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Token Creek is an important tributary to the Yahara River, joining it just before entering Cherokee Lake. In fact, Token Creek generally contributes more water to Lake Mendota than the Yahara River itself. Numerous springs supply Token Creek with cold, clean water. The discharge from one cluster of springs is nearly three times greater than that of any other springs in Dane County. The traditionally pastoral landscape is changing rapidly. Development pressures are being felt as subdivisions are sprouting up across the watershed. Road expansions are planned, preceding further growth. Silt loading and the common impoundment of spring water has impacted and warmed much of the creek. Yet the creek still boast impressive natural resources from gushing springs to well-wooded, gravel channels. Many resource managers agree that a coordinated community effort to protect water quality has the potential to restore Token Creek to one of the premier cold-water fisheries of Southern Wisconsin. Two shorter alternate routes: (1) start at Token Creek Park; exit the park to the south, turn left onto Anderson Rd., then left onto Portage Rd. (length: 18.9 mi.); (2) Ride from Cherokee Marsh Park to Token Creek Park and back (length: 12.8 mi.).

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Click on the image for a PDF version of the map.

Distance: 29.7 miles. Difficulty: Moderate, few hills.

1. Cherokee Marsh is the largest and arguably the most important wetland area in the Lake Mendota watershed. Situated at the head of the Yahara chain-of-lakes, this high-quality wetland is a critical component of the Lake Mendota watershed, acting as a nutrient sponge and stormwater detention area. A wide variety of habitats, including rare calcareous fens (wetlands fed by upwelling groundwater) can be found here. These uncommon habitats support many rare and endangered plants and have been studied for many years by University of Wisconsin and other researchers. Numerous hiking trails, a marsh boardwalk and overlook provide excellent birding and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year. Cherokee Marsh and other flat areas surrounding Lake Mendota sit atop the bed of an ancient lake ("glacial Lake Yahara") that formed toward the end of the last glacial period. Its surface was at higher elevations (4-12 feet) than present-day Mendota, so it occupied a larger area. The glacial lake left characteristic "lacustrine" sediments of fine-grained silt and clay. This flat, clay-enriched soil drains poorly, favors wetland plants and over time, accumulates peat (spongy, partially decayed plant material).

2. At Wheeler and Sherman, look north for a good view of Cherokee Marsh. The rich, black soils formed in this and similar areas are called Histosols. These 'muck' soils may be locate in many areas at the margin of Cherokee Marsh now drained for farming.

3. County Hwy. CV marks the divide between Token Creek and Starkweather Creek watersheds. Dane County Regional Airport is in the Starkweather Creek watershed and sits atop the flat glacial lakebed. Significant portions of the North Branch of Starkweather Creek (that drains to Lake Monona) pass under the airport in box culverts. Extensive culverts of this kind act as a biological barrier since no plants or algae can grow inside the dark culvert, leaving macroinvertibrates (aquatic insects) and fish with no food sources, thus altering aquatic populations in the creek.

4. As you crest this hill, you cross from the Token Creek into the Starkweather Creek Watershed. At the large quarry to your right, the dolomite bedrock (a magnesium-enriched limestone) is being mined for crushed stone aggregate used primarily for roadbuilding. Shallow glacial deposits are also mined for sand and gravel used primarely for concrete or ornamental uses.

5. Virtually all municipal and residential water in the Lake Mendota watershed comes from wells. The larger wells tap a deep (500-1000 ft) sandstone aquifer that yields ample good-quality water. However, increasing water demands, rising runoff rates, and reduced infiltration of rainwater have led to a regional lowering of the water table, centered around Madison.

6. Detour to Token Creek County Park. Alternate start for tour. Turn L on Anderson Rd, go .35 mi., then right around car barrier into the park. There are extensive wetlands along Token Creek here that are accessible by boardwalk at the far end of the park (north end). These, along with beautiful prairie and oak savannah uplands, provide excellent hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities.

7. At the bend in Portage Rd. (marked by arrows) cross the watershed divide back into the Token Creek watershed. About 1/2 mi. further, there is a good view to the left of lower Token Creek and the Yahara River/Token Creek confluence. Glacial ice once filled this valley, and left it broad and flat. Materials settled from glacial meltwater (called alluvium) cover the valley floor along the stream. These poorly drained soils favored formation of the wetlands that border the creek. The closer area (between you and the hill) is an area of "pitted glacial outwash", where ice blocks were embedded in the ground, leaving "kettles" or small pits in an otherwise smooth plain (not visible from here).

8. Token Creek and spring-fed trout ponds. These clean and cold ponds are used by the DNR to raise trout for stocking. Across the road you can see the wooded gulch that was once the channel for Token Creek before ditching and channelization of the creek during the 1950s. Ditching and straightening were done to drain the wetlands and enable floodwaters to pass quickly. However, this generally increases flooding downstream and allows silt and nutrients to pass that would otherwise have been absorbed by the wetlands. Wetlands border Token Creek from here through Token Creek Park and almost to Cherokee Marsh. Runoff from extensive new development taking place to the north will put additional stress on this area. Before crossing the bridge over Token Creek see the historical marker to the right. The wetland visible upstream is a small vestige of the vast marshland that once extended from this site down to Cherokee Marsh. It may have been this productive wetland and the spring-fed creek meandering through it, which first lured the H0-Chunk Winnebago Indians to locate a major village nearby. In 1861, settlers dammed the creek above Portage Road to power a mill to grind grain for the community. The mill was still operating in 1945 and it was not until 1975 that the aging structure was razed. The dam itself fell into disrepair in 1994 and the mill pond was subsequently drawn down. Since then, the wetlands and associated wildlife populations have been reestablishing themselves in the old pond bed. In addition, the gushing springs above the Mill Pond Wetlands has cooled the creek considerably, as ponding no longer results in significant warming of the waters.

9. Small wetland areas such as these play an important role in protecting water quality in Token Creek by filtering out sediments and pollutants and by retaining and slowing up stormwater. Improved management of runoff from barnyards is also important, particularly as the numbers of livestock per farm continue to climb. Structural changes to barnyards designed to both treat runoff and reduce its volume are supported by the Priority Watershed Program with outreach and financial incentives for farmers. Restoration of small wetlands drained years ago is also supported.

10. Here you can see the natural meanders that are typical of the low-gradient streams in the Lake Mendota watershed as well as sections that have been ditched and straightened. As you approach the uplands, Token Creek begins to separate into smaller tributaries. You can begin to see their origins in the swales and ditches of the surrounding fields.

11. Rapid expansion of Sun Prairie will bring much development to this part of the Token Creek watershed. Control of soil erosion from construction sites will be critical for maintaining water quality in Token Creek and in Lake Mendota. Erosion from construction sites contributes vastly more sediment per acre than agriculture. Recent estimates suggest the relatively small area of the watershed in construction sites (300-500 acres at any given time) annually contributes almost as much sediment as 130,000 acres of agricultural land.

12. From where Bird St. approaches Happy Valley until you turn on Muller Rd., you will closely follow the divide between the Token Creek and Maunesha River watersheds. Waters separated here rejoin in northern Rock County where the lower Yahara and Rock Rivers meet.

13. Pass a dolomite limestone quarry. For any construction using asphalt or concrete, aggregate materials such as sand and small rocks are important ingredients. Several million tons of aggregate are produced each year in the county from quarries. About 60% of this comes from crushed dolomite and the remaining 40% comes from sand and gravel in glacial deposits.

14. Alfalfa plants protect the ground surface far more than corn plants. Planting alternating strips of alfalfa and corn that follow topographical contours, called contour strip farming, directs draining stormwater through the alfalfa. This slows drainage, reduces erosion, increases water infiltration and reduces flooding.

15. "The Big Hill", seen to the northwest (and visible earlier in the tour), is a large glacial drumlin that was used as a signal hill and landmark by the Ho-Chunck (Winnebago), the Native Americans who occupied this area at the time of European settlement.

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