Overview

The Kewaunee Marsh, located in Kewaunee County, is the site of contamination due to a Central Wisconsin Railroad car spill in the 1940’s. This spill caused arsenic contamination of surface water and groundwater in a three-acre area of the marsh. The Department, along with Wisconsin Central Railroad, has spent two years investigating and cleaning up the site. As an interim remedy to reduce human and waterfowl exposure, a geo-textile liner and several feet of wood chips were used to cap the contaminated wetland. The perimeter of the contaminated area was also securely fenced to eliminate public access, and to safeguard human health. Biological and chemical monitoring was conducted prior to the remediation, and is currently being conducted to ensure that the movement of the contaminated ground water plume doesn’t further pollute the river. To date, remediation costs have totaled approximately $400,000. Groundwater monitoring investigations are underway to determine the necessity of future remediation.

Date  2004

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

The Kewaunee River is a large, low gradient stream with a 25-year average flow of 86.3 cubic feet per second (cfs) and low flows (Q7,10) of 0.05 cfs (USGS, 1992). The Kewaunee River generally has fair to good water quality throughout. Its major tributaries include Casco, School, Scarboro and Little Scarboro Creeks. The watershed is predominantly agricultural (79 percent). The mainstem of the river and many of its tributaries are receiving sediment and nutrient enrichment from agricultural runoff. Watershed soils are high in fine clays, which are easily suspended in water. Erosion in the watershed delivers these soil particles (and nutrients and herbicides that readily attach to sediments) to the river and to Lake Michigan.

Most of the Kewaunee River supports a warmwater sport fishery and has seasonal runs of salmon and trout from Lake Michigan. It is unique among Class I steelhead streams because, until recently, it did not have a dam to stop upstream fish migration (WDNR, 1988). WDNR now operates a salmon egg-taking facility (C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Andronomous Fisheries Facility) with a lowhead dam on the river. A small channel allows fish to pass through the facility and avoid the dam. Eggs are harvested from spawning females to support Wisconsin's fish propagation efforts. NR 26, Wis. Adm. Code, classifies the river stretch from County Highway F upstream to 500 feet past the return pipe of the facility as a fish refuge. The lower river has extensive wetlands, which serve as nursery grounds for the 28 species of fish supported by the river. Two and one-half miles of the river between the mouth of Casco Creek downstream to County Trunk C are Class II brown trout waters. Sandy soils in this portion of the watershed are important in maintaining base flows to trout waters and in providing gravel substrate for spawning. There are concerns regarding the impacts of carp on Kewaunee River water quality.

The entire reach of river from the mouth of School Creek downstream to the mouth of the Kewaunee River is only partially supporting its potential use due to point and nonpoint sources of water pollution. The existing fishery in this reach could be improved by minimizing cropland erosion, streambank pasturing and pollution from animal waste.

Historic reductions in the percentage of forested and wetland vegetation have resulted in a watershed that lacks adequate opportunities for infiltration and retention of precipitation and snow melt resulting in flashy runoff which overwhelms existing stream channels and aquatic habitat. This excessive runoff also strips valuable sediments and nutrients from the terrestrial environment and delivers them to our streams and lakes where they result in degraded water quality and poorer habitat which can kill sensitive and intolerant fish and aquatic invertebrates. Flashy runoff also limits the amount of water available to sustain adequate flows during drought. Restoration efforts should focus on increasing the overall percentage of forested and wetland vegetation in this watershed to restore a more natural hydrologic regime and minimize the impacts of flashy runoff and an altered hydrologic regime.

Above the mouth of School Creek, the Kewaunee River supports only forage fish and is likely fully supporting its potential use. Water quality in this segment is fair, with low flows and high water temperatures limiting the fishery.

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

The Kewaunee River watershed is located in central Kewaunee County and eastern Brown County and drains eastward toward Lake Michigan. The watershed is 139 square miles (81,266 acres) with 82 % located in Kewaunee County (WDNR 1984). The Kewaunee River is a large, low gradient stream with an average flow of 2.5 cubic meters per second (WDNR 1995).

The majority of bedrock in the watershed is Niagara dolomite which is covered with up to 100 feet of glacial drift in some locations (WDNR 1984). Most of the soils of the watershed are either Kewaunee-Manawa or Hortonville-Symco and have a high percentage of fine clays associated with them. These fine clays are susceptible to erosion (water or wind) and can cause degraded water quality in rivers and lakes. The remainder of the soil types range from Casco-Boyer which are sandy, well drained and provide groundwater to surface water streams, to Kolberg-Longrie which are shallow soils associated with the dolomite bedrock. Most of the watershed is gently sloping with a gradient less than 6% with steeper slopes located along the lower portion of the Kewaunee River. Land use in the watershed is dominated by agriculture (Table 1). It was estimated in 1984 that 81% of the land was used as cropland, followed by wetlands 7.5% (including forested wetlands, woodlands 6%, grassland 3% and other uses including urban 2% (WDNR 1984).

In 1992, land use within the Kewaunee County portion of the basin was described as 79% agricultural, 7% woodland, 3% grassland, 8% wetland and 3% urban or other land uses (Andy Wallendar Kewaunee County LCD, personal communication 2000). Land use within any of the subwatersheds can be variable (Table 1). An example would be the percentage of agriculture, which varies from a low of 69% in the Lower Kewaunee River Subwatershed to a high of 89% in the School Creek Subwatershed. How the land is used can influence water quality, turbidity, erosion, dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature in streams and ultimately the biological communities that reside in them.

The Kewaunee River and its tributaries support a wide variety of fish species
This list should be viewed cautiously, because of very limited data on fish distribution of non-game species from early surveys that did not collect this type of information. Upper reaches of the watershed have forage fisheries because of low flows and warm water temperatures. Most of the remainder of the watershed supports warmwater sportfisheries, although several tributaries and one section of the Kewaunee River are designated as trout fisheries. All perennial streams within the watershed experience seasonal anadromous migrations of trout and salmon from Lake Michigan. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) built and operates an egg collection facility for Lake Michigan trout and salmon on the lower portion of the Kewaunee River.

Water quality has been and still remains a major concern within the watershed. Based on watershed models, it is estimated that the Kewaunee River delivers 1,900 tons of sediment per year to Lake Michigan (WDNR 1995). Along with sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen and manure can be found in runoff reaching the Kewaunee River. It was estimated that between 1969 and 1978 the average phosphorus load of the river was 42,000 pounds per year with values ranging from 11,000 lbs/yr to 106,000 lbs/yr (WDNR 1984). Because of high levels of point and non-point source pollution, the Kewaunee River was designated as a Priority Watershed in 1982. When the Priority Watershed program ended on the Kewaunee River in 1992, 89 of 300 landowners had agreed to participate in the program. Although low in percentage, participation was average for Priority Watersheds begun in this time period. The effectiveness of phosphorus/sediment reduction practices in this project was never measured.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

General Condition

The Kewaunee River delivers a sediment load of about 1900 tons/year to the Kewaunee Harbor and Lake Michigan. In 1988, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged 41,089 cubic meters of sediment from the harbor. The Corps removed an additional 5,220 cubic meters in 1989. Sediment sampling in 1988 revealed levels of oil and grease, total phosphorus, lead and chemical oxygen considered characteristic of moderately polluted sediments. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia levels were indicative of heavily polluted sediments (IJC, 1991). Dredged material was delivered to a confined disposal facility.

In 1978 and 1979, fish flesh screening for toxic chemical contamination found that PCB concentrations exceeded FDA health standards in carp at the river's mouth. There is currently no fish consumption advisory for the Kewaunee River. Complete consumption advisories are stated in the Health Guide for People who eat Sport Fish from Wisconsin Waters. Anglers should examine the guide regularly for possible changes in advisory status.

The city of Kewaunee and the village of Luxemburg have wastewater treatment plants that discharge to the Kewauneee River. The Kewaunee treatment plant is operating properly and is not known to be degrading water quality. However, there is potential for the plant to discharge toxic contaminants due to several metal working companies operating in the city. Kewaunee Bottling Co. also discharges to the plant. WDNR Wastewater Management personnel recommend toxic assessment of the plant's effluent. The Luxemburg wastewater treatment plant has had problems with BOD and suspended solids levels exceeding WPDES permit limits. The village has worked with Packerland Whey Products to monitor and reduce pretreatment influent loadings. The village also removed sludge from its wastewater treatnent lagoons. As a result of these activities, the village's discharge is now in compliance.

WDNR staff have recommended that a Great Lakes or cold water community classification for water quality standards be applied to the Kewaunee River (Kincaid et al., 1992). Industrial discharges to the river include Kewaunee Equipment and General Housewares, both located in Kewaunee. These industries discharge non-contact cooling water and do not pose water quality threats.

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

Impaired Waters

Kewaunee River from Highway 42 to the upper end of the marsh (miles 0.37 to 2.63) was put on the impaired waters list for PCBs in fish tissue in 1998, total phosphorus in 2016, and arsenic causing aquatic toxicity in 2020. Phosphorus impairment was confirmed in the 2018 cycle.

Kewaunee River from the top of Kewaunee Marsh to CTH C (miles 2.63 to 13.51) was identified as impaired in the 2006 cycle for PCBs in fish tissue. This river segment was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022; phosphorus levels were too high in the 2020 cycle and this pollutant was added to the Impaired Waters List. During these cycles chloride, fish, and bug data were also evaluated and found in good condition.

Kewaunee River from CTH C to Casco Creek (miles 13.51 to 16.36) was identified as impaired in the 1998 cycle for PCBs in fish tissue.

Kewaunee River from Railroad bridge at Casco Creek to the headwaters (miles 16.36 to 27.89) was put on the impaired waters list for PCBs in fish tissue in 1998. This portion of the Kewaunee River was evaluated for phosphorus in the 2020 and 2022 cycles; levels were found to be too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, bugs, and fish. Phosphorus was added to the list in the 2020 cycle.

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

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

Projects

The Kewaunee Marsh, located in Kewaunee County, is the site of contamination due to a Central Wisconsin Railroad car spill in the 1940�s. This spill caused arsenic contamination of surface water and groundwater in a three-acre area of the marsh. The Department, along with Wisconsin Central Railroad, has spent two years investigating and cleaning up the site. As an interim remedy to reduce human and waterfowl exposure, a geo-textile liner and several feet of wood chips were used to cap the contaminated wetland. The perimeter of the contaminated area was also securely fenced to eliminate public access, and to safeguard human health.

Date  2004

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Watershed Characteristics

Kewaunee River is located in the Kewaunee River watershed which is 142.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (61.10%), grassland (17.30%) and a mix of wetland (10.10%) and other uses (11.60%). This watershed has 292.03 stream miles, 540.90 lake acres and 7,312.87 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.