Casco Creek, Kewaunee River Watershed (TK03)
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Casco Creek, Kewaunee River Watershed (TK03)
Casco Creek (91600)
1.40 Miles
0.47 - 1.87
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Cool-Warm Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2015
Good
 
Kewaunee
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
Yes
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Cold (Class II Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L through natural reproduction and selective propagation. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Casco Creek is a small, clear, springfed stream that flows 10 miles to the Kewaunee River. Its habitat and fishery varies considerably over its length. The 1.4 mile-long segment between the village of Casco and the Kewaunee River has a steep gradient (30 feet per mile), gravel substrate, wooded and well-shaded banks. The 0.4-mile segment near the creek's mouth is a Class I brook trout stream; the remaining mile is a Class II brook trout stream. Public access is limited to one road crossing on this reach. A dam in Casco forms the Casco Millpond. The pond is 1.3 acres, no deeper than 5 feet and does not support a healthy sport fishery due to natural limitations. There is no public access and the pond is not considered to be a significant fishery resource.

The 7-mile stretch above the millpond has a moderate gradient (10 feet per mile) and often flows through wetlands. Some warmwater fishes have been found in the lower two-thirds of this segment. These species include northern pike, rock bass and black bullhead. However, the fish community is mainly comprised of forage species, particularly near the headwaters. Public access is limited to road crossings. Water quality conditions are very good in the stream segment below Casco. The fishery will be further protected when the Casco wastewater treatment plant is upgraded to eliminate residual chlorine. Above Casco, water quality is very good, but heavy siltation from nonpoint sources of water pollution has been noted in many areas. Macroinvertebrates collected in 1984 and 1986 indicated fair to excellent water quality (Nachtwey, 1990).

Date  2001

Author  Michael Toneys

Casco Creek, Kewaunee River Watershed (TK03) Fish and Aquatic LifeCasco Creek, Kewaunee River Watershed (TK03) RecreationCasco Creek, Kewaunee River Watershed (TK03) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of Casco Creek showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list.

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

Casco Creek Diatom Sampling Field Sheet 2019
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Casco Creek, Casco Creek - Tn Rd Se Of Casco, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Casco Creek, Unnamed Creek upstream Pheasant Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Casco Creek, Casco Cr at Maple Rd & CTH S, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Casco Creek, Casco Creek-50 Feet Above Bridge Off Crevice Road., Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2016 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Casco Creek WBIC 91600 @Rockledge Rd
2016 TP Calculations Kewaunee CARES Data
Kewaunee R Watershed (TK03) Watershed Plan 2011
CASCO CREEK, KEWAUNEE COUNTY, CASCO STP WWTP USE DESIGNATION

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

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
91600Casco Creek313024Casco Creek - Tn Rd Se Of Casco4/3/20004/3/2000MapData
91600Casco Creek313020Casco Creek - Cth C In CascoMapData
91600Casco Creek313167Casco Creek at Rockledge Road10/7/19911/1/2015MapData
91600Casco Creek10007953Casco Creek 1 (N. Of Rockledge Road)MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Casco Creek 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.

Natural Community

Casco Creek is considered a Cool-Warm Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Warm-Transition) Headwaters are small, sometimes intermittent streams with cool to warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are uncommon to absent, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are common to uncommon. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.