Door
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Fish Creek, in the Upper Door County watershed, is a 1.34 mile river that falls in Door county. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Fish Creek (WBIC 99800) was assessed for phosphorus in 2018 and temperature in 2016 and 2020. Both phosphorus and temperature were at healthy levels.
Date 2019
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
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Rivers Management Grant
The Town of Gibraltar is sponsoring a project to begin implementing their 2017 Fish Creek Watershed Plan which involves stream restoration and fish passage improvements in Fish Creek in Door County. Project final deliverables include: all design plans and a final report summarizing the project. Specific project activities include: 1) Developing a conceptual design plan and cost estimate for State Highway 42 culvert fish passage; 2) Developing a conceptual design plan and completion of meander restoration and stream channel enhancement of Fish Creek upstream of State Highway 42; 3) Developing a conceptual design plan and cost estimate for Redmann dam fish passage. Special Conditions: 1) Prior to construction, the Town will obtain all requisite landowner access and permits as required from WDNR, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), Door County, and other regulatory agencies or municipalities.
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
The Town of Gibraltar is sponsoring a project to develop a community based Improvement and Protection Plan for Fish Creek. Project final deliverables include: all data collected, agendas and minutes for planning meetings, and a river management plan that includes methodologies, results, and management alternatives discussion with an implementation plan. Specific project activities include: 1) Evaluate existing nutrient and flow data for Fish Creek; 2) Develop a model to estimate flow, sediment, and nutrients to Fish Creek; 3) Gather sociological information and solicit participation in the planning process; 4) Develop a 9-Key element watershed based plan and an improvement and protection plan that addresses groundwater infiltration and water flow in Fish Creek while reducing stormwater runoff. The plan will also identify strategies to address invasive species and restore and protect fishery and wildlife habitat.
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 |
|---|
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10015857 | Fish Cr. - F2 Fish Cr. Below Impoundment | 4/15/1999 | 4/15/1999 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10051141 | Fish Creek - Dam at the Boardwalk | 5/21/2018 | 9/11/2024 | Map | Data |
| 20 | Lake Michigan | 10058348 | Fish Creek Estuary | 8/15/2023 | 7/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10058348 | Fish Creek Estuary | 8/15/2023 | 7/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10016648 | Fish Cr. - F1 Fish Cr. Upstream At Fluorescentstake | 4/15/1999 | 4/15/1999 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10010191 | Fish Creek - In Park/Boardwalk | 4/15/1999 | 9/11/2024 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 10040661 | Fish Creek DS HWY 42 | 6/4/2013 | 5/29/2018 | Map | Data |
| 99800 | Fish Creek | 153026 | Fish Creek - A Sth 42 Vil Of Fish Cr | 3/9/1976 | 6/16/1976 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Fish 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.