Jordon Creek, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
Jordon Creek, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05)
Jordon Creek (80200)
2.58 Miles
1.36 - 3.94
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2018
Good
 
Calumet
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
LAL
Streams capable of supporting macro-invertebrates or occasionally fish that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically small streams with very low-flow and very limited habitat. Certain marshy ditches, concrete line-drainage channels, and other intermittent streams. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters are tolerant of many extreme conditions, but typically require concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain about 1 mg/L.

Overview

The Hayton Millpond site near New Holstein in Calumet County was discovered in 1990, after tests revealed high PCB levels in fish from the South Branch of the Manitowoc River and investigation showed the contamination centralized in the backwaters of the Hayton Millpond and nearby farm fields.

The cause of those contaminants is unknown, but Tecumseh, which owns land next to the contaminated fields, has agreed to work with the Department of Natural Resources to clean up the PCBs.

Cleanup work at the Hayton Millpond site enters a critical phase this week as removal proceeds down Jordan Creek. PCB levels along Jordan Creek are 200 to 1,000 times the target cleanup level, according to Jim Baumann, DNR’s project manager.

This first phase of the cleanup is expected to cost $60 million, which two companies will fund.

from: AmeriScan: September 20, 2004
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2004/2004-09-20-09.asp#anchor6

Date  2004

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

Jordan Creek originates southeast of New Holstein and flows northerly for 1.2 miles, partly through the
east side of New Holstein, before draining into Pine Creek, which flows into the South Branch near
Hayton. The New Holstein WWTP outfall is on Jordan Creek. Tecumseh Products, Inc. is also located on
this channel and due to previous water quality standard violations it now discharges to the WWTP. The
current stream classification for Jordan Creek is Limited Aquatic Life (LAL). The district water quality
biologist suggests the classification for Jordan Creek should be a warm water forage fishery (WWFF) and
that it be changed in the next revision of NR 104. This proposed change may require more strict effluent
limits for the City of New Holstein WPDES Permit.

From: Willman, Guy and Mike Toneys. 2001. The State of the Lakeshore Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  2001

Author  Michael Toneys

Historical Description

Bush, D.M., R. Cornelius, D. Engle, and C.L. Brynildson. 1980. Lake and Stream Classification Project. Surface Water Resources of Green County, 2nd Edition. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.This moderate sized, warm water stream flows southward entering Skinner Creek near Browntown. It flows through cropland and pasture and severe bank erosion is evident throughout, especially in the upper third where most
of the surrounding land is pastured. The entire lower third of the stream has been ditched for drainage, yet 110 acres of wetland still remain near Skinner Creek. The turbid water lacks instream cover and macrophytic vegetation. Silt and muck are the predominant bottom types.
Although a few catfish and smallmouth bass may be found in the lower end of the stream, the fishery is dominated by forage species. Game values are fair with a significant population of muskrats and occasional stops by migratory waterfowl. Public access and frontage consists of seven public road crossings.
Fish Species: Central stoneroller, carp, common shiner, bigmouth shiner, southern redbelly dace, bluntnose minnow, fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, channel catfish, brook stickleback, smallmouth bass, .green sunfish x pumpkinseed hybrid, fantSurface Acres = 18.0. Length = 10.0 ~1iles. Gradient = 25 ft./mi.. Base Oischarge = 13.0 cu. ft./sec.ail darter, Johnny darter

Date  1980

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Jordon Creek, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) Fish and Aquatic LifeJordon Creek, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) RecreationJordon Creek, South Branch Manitowoc River Watershed (MA05) Fish Consumption

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

TMDL Monitoring
The Hardies Creek TMDL is a product of a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School (GET) Science Department. In 2004, the WDNR provided funding, through a local water quality assistance grant to GET, to support supplemental data collection for the development of the TMDL. In coordination with WDNR field staff and under the direction of Mr. Jon Johnson (GET Science Teacher), students monitored habitat, macroinvertebrates, and water chemistry and assisted with fish electro-shocking in Hardies creek. Some of the information collected by students with WDNR supervision was used in the development of this TMDL.
TMDL Implementation
EAP project

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Jordan Creek is located in the South Branch Manitowoc River watershed which is 189.10 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (60.30%), wetland (17.60%) and a mix of grassland (14.10%) and other uses (8.10%). This watershed has 228.03 stream miles, 86.31 lake acres and 21,287.68 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Jordon Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.

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