Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUI's - Rapid Ecological Assessment

Purpose

The lower Sheboygan River and Harbor were designated a Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) in 1985 by the International Joint Commission (IJC). This AOC encompasses the lower river downstream from the Sheboygan Falls Dam including the entire harbor and nearshore area of Lake Michigan. In the Sheboygan River, it is suspected that high levels of nutrients, solids, and toxic chemicals along with land use changes have contributed to the degradation of animal and plant populations and the reduction in fish and wildlife habitat and populations. Two of the Nine Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) identified for the Sheboygan River and Harbor AOC include: - degradation of fish and wildlife populations - loss of fish and wildlife habitat

Objective

This project is intended to support the development of delisting strategies and a fish and wildlife population and habitat restoration plan to address the “fish and wildlife population” and “fish and wildlife habitat” beneficial use impairments for the Sheboygan River and Harbor Area of Concern. This project includes a rapid ecological assessment using historical and current data, as well as conducting new field surveys, as needed, to fill data gaps or update data needed for the assessment. This project is part of an overall collaboration with the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership who is also seeking a grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative under the same project name.

Outcome

The end goal is for all of the Great Lakes Areas of Concern to be restored and protected so that they can be “delisted,” or removed from the list of 43 AOCs within the Great Lakes. This proposal is intended to support a comprehensive restoration planning project with the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership (SRBP). The information supplied and collected by DNR staff will be used to develop a strategy for delisting the fish and wildlife beneficial use impairments (BUI’s) in the Sheboygan River and Harbor AOC. The data from the field surveys will be finalized within an ecological assessment report for the Sheboygan AOC. Outputs include field survey data reports and an ecological assessment report for the Area of Concern. This information will be used to further refine specific delisting targets for fish and wildlife habitat and populations along with development of a comprehensive AOC fish and wildlife habitat restoration plan.

Related Reports

Run Project Summary Report
View Umbrella-Projects
View Related-Projects

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Toxics and Areas of Concern
GL00E00489
2010
Active
 
Reports and Documents
Report to EPA summarizing administrative aspects for the grant - transmitted via e-mail
Fish surveys, macrophytes, and macroinvertebrates - Technical report - transmitted via e-mail
Sheboygan River AOC small mammal assessment final report.
Summary of methods, results, and conclusions of small mammal testing in Sheboygan River floodplains
Required grant reporting from April - September 2012
SWIMS generated progress report for Q7
Macroinvertebrate samples completed for Natural Heritage Program. Report by K. Schmude.
Map of 3 sites sampled on Sheboygan River for Natuural Heritage Program.
Sheboygan AOC Macroinvertebrate Data found at 3 sites on Sheboygan River.
SWIMS-generated 6th quarter report for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting assessment project.
Sheboygan AOC Wintering Bird Survey Results Map. Survey Locations by River Segment.
2012 Bat Assessment Report Sheboygan River AOC
Sheboygan AOC Wintering Bird Survey Results Map. Species Diversity vs. Individuals.
Sheboygan AOC wintering bird survey results map. Average observations per survey by river segment.
Sheb AOC Wintering Bird Survey Results Map. Surveys Per River Segment
Sheboygan AOC Wintering Bird Survey Results Map. Minimum Observations Per Survey by River Segment.
Factsheet about Fish Community Assessment developed for Public Meeting. Sheboygan River AOC.
Macroinvertebrate Assessment Factsheet developed for public meeting. Sheboygan River AOC.
Factsheet Developed for Public Meeting. Sheboygan River AOC.
Factsheet about Belted Kingfisher Nest Monitoring developed for Public Meeting. Sheboygan River AOC.
Map of Fish Community Sites. Smallmouth Bass Catch Per Mile and IBI Ratings. Sheboygan AOC 2011.
Map of Fish Habitat Rating and Macroinvertebrate IBI Rating. Sheboygan River AOC.
SWIMS-generated 5th quarter report for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting assessment project.
Data summary (Excel file) of 2011 Sheboygan River AOC kingfisher nest surveys (includes GPS coordinates).
Narrative report for 2011 kingfisher nest surveys in Sheboygan River AOC.
Final report for 2011 herptile surveys near Sheboygan River AOC. This version includes Introduction and Methods.
Final report for the August-October 2011 mussel surveys of the Sheboygan River AOC.
Appendices for 2011 Sheboygan AOC mussel survey report. Sheet 1 distribution IX page 24 Sheet 3 Richness IV page 18 Sheet 4 Relative Abun III page 17 Sheet 5 Freq VIII page 23 Sheet 6 raw data X page 25 sheet 7 shell point V page 19
Appendix 1 of 2011 Sheboygan AOC mussel survey final report (mussel survey locations).
Map of belted kingfisher nest locations observed during 2011 Sheboygan River AOC surveys.
SWIMS-generated 4th quarter report for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting assessment project--amended report.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site northern mesic forest natural community (1).
Adds SOP for mudpuppy trapping and replaces SOP for PCB method ESS 1480
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site floodplain forest community (2).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site floodplain forest community (1).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site hardwood swamp community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site unassigned natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site northern mesic forest natural community (2).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site northern mesic forest natural community (3).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site northern mesic forest natural community (4).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site northern mesic forest natural community (5).
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Kiwanis Park site unassigned natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site floodplain forest natural community (1).
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Kiwanis Park site.
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site emergent marsh natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site floodplain forest natural community (2).
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site southern dry forest natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC UW Sheboygan site floodplain forest natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site southern sedge meadow natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Taylor Drive site unassigned natural community.
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Taylor Drive site.
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC UW Sheboygan site.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC UW Sheboygan site northern mesic forest natural community.
Natural Community Database Summary Report for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Willow (Wildwood) Island site floodplain forest natural community.
NHI Natural Community Site Evaluation for 2011 survey of Sheboygan River AOC Willow (Wildwood) Island site.
Official QAPP signed by EPA for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUI's--Survey and Assessment Project. Appendices saved separately.
Compiled information from Qualitative Fish Habitat Surveys. Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Fish Community Assessment Site Tracking Sheet. Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Detailed Locations of Fish Community Assessment Sites. Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Legend for bat species maps for June and July 2011 mobile acoustical bat surveys of Sheboygan River AOC.
Compiled Summary of Qualitative Fish Habitat Surveys. Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Dataset for 2011 Macroinvertebrate Assessment Sites. Sheboygan River AOC.
Map of bat species encountered during June 14, 2011 mobile acoustical bat survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Map of bat species encountered during July 12, 2011 mobile acoustical bat survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
SWIMS 4th qtr project report for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUIs project.
References for Belted Kingfisher Nesting Report. Sheboygan River AOC.
Results from 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Site GPS coordinates and species summary for 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Map of Herptile Survey and Habitat Assessment Units. Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Field data sheets for Week 9 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for 8/02-9/27/2011 qualitative fish habitat surveys for Sheboygan River AOC assessment (includes Onion River, Weedens Creek, and Willow Creek sites).
Field data sheets for Week 8 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 7 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheet for 9/13/2011 fish community survey of UW-Sheboygan stormwater retention pond located adjacent to Sheboygan River and southwest of Hwy PP and Taylor Drive intersection (part of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheets for Week 6 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 5 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Breeding Bird Suvey Data - Not to be Shared without a sharing agreement
2011 Survey Report for Herptiles in Sheboygan River AOC
Field data sheets for 9/01/2011 nighttime fish community survey of Sheboygan River from Wildwood Island to Kiwanis Park and from Kiwanis Park to 8th St (Sites #1 and #2 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
2011 Herptile Survey
Field data sheets for 9/01/2011 daytime fish community survey of Sheboygan River from Wildwood Island to Kiwanis Park and from Kiwanis Park to 8th St (Sites #1 and #2 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Herpitile Assessment in Sheboygan River AOC
2011 Herpitile Survey - map of survey units in Schuchardt property.
Survey Site Map for Breeding Birds - 2011
2011 Breeding Bird Report of Point Counts - Not to be shared without sharing agreement
Field data sheet for 8/30/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River riffle near Kohler Horse Farm (new site for Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Fish Consumption Advosory for Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 4 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 3 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 2 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 1 of 2011 small mammal survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheet for 8/04/2011 fish community survey upstream of Ourtown Rd on Onion River (Site #10 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 8/01/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River upstream of Weedens Creek confluence (Site #6 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 7/26/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River upstream of Taylor Drive wayside (Site #4 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 7/26/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River upstream of Kohler municipal garage (Site #5 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 7/21/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River between Riverbend Dam and Waelderhaus Dam (Site #7 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Part 1 (Appendices A and B) of Appendix to QAPP Version 1.1 for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUI's--Survey and Assessment Project
Part 2 (Appendices C through F) of Appendix to QAPP Version 1.1 for Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUI's--Survey and Assessment Project
Field data sheet for 7/19/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River near Onion River confluence (Site #9 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 7/19/2011 fish community survey of Sheboygan River downstream of Kohler Stables (Site #8 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC Schuchardt Property site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community forms and associated plant lists with abundance codes.
SWIMS Project Summary Report including status details for Q3 (April - June 2011).
Field Sheets from Breeding Bird Survey Priority Site 1, Sheboygan AOC. 2011
Field Sheets for Priority Site 2, Breeding Bird Survey, Sheboygan River AOC 2011
Field Sheets for Priority Site 3, Breeding Bird Survey, Sheboygan River AOC 2011.
Field data sheets for kingfisher nest surveys conducted in 2011 along Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC Willow (Wildwood) Island site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community forms and associated plant lists with abundance codes.
SWIMS Project Summary Report including project status details for Q2 (January - March 2011).
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC Black Wolf Run site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community forms and associated plant lists with abundance codes.
Field data sheet for 6/28/2011 fish community survey upstream of County Hwy A on Onion River (Site #11 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/28/2011 fish community survey upstream of Risseeuw Rd on Onion River (Site #12 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/17/2011 fish community survey of Willow Creek upstream of Greendale Rd (Site #14 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/17/2011 fish community survey of Willow Creek upstream of Woodlake Rd (Site #15 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/17/2011 fish community survey of Willow Creek upstream of Sheboygan River confluence (Site #13 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/14/2011 fish community survey of Weedens Creek upstream of Hwy 28 (Site #16 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheet for 6/13/2011 fish community survey of Weedens Creek upstream of Cty Hwy A (Site #17 of Sheboygan River AOC fish assessment).
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC Kiwanis Park site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community form and associated plant list with abundance codes.
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC Taylor Drive site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community form and associated plant list with abundance codes.
Field data sheets for 2011 Natural community / Rare plant / Invasive plant survey of Sheboygan River AOC UW Sheboygan site. This includes WI NHI Site Summary form and WI NHI Natural Community forms and associated plant lists with abundance codes.
Part 3 of Final report for grant to the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership to assist WDNR in implementing 2011 GLRI-funded Baseline Assessments and identify fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects in cooperation with the AOC Fish and Wildlife Technical Advisory Committee. Document was split into 4 parts to meet SWIMS file size limit.
Part 4 of Final report for grant to the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership to assist WDNR in implementing 2011 GLRI-funded Baseline Assessments and identify fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects in cooperation with the AOC Fish and Wildlife Technical Advisory Committee. Document was split into 4 parts to meet SWIMS file size limit.
Part 2 of Final report for grant to the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership to assist WDNR in implementing 2011 GLRI-funded Baseline Assessments and identify fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects in cooperation with the AOC Fish and Wildlife Technical Advisory Committee. Document was split into 4 parts to meet SWIMS file size limit.
Part 1 of Final report for grant to the Sheboygan River Basin Partnership to assist WDNR in implementing 2011 GLRI-funded Baseline Assessments and identify fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects in cooperation with the AOC Fish and Wildlife Technical Advisory Committee. Document was split into 4 parts to meet SWIMS file size limit.
Field data sheets for 3/29 – 4/13/2011 northern pike spawning survey (fyke netting) upstream of Taylor Drive in Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 7 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 6 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Quality Assurance Project Planfor Sheboygan AOC Pathway to Delisting Habitat BUIs--Survey and Assessment Project Version 1.0
Field data sheets for Week 5 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 4 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Field data sheets for Week 3 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Bird species codes for 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC (from Wisconsin Society for Ornithology)
Field data sheets for Week 2 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
SAP for wintering bird study - interim approbal to do field work granted - Donalea Dinsmore
Field data sheets for Week 1 of 2010-2011 winter bird survey of Sheboygan River AOC.
Study design for wintering bird survey
Field data sheets for 10/18-11/10/2010 macroinvertebrate surveys for Sheboygan River AOC assessment (includes Onion River, Weedens Creek, and Willow Creek sites).
Cover letter and grant paperwork PDF
Sheboygan AOC Fish and Wildlife Assessment
Sampling plan for macroinvertibrates - incomplete QAPP
Final GLRI project proposal for Sheboygan River AOC fish and wildlife habitat and population assessment project.
Budget for Sheboygan AOC Fish and Wildlife Survey and Assessment GLRI project.
Detailed budget for Sheboygan AOC fish and wildlife habitat and population assessment GLRI project.
 
Activities & Recommendations
Comprehensive Planning Studies
. This project is intended to support the development of delisting strategies and a fish and wildlife population and habitat restoration plan to address the “fish and wildlife population” and “fish and wildlife habitat” beneficial use impairments for the Sheboygan River and Harbor Area of Concern. This project includes a rapid ecological assessment using historical and current data, as well as conducting new field surveys, as needed, to fill data gaps or update data needed for the assessment.
 
Watershed
 
Waters