Manitowoc
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Silver Creek Park at the mouth of Lower Silver Creek provides public access to the stream and Lake
Michigan. The majority of the recreational activity on Lower Silver Creek occurs at the park. Biotic index samples taken in 1985 at one site on Lower Silver Creek indicate poor to very poor water quality
(Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan 1987). Silver Creek below Silver Lake has a diverse population
of fish including northern pike, bluegill, bullhead, sucker, as well as brook trout, rainbow trout, and
brown trout. Salmonid (trout and salmon) species are reported to migrate up the creek during spring and fall spawning runs, at which time the stream receives significant fishing pressure. Surveys conducted in the upper reaches of Silver Creek indicate that flow is intermittent and the stream is often without flow during the summer and fall. The creek supports a population of rough and forage species of fish, with very few game fish present above the lake. In addition to poor water quality, the fishery in the stream is further limited by very low flow during the summer and fall. Streambank erosion in the sandy soil area near the mouth of the stream appears to be severe and may have a significant impact on the localized stream habitat and fishery. Silver Creek is one of the Lake Michigan tributaries being managed by the WDNR as a Class II steelhead stream and as such receives annual smolt stockings of the ganaraska strain of steelhead.
Future water quality impacts to Silver Creek and Silver Lake may result from a developing industrial park located north of the stream between State HWY 151 and Interstate 43. Stormwater discharge locations to Silver Creek and Silver Lake are unknown at this time. During storm events Silver Creek may receive increased flows along with elevated loadings of sediments, nutrients, toxins, and other pollutants from the impervious surfaces. Stormwater usually receives no treatment before discharge. Stormwater control ordinances that require that design controls be incorporated into new projects should be adopted by the city of Manitowoc and nearby communities.
Date 2001
Author Michael Toneys
Overview
Silver Creek Park at the mouth of Lower Silver Creek provides public access to the stream and Lake Michigan. The majority of the recreational activity on Lower Silver Creek occurs at the park. Biotic index samples taken in 1985 at one site on Lower Silver Creek indicate poor to very poor water quality (Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan 1987). Silver Creek below Silver Lake has a diverse population of fish including northern pike, bluegill, bullhead, sucker, as well as brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Salmonid (trout and salmon) species are reported to migrate up the creek during spring and fall spawning runs, at which time the stream receives significant fishing pressure. Surveys conducted in the upper reaches of Silver Creek indicate that flow is intermittent and the stream is often without flow during the summer and fall. The creek supports a population of rough and forage species of fish, with very few game fish present above the lake. In addition to poor water quality, the fishery in the stream is further limited by very low flow during the summer and fall. Streambank erosion in the sandy soil area near the mouth of the stream appears to be severe and may have a significant impact on the localized stream habitat and fishery. Silver Creek is one of the Lake Michigan tributaries being managed by the WDNR as a Class II steelhead stream and as such receives annual smolt stockings of the ganaraska strain of steelhead.
Future water quality impacts to Silver Creek and Silver Lake may result from a developing industrial park located north of the stream between State HWY 151 and Interstate 43. Stormwater discharge locations to Silver Creek and Silver Lake are unknown at this time. During storm events Silver Creek may receive increased flows along with elevated loadings of sediments, nutrients, toxins, and other pollutants from the impervious surfaces. Stormwater usually receives no treatment before discharge. Stormwater control ordinances that require that design controls be incorporated into new projects should be adopted by the city of Manitowoc and nearby communities. (Refer to the recommendations under “Ordinances.”)
Date 1997
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Silver Creek from its mouth to Silver Lake (miles 0 to 8.44) was put on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in 2014. This listing was confirmed in the 2016, 2020, and 2022.
Silver Creek from Silver Lake to its headwaters (miles 8.44 to 17.98) was put on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in 2014.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
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
Monitor Paleocore
One sediment core was taken from Silver Lake in 1995. Diatom analysis was done.
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 10016063 | Silver Brook - S. Of Silver Brook Sch On 16th St. | 4/23/1986 | 4/23/1986 | Map | Data |
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 10016777 | Silver Mw #99 - Across From 3224 Hwy Cr | 9/27/1999 | 8/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 10016572 | Silver Crk. - Riffle Above Where Silver Crk. Crosses Silver Lake Rd. Furthest East On Toward Mouter | 5/4/1985 | 5/4/1985 | Map | Data |
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 10016762 | Silver (Mw) - Downstream Of Cth Cr | 9/23/1998 | 9/23/1998 | Map | Data |
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 363364 | Silver Creek - Near Silver Creek Rd Near Manitowoc WI | 5/22/2002 | 10/16/2002 | Map | Data |
| 67300 | Silver Creek | 363228 | Silver Creek at Cth Ls (Bi Sur) | 4/24/1979 | 10/14/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Silver Creek is located in the Sevenmile and Silver Creeks watershed which is 112.90 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.20%), grassland (18.40%) and a mix of wetland (7.50%) and other uses (16.80%). This watershed has 184.08 stream miles, 10,577.89 lake acres and 4,732.70 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.