United States
. Via the Beaver Dam, Crawfish
, and Rock rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River
. Its watershed
lies almost entirely within Dodge County
with a small portion in neighboring Columbia County
.
near the intersection of Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren roads and follows a highly winding, generally easterly course through Dodge County. It flows into the Beaver Dam River about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Beaver Dam
, near the intersection of County Roads J and G. Thirteen minor streams empty into the creek along its course.
The relatively small watershed, contained mostly within the town of Calamus
, is entirely rural with no cities or villages. U.S. Route 151
passes through it, as well as the Adams subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad
.
s, a land formation marked by till plain
s and terminal moraine
s created during the Wisconsin Ice Age
: "the characteristic landform pattern is rolling till plain with drumlins and scattered muck deposits. Soils are predominantly well drained silt over calcareous sandy loam till." The original vegetation cover is primarily white oak, black oak, bur oak, marsh and sedge meadow, wet prairie, and lowland shrubs.
Calamus Creek is part of the larger Upper Rock River Basin. The 57.33 miles (92.3 km) of the streams comprising the Calamus Creek watershed cover 30.18 square miles (78 km²), or 19315 acres, with 54.39 acres covered by five unnamed lakes and 3627.39 acres of wetlands.
by the Wisconsin DNR, but the creek's rated condition for fish and aquatic life is poor as of 2010. Its entire course is also listed as impaired due to nonpoint sources
, mostly 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. Additionally, Dodge County has been granted both a Large Scale Lake Planning Grant and Lake Protection Grant which includes the county's majority portion of the Calamus Creek watershed. There are several DNR managed lands, including two areas of glacial habitat restoration.
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 Beaver Dam River
Beaver Dam River
The Beaver Dam River is a tributary of the Crawfish River in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Crawfish and Rock rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.-Course:The river's entire length is in Dodge County...
, about 23.7 miles (38.1 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 Beaver Dam, Crawfish
Crawfish River
The Crawfish River is a tributary of the Rock River, long, in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
, and Rock rivers, 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 almost entirely within Dodge County
Dodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
with a small portion in neighboring Columbia County
Columbia County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:*Anacker*Belle Fountain*Durwards Glen*East Friesland*Harmony Grove*Ingle*Keyeser*Lake Wisconsin*Leeds*Lowville*Marcellon*North Leeds*Okee*Otsego-External links:***...
.
Course
Calamus Creek rises in west central Dodge CountyDodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
near the intersection of Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren roads and follows a highly winding, generally easterly course through Dodge County. It flows into the Beaver Dam River about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Beaver Dam
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 16,243 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in Dodge County, and the largest city fully located within the county. It is the principal city of the...
, near the intersection of County Roads J and G. Thirteen minor streams empty into the creek along its course.
The relatively small watershed, contained mostly within the town of Calamus
Calamus, Wisconsin
Calamus is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,005 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of South Beaver Dam is located in the town.-Geography:...
, is entirely rural with no cities or villages. U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for U.S. 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through...
passes through it, as well as the Adams subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.
Geography
The region is predominantly agricultural, with some wetlands, grassland, and forested areas. The Wisconsin DNR labels the landtype as the Beaver Dam 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, a land formation marked by till plain
Till plain
A till plain is an extensive flat plain of glacial till that forms when a sheet of ice becomes detached from the main body of a glacier and melts in place depositing the sediments it carried. A till plain with irregular topography is referred to as a ground moraine.-See also:*Glacial till plains...
s and terminal moraine
Terminal moraine
A terminal moraine, also called end moraine, is a moraine that forms at the end of the glacier called the snout.Terminal moraines mark the maximum advance of the glacier. An end moraine is at the present boundary of the glacier....
s created during the Wisconsin Ice Age
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
: "the characteristic landform pattern is rolling till plain with drumlins and scattered muck deposits. Soils are predominantly well drained silt over calcareous sandy loam till." The original vegetation cover is primarily white oak, black oak, bur oak, marsh and sedge meadow, wet prairie, and lowland shrubs.
Calamus Creek is part of the larger Upper Rock River Basin. The 57.33 miles (92.3 km) of the streams comprising the Calamus Creek watershed cover 30.18 square miles (78 km²), or 19315 acres, with 54.39 acres covered by five unnamed lakes and 3627.39 acres of wetlands.
Conservation
The watershed includes extensive wetlands, some of which are in the process of restoration. Parts of Calamus Creek are designated wadable nursery waters for smallmouth bassSmallmouth 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 2010. 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...
, mostly 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. Additionally, Dodge County has been granted both a Large Scale Lake Planning Grant and Lake Protection Grant which includes the county's majority portion of the Calamus Creek watershed. There are several DNR managed lands, including two areas of glacial habitat restoration.