Door
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Maple Creek is a low-gradient stream that empties into Gurlack Lake (Mud Lake). The stream is 3.6
miles long with a drainage area of 10 square miles. Wetland and agricultural drainage affect this area. The
Upper Door Nonpoint Source Control Plan has identified the importance of controlling sediment delivery
to this creek to protect the seasonal migration of Lake Michigan fish.
Maple Creek is currently classified as marginal, which means the stream is capable of supporting only
very tolerant fish or macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates collected in 1985 and 1990 indicated fair
water quality. Stream flow during low flow periods is less than 1 cubic feet per second (cfs). The
Sevastopol wastewater treatment plant discharges to this stream.
During investigation of a February 1981 fish kill, fisheries managers found that the creek supported
bullheads, northern pike, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, suckers, brook trout, carp and darters. The fish kill was
the result of improperly managed animal waste at a large dairy operation. The problem has since been
corrected.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Giesel Creek (also know as Maple Creek) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10047027 | Geisel Creek-Hwy 57 | 5/19/2016 | 5/19/2016 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10029263 | Geisel Creek at Hwy 57 | 3/24/2009 | 5/16/2011 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10010240 | Geisel Creek - Geisel Creek at Dunn Road | 5/1/1990 | 5/18/2021 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10029266 | Geisel Creek at Haberli Rd | 3/24/2009 | 8/14/2024 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10054848 | Geisel Creek below Sevastopol Sanitary District discharge | 4/5/2021 | 5/18/2021 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10055976 | Geisel Creek above Mud Lake | 6/10/2021 | 6/10/2021 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10037955 | Geisel Creek at Clark Lake Road | | | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10047028 | Geisel Creek-Brauer Rd. | 5/19/2016 | 5/19/2016 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10054845 | Geisel Creek above Sevastopol Sanitary District discharge | 4/5/2021 | 5/18/2021 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 10047030 | Geisel Creek-East Dunn Rd. | 5/19/2016 | 5/19/2016 | Map | Data |
| 97400 | Geisel Creek | 153022 | Sevastopol San Dist 1 Stp | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Geisel Creek is located in the Upper Door County watershed which is 287.02 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (38%), grassland (22%) and a mix of agricultural (18.90%) and other uses (21.10%). This watershed has 102.85 stream miles, 254,855.32 lake acres and 24,541.39 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.