Fond Du Lac
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Campground (Byron) Creek rises from several springs at the base of the Niagara escarpment in southeast Fond du Lac County (Weber et al., 1969). It is considered a Class II trout stream from Fond du Lac County Highway Y to a point near its headwaters, approximately 3.3 miles upstream (WDNR, 1980). The stream has a good gradient through this reach. The stream flattens from about mile 0.6 through a main wetland complex just downstream from its origin area (Reif, 2010). The Creek can be considered cold water to that 0.6 mile point and has potential to sustain a brook trout population. The man-made ponds in the large wetland as well as man-made diversions in the wetland degrade it to the point that it warms to near 30 Deg. C in the summer and also results in periodic anoxic conditions that cause fish kills. Much work needs to be done on this wetland problem to restore the trout migration capabilities (Reif, 2010).
The gradient flattens and the stream is dominated by a warm water forage fishery downstream of County Highway Y. The municipal wastewater treatment facility and Seneca Foods discharge to it below County Highway Y. Nonpoint sources of pollution, particularly bank erosion due to cattle grazing, are the main water quality problem in the trout waters reach. Sedimentation from farm tillage practices is also a problem in the downstream reach. Runoff due to excessive spray irrigation by a canning company near Oakfield has occasionally reached the stream and caused water quality problems. There are also some unnamed tributaries to the creek which have intensive agricultural operations on land adjacent to them. Some of these operations may be affecting water quality in Campground Creek (WDNR SCRFiles, 1996). There is one cold water spring-fed tributary (WBIC 137600) that feeds into Campground Creek below the main wetland and is potentially capable of sustaining a trout population (Reif, 2010). Trout have been documented in this tributary in the past (Hacker, 1956).
Date
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Campground Creek from its mouth to CTH Y (miles 0 to 1.66) was put on the impaired waters list in 2006 for total suspended solids and degraded habitat. Phosphorus was added to the list in the 2018 cycle.
Campground Creek from CTH Y to its headwaters (miles 1.66 to 7.26) was put on the impaired waters list in 2006 for total suspended solids, low dissolved oxygen, elevated temperature, and degraded habitat. Phosphorus was added to the list in the 2018 cycle. This water is covered by the Upper Fox & Wolf River Basins TMDL, approved by the US EPA on February 27, 2020.
This water is covered by the Upper Fox & Wolf River Basins TMDL, approved by the US EPA on February 27, 2020.
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
Navigability Determination
T14N R16E ; Campground Creek;
Navigability Determination
T14N R16E ; Campground Creek;
Monitor and/or Protect Groundwater, Sourcewater
Groundwater use appears to be a serious concern. High capacity wells, such as those of the City of Fond du Lac and several area Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) may be having a significant impact on the flows of springs feeding steams. This needs to be extensively studied to develop water use determinations.
Protect Headwaters and Springs
The origin spring area of Campground Creek is a major source of cold water for that area of the Creek and is important in that it has potential to meet cold trout water conditions. This needs to be protected and restored.
Recommendations
The main wetland complex in the Campground Creek sub-watershed needs to be studied and restored to a natural stream channel. Many useful cold springs enter the wetland but are warmed extensively in the summer. Much of this does not appear to be a natural condition and has been the result of man-made modifications such as mining peat in the wetland.
Groundwater use appears to be a serious concern. High capacity wells, such as those of the City of Fond du Lac and several area Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) may be having a significant impact on the flows of springs feeding steams. This needs to be extensively studied to develop water use determinations.
Groundwater protection areas need to be formally identified for the springs that feed Campground Creek.
The origin spring area of Campground Cr. is a major source of cold water for that area of the Creek and is important in that it has potential to meet cold trout water conditions. This needs to be protected and restored.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
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 |
|---|
| 137400 | Campground Creek | 10014782 | Campground Creek at Thill Rd. | | | Map | Data |
| 137400 | Campground Creek | 10030857 | Campground Creek at Hwy Y | 1/1/2015 | 8/30/2023 | Map | Data |
| 137400 | Campground Creek | 10016442 | Campground Creek - Above Thill Road | 10/30/2001 | 8/30/2023 | Map | Data |
| 137400 | Campground Creek | 10010822 | Campground Creek - Campground Creek Below Oakfield Wwtp | 11/8/2000 | 8/30/2023 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Campground Creek is located in the Fond du Lac River watershed which is 244.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (15.90%) and a mix of wetland (10.90%) and other uses (16.00%). This watershed has 461.86 stream miles, 991.41 lake acres and 16,649.99 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.