Pike River, Pike River Watershed (SE02)
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Pike River, Pike River Watershed (SE02)
Pike River (1300)
8.05 Miles
1.45 - 9.50
Natural Community
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
2024
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Acute Aquatic Toxicity, Degraded Biological Community, Chronic Aquatic Toxicity
Chloride, Total Phosphorus
 
Kenosha
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

The Pike River Basin is a 56 square mile area that lies on the eastern side of Kenosha and Racine Counties. Approximately 52 square miles of land eventually drain into the Pike River, which discharges to Lake Michigan in the City of Kenosha at a point approximately one mile north of the City of Kenosha Harbor. The remaining 4 square miles of land drain directly into Lake Michigan via swales, ditches, channels and stormsewer outlets.

Date  2011

Author  Craig Helker

Historical Description

In 2005, the US Fish and Wildlife Service working with WDNR and several other public and private partners removed a 1950s era dam from the Pike River approximately four miles upstream from the river's Lake Michigan outlet. A four foot high concrete dam was replaced with a series of deep pools and shallow riffles and approximately 800 lineal feet of eroding streambank was stabilized. (USFWS 2009) Salmon and steelhead can now be found above the old dam site during their annual runs from Lake Michigan. The dam had provided a source of irrigation water for a golf course and this function was preserved with the new river pools.

Date  2011

Author  Craig Helker

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.