NATURAL RESOURCES

Agricultural runoff is an important non-point pollution source in many Wisconsin watersheds including southwestern Wisconsin’s Fever River. The Fever River (a tributary to the Galena River Watershed) was recognized as affected by nonpoint source pollution (sediment and phosphorus) and served as one of Wisconsin’s first non-point pollution control sites (WIDNR 2001). Controlling the sources of nutrients from the landscape is particularily complex because end-of-pipe monitoring is not available and simulation tools are usually necessary. Management practices were originally installed to mitigate sediment and phosphorus loading in the Fever River to protect its aquatic ecosystem. The excellent smallmouth bass fishery resulted in the Fever River being recognized as part of Wisconsin’s exceptional resource waters (ERW) in 1995. Since the ERW classification, uncontrolled non-point source pollution within the Fever River Watershed has resulted in the deterioration of the waterway for recreation and a sustainable fishery. Currently within the headwaters of the Fever River Watershed, extensive water quality monitorin