Johnson Creek (Rock River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnson Creek |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| City | Watertown, Johnson Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 43°10′44″N 88°42′18″W / 43.179°N 88.705°W |
| River mouth | 43°04′19″N 88°47′35″W / 43.072°N 88.793°W |
| Length | 20.8 mi (33.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Rock River (Mississippi River) |
| Basin size | 45.22 sq mi (117.1 km2) |
Johnson Creek is a smaller river, about 20.8 mi (33.5 km) long, located in southeastern Wisconsin, United States. It flows into the Rock River, which eventually joins the mighty Mississippi River. This means Johnson Creek is part of the huge Mississippi River system! Its entire drainage area, called a watershed, is within Jefferson County.
Where Johnson Creek Flows
Johnson Creek starts in northern Jefferson County, right inside the city of Watertown. It then flows in a J-shape through the northern part of the county. When it reaches the city of Johnson Creek from the south, it makes a sharp turn to the west. Finally, it flows into the Rock River on the west side of the city.
Many small streams feed into Johnson Creek. There is also one small lake in the watershed, which is officially unnamed. People in the area often call this 4.2-acre (1.7 ha) lake "Lake Dorothy." Parts of Johnson Creek and its smaller branches have been straightened or dug out by people.
The area around the creek is mostly farmland. It includes most of Farmington and parts of Watertown, Concord, Jefferson, and Aztalan. Major roads like U.S. Route 18 and Interstate 94 also pass through this region.
Understanding the Local Geography
The land around Johnson Creek is mainly used for farming. You can also find wetlands, grasslands, and forests here. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) describes most of the land as "Watertown drumlins." Drumlins are long, oval hills made of glacial material. The soil is mostly silt and loam, which are types of rich dirt.
The original trees in this area were mainly sugar maple, basswood, red oak, white oak, and black oak. There were also smaller areas with swamp trees, lowland hardwoods, and marshy meadows.
Johnson Creek is part of the larger Upper Rock River Basin. The Johnson Creek watershed includes about 81.86 miles (130 km) of streams. This whole area covers about 45.22 square miles (117 km2), which is 28,939 acres. Within this, about 20 acres are covered by lakes and over 5,200 acres are wetlands.
Protecting Johnson Creek
The area around Johnson Creek has many important wetlands, including forests and shrub areas. Most of these wetlands could be restored to their natural state, and about 28 acres (11 ha) have already been fixed up.
However, the creek faces some challenges. An invasive species called rusty crayfish has spread throughout the creek. Another invasive plant, reed canary grass, grows along many of the wetlands in the watershed.
The entire creek is also listed as "impaired." This means its water quality isn't good enough for its intended uses, like supporting fish and other aquatic life. This is mainly due to pollution from many different places and unstable creek banks. These issues cause too much sediment and dirt to get into the water. Because of this, a plan is being developed to improve the water quality.
A small part of the creek is a special "wadable nursery" for smallmouth bass, meaning young bass can live there. But as of 2008, the overall health of the creek for fish and aquatic life was considered poor. Jefferson County has also received a grant to help protect lakes, which includes the Johnson Creek watershed. There are seven areas managed by the DNR in this region, most of which are important habitats for wildlife.
