Ozaukee, Washington
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
N. Br. Cedar Creek, in the Cedar Creek Watershed, is a 7.67 mile river that falls in Ozaukee and Washington Counties. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
North Branch, Cedar Creek T11N, R21E, Section 19, Surface Acres = 0.60, Length = 1.0 miles, Gradient = 1.0 feet per mile
A small, low gradient stream flowing southward. An intermittent feeder
stream and a small bog lake exist at the head end. No sport fishery value is attached.
Eventually this stream enters Cedar Creek in Washington County.
From: Poff, Ronald J., Gernay, Ronald, and Threinen, C.W., 1964. Surface Water Resources of Ozaukee County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
This portion of North Branch Cedar Creek was evaluated for phosphorus and biology every two years between 2014 and 2022. Phosphorus levels exceeded criteria in the 2022 evaluation. Fish and bug communities appear healthy. This stream is proposed for listing on the 2022 Impaired Waters List.
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 Water Quality or Sediment
samples taken after rain events, may have skewed sample results
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 |
|---|
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10016981 | Cedar Creek - 25 Feet Downstream Of Hwy Y South Of Newberg | 4/22/1986 | 4/22/1986 | Map | Data |
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10010606 | 31 | | | Map | Data |
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10016983 | Cedar Creek - 10 Ft. Dwnstm Hwy Y Spring Valuehbi = 5.195 Subwtsd = Saukville Township.Stm Seg Sk 004 | 11/10/1986 | 11/10/1986 | Map | Data |
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10014144 | North Branch Cedar Creek Downstream Of Cth Nn | 7/14/2016 | 7/14/2016 | Map | Data |
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10008824 | Un Cr (N. Br. Cedar Creek) Station #1 20 M Up From Pleasant Valley Road | 5/16/1979 | 3/24/2024 | Map | Data |
| 22500 | North Branch Cedar Creek | 10022038 | North Branch Cedar Creek - Upstream of CTHY NN | 10/19/2007 | 6/12/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
North Branch Cedar Creek is located in the Cedar Creek watershed which is 129.26 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (33.50%), grassland (18.90%) and a mix of wetland (17.70%) and other uses (29.90%). This watershed has 176.82 stream miles, 1,897.46 lake acres and 13,111.81 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.