Sawyer Creek, Lake Butte Des Mortes Watershed (UF04)
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Sawyer Creek, Lake Butte Des Mortes Watershed (UF04)
Sawyer Creek (139800)
6.53 Miles
4.48 - 11.01
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.
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.
2023
Unknown
 
Winnebago
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.
No
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.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Historical Description

A stormwater outfall from the City of Shell discharges to the headwaters of this stream.

Date  1992

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Sawyer Creek, T18N, R16E, Section 15 (4), Area = 18.2 acres, Length = 2.5 miles, Gradient = 11.0 feet/mile.
Sawyer Creek is a clear, hard water stream tributary to the Fox River. All but the lower
one mile of stream is intermittent. The lower mile contains water but has no measurable flow at
low water stages. This portion lies within the City of Oshkosh and is a catch-all for trash and
litter. The fishery is minimal but bullheads and panfish are known to exist. Wildlife values are
minimal. Even though much of the stream is intermittent, Sawyer Creek carries tremendous volumes
of water during peak runoff periods. Minor flood damage often occurs along the stream.
One small city park, two city streets, two town roads, one county highway, and one federal
highway provide public access.

From: 1975. Surface Water Resources of Winnebago County: Lake and Stream Classification Project.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1975

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Sawyer Creek, Lake Butte Des Mortes Watershed (UF04) Fish and Aquatic LifeSawyer Creek, Lake Butte Des Mortes Watershed (UF04) RecreationSawyer Creek, Lake Butte Des Mortes Watershed (UF04) Fish Consumption

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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Sawyer Creek - Sawyer Rd]
Sawyer Creek at N Westfield St-Road Salt Monitoring Data Summary December 2011 - December 2012
SAWYER CREEK, WINNEBAGO COUNTY, NEKIMI SAINITARY DISTRICT #1 USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Navigability Determination
T18N R16E; Sawyer Creek;
Navigability Determination
S36 T18N R15E ; Sawyer Creek, trib; externsion of previous determination
Navigability Determination
SW 1/4 S30 T18N R16E; Sawyer Creek, unnamed trib;
Navigability Determination
18N 16E S29; Sawyer Creek, Trib; extension of previous determin
Navigability Determination
18N 16E S31; Sawyer Creek;
Navigability Determination
18N 16E S30; Honey Creek;
Navigability Determination
17N 16E S5,8; Sawyer Creek;

Standards Details

Sawyer Creek is classified as supporting a limited aquatic life community. The stream is a clear, hardwater tributary to the Fox River. The stream is intermittent except for the lower one mile, which contains water but has no measurable flow during low water stages. This portion lies within the City of Oshkosh and is a catch-all for trash. The fishery is minimal but bullheads and panfish are known to exist. Even though much of the stream is intermittent, Sawyer Creek carries tremendous volumes of water during peak runoff periods.

Date  1995

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

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
WINNEBAGO COUNTY LCD: Winnebago Co. Coop. Proj.2007
Winnebago Navigability2008

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
139800Sawyer Creek713296Sawyer Creek at Cth K5/8/199710/8/1997MapData
139800Sawyer Creek10056815Sawyer Creek DS James Rd Detention Basin Outlet8/9/20226/12/2023MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Sawyer Creek is located in the Lake Butte Des Mortes watershed which is 79.65 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.60%), open (16.80%) and a mix of suburban (13.40%) and other uses (26.30%). This watershed has 128.44 stream miles, 85.47 lake acres and 1,498.62 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.

Natural Community

Sawyer Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.