Schoenick Creek, Middle Wolf River Watershed (WR14)
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Schoenick Creek, Middle Wolf River Watershed (WR14)
Schoenick Creek (321000)
0.56 Miles
3.57 - 4.13
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.
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
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Shawano
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.
Yes

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

Overview

Schoenick Creek is a seven-mile, harwater, warmwater forage fishery discharging to the Wolf River. It begins at Long Lake and flows through Schoenick Lake before draining to the Wolf River.

From: Bougie, Cheryl A., Kosmond, Lisa D, and Watermolen, Dreux J. 1996. Wolf River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1996

Author  Cheryl Bougie

Schoenick Creek, Middle Wolf River Watershed (WR14) Fish and Aquatic LifeSchoenick Creek, Middle Wolf River Watershed (WR14) RecreationSchoenick Creek, Middle Wolf River Watershed (WR14) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Schoenick Creek from its mouth to Schoenick Lake (miles 0 to 3.14) was evaluated in the 2018 cycle and no impairment was found.

Schoenick Creek from Schoenick Lake to Long Lake (miles 3.57 to 4.13) was put on the impaired water list in 2016 for phosphorus. Evaluation in the 2018 cycle confirmed the impairment.

Schoenick Creek from Long Lake to headwaters (miles 4.17 to 7.62) was put on the impaired waters list in 2016 for phosphorus and degraded biology. Evaluation in the 2018 cycle confirmed the impairments.

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

Schoenick Creek (WBIC 321000) and Wetland Tributary (WBIC 5014152), receiving waters for North Shore Health Care, Shawano Co.
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Recommendations

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
New Category 2 based on mIBI. 2018 TP Results: May Exceed. Station: 10042835. AU: 9814.
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Fox-Wolf 2000 proposes to work with the Schoenick Creek Task Force and the UW-Stevens Point Environmental Task Force to conduct surface water quality monitoring on Long and Schoenick Lakes. Groundwater sampling will be done at inflow and outflow locations of Long Lake. As a result of the sampling, a nutrient budget will be developed for both Long and Schoenick Lakes. The final product of Phase II will be a final report of the current water quality of the Schoenick Creek watershed. A public meeting will be held to disseminate the results and as a result of the study and landowner input, a water quality improvement plan will be developed.
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Fox-Wolf 2000 proposes to work with the Schoenick Creek Task Force and the UW-Stevens Point Environmental Task Force to conduct surface water quality assessments of Schoenick Creek. The sampling will consist of base flow and event sampling at 7 sites. The assessment will be used to determine if the water quality problems are associated with groundwater or runoff issues. A second component will be the establishment of a long-term volunteer monitoring team to continue monitoring water quality within the Schoenick Creek watershed. The third component will be watershed landowner education of the project by sending out a letter explaining the sampling and a public meeting.

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 Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000
FOX WOLF WATERSHED ALLIANCE: Schoenick Creek Watershed Improvement Project Phase II2002
LONG LAKE ASSOCIATION - SHAWANO COUNTY, INC.: Long Lake AIS Rapid Response Project2006
FOX WOLF WATERSHED ALLIANCE: Schoenick Creek Watershed Improvement Project Phase I2002
WATERWAYS ASSOC. MENOMINEE & SHAWANO CTY: HLR - 2023 Shoreline Restoration and Native Planting BMP Projects2023
WATERWAYS ASSOC. MENOMINEE & SHAWANO CTY: HLR - 2024 Shoreline Restoration and Native Planting BMP Projects2024
WATERWAYS ASSOC. MENOMINEE & SHAWANO CTY: Long Lake Shawano County Lake Management Plan2024
WATERWAYS ASSOC. MENOMINEE & SHAWANO CTY: RES - Imago Dei Shoreline Stabilization2024

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
321000Schoenick Creek10016081Unnamed Trib. - 300 Yds. Upstream From Long Lake10/13/198810/13/1988MapData
321000Schoenick Creek10042141Schoenick Creek 175m US Long Lake Confluence5/13/201410/21/2015MapData
321000Schoenick Creek10015987Unnamed Trib. - 300 Yds. Downstream From Long Lakecloverleaf Rd.10/13/198810/13/1988MapData
321000Schoenick Creek10042142Schoenick Creek 100m ds Long Lake Confluence5/12/201410/21/2015MapData
321000Schoenick Creek10014772Schoenike Creek at Cloverleaf Lake Rd.5/1/20141/1/2015MapData
321000Schoenick Creek10050760Schoenick Creek 45 yds US Cloverlead Road5/20/201810/27/2023MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Schoenick Creek is located in the Middle Wolf River watershed which is 133.78 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily wetland (36.10%), agricultural (30.80%) and a mix of forest (18.90%) and other uses (14.40%). This watershed has 209.37 stream miles, 384.45 lake acres and 30,112.00 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Schoenick Creek is considered a 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.

Warm Headwaters are small, usually intermittent streams with warm summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are absent, transitional fishes are common to uncommon, and warm water fishes are abundant to common. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.