A Rock River Coalition (RRC) Chapter is a non-incorporated group of individuals working towards improving the environmental, economic, cultural or recreational resources within a specific area or watershed in the Basin.
Chapters, while working to make a local difference, are part of a well-recognized non-profit receiving administrative support, fiscal management and other benefits.
This month, we’re catching up with Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed.
Badfish Creek is one of the most beloved paddling destinations in Dane County, and thanks to Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed (FBCW), it will stay that way for years to come. FBCW was founded (and became RRC’s first Chapter) in 2006 by a group of individuals who shared an affection for the popular landmark and wanted to help preserve it.
“The Badfish is very scenic,” says Lynne Diebel, FBCW’s Director. “It meanders in a way that streams in this part of the state like to do. It has groves of big and mature oaks, and all kinds of wildlife are very fond of the area. From the new landing at CTH A, you can go all the way down the Badfish to the Yahara River, and then down the Yahara to the Fulton landing, or continue to the Yahara’s confluence with the Rock River; it makes for a full-day paddle.”
FBCW’s work includes organizing volunteer clean-up days and group paddles, managing aquatic invasive species and water sampling efforts, and raising funds for various research projects. Notably, in 2019 FBCW won a DNR River Planning grant for a microbial source tracking study that showed that the high amounts of E. coli in the creek were from undisinfected human effluent, not ruminants. They conducted the study in partnership with Rock County Environmental Health. Their report led to increased UV disinfection of E. coli by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and a push for UV disinfection by the Village of Oregon.
“To this day, we continue sampling for E. coli to make sure things are going as the wastewater people say they should,” says Diebel. “Our samples are processed at the state lab in Madison. One of our ongoing projects is testifying to the Oregon Village Board and utilities about their wastewater treatment plant, which is slated for renovation starting this fall, a project which will include installing UV disinfection of the effluent.”
In addition to making Badfish Creek a safe place for paddlers when they are in the water, FBCW has helped ensure safety for paddlers when they are getting into the water by adopting and maintaining three different boat landings: one at CTH A, one at Old Stone Road and one at Old Stage Road.
“The different landings give people options, depending on how long and how challenging a paddle they want,” says Diebel. Landing workdays include removing invasive plants, spreading gravel or woodchips, picking up trash and planting wildflower seeds and oak seedlings. FBCW also erected signage that provides safety information for folks paddling the stream, installed bike racks at Old Stage (another will be added at CTH A this summer), and built and installed covered picnic tables at two landings. Another ongoing project is to cut back deadfalls that fall across the creek and necessitate portaging.
FBCW has eight core members but welcomes additional peoplepower for many of their projects. Upcoming events include a burdock removal project at Old Stage road on Saturday, May 17 and a trash removal project along Wisconsin Highway 138 S in early fall. Furthermore, Diebel is attending a Clean Lakes Alliance breakfast in May to meet Eric Dundee, the new director of MMSD, and members of FBCW are hosting an informational gathering at the Cooksville Community Center later this summer, date to be determined.
Individuals who are interested in staying up to date with FBCW or getting involved in an upcoming workday should email FBCW member Andy Hoernemann at andrew_hoernemann@hotmail.com and ask to be placed on the FBCW email list.
Rock River Coalition proudly supports Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed, and is grateful for the invaluable impact they make on the Rock River Basin every year.
Photo of new CTH A boat landing freshly installed by Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed. Photo credit Jim Post