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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Detroit Harbor is located on the southern tip of Washington County in the Upper Door Watershed. Detroit Harbor State Natural Area, a unique land feature located at the harbor, features a diverse complex of intermittent, emergent, and forested wetlands that support numerous rare species.
Of primary significance is the presence of the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) and the federally threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris). The natural area also includes Richter Bayou, which is a significant smallmouth bass nursery. The bayou and bulrush flats located within Detroit Island are one of the most productive spawning sites for smallmouth bass in northern Green Bay.
Intermittent wetlands at the north end of the Richter Bayou are fed by a series of groundwater springs that drain south through a network of channels into an open wetland and ultimately into Detroit Harbor. North of the Bayou are dolomitic soils that support a large cedar swamp and old northern mesic forest dominated by northern white cedar and eastern hemlock. Other trees include American beech, sugar maple, balsam fir, yellow birch, and paper birch. Canada yew (Taxus canadensis), a declining species sensitive to deer browse, is found in the understory. This area is an important migratory stopover site and breeding habitat for numerous rare bird species including Caspian tern (Sterna caspia), redhead duck (Aythya americana), American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorrhynchos), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator). Detroit Harbor State Natural Area is owned by the Door County Land Trust and was designated a State Natural Area in 2005.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
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.
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 |
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| 20 | Lake Michigan | 10058340 | Detroit Island north shore | 8/16/2023 | 8/7/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Detroit Harbor 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.