Overview

BLACK RIVER, SEGMENT 2 (RM 1.6-11.0)

This reach extends from Indian Mound Road through the length of Kohler-Andrae State Park to the headwaters in Oostburg. Water quality is poor, with polluted runoff causing excessive sedimentation. As a result, habitat for fish, macroinvertebrates and periphyton is poor. The headwaters area receives wastewater from the Oostburg sewage treatment plant. The historical stream classification for the Black River split the stream into two segments. The upper 9.4 river miles was classified as limited aquatic life and the lower 1.6 river miles as limited forage fish (the recent stream classification eliminates this segmentation WDNR 1995). A review of historical fish surveys identifies 20 species in the Black River (Fago 1985). Trout and salmon (coho salmon, chinook salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout) from Lake Michigan are also found in the stream during their seasonal spawning runs.

WDNR personnel conducted fish surveys in 1994, 1999 and 2000 on the Black River. Only three species (two tolerant, one very tolerant according to Ball 1982) were collected from the Black River in 1994 compared with the 20 species collected in the past (Table 14). WDNR personnel recently conducted fish surveys on the Black River in 1999, upstream of Indian Mound Road (river mile 1.6) and in 2000, downstream of CTH KK (Table 14). Stream habitat and available fish cover in these two areas of the Black River was rated as fair (Table 15). Bottom substrate primarily consists of sand and the riparian buffer is mainly wetlands and woodlands. Agricultural and residencial land use in the watershed contributes to poor water quality conditions.

Sediment Quality

A sediment sample was collected in 1994, at a site between CTH A and the Oostburg WWTP outfall in the headwaters of the Black River as part of the Sheboygan River Basin Sediment Survey. The results for total PCBs were consistent with what the Department finds at control sites as a result of atmospheric deposition (0.05 ug/g). The PAHs, (acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo (A) anthracene, benzo (B) fluoranthene, benzo (K) fluoranthene, benzo (GHI) perylene, benzo (A) pyrene, benzo (E) pyrene, chrysene, dibenzo (A,H) anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno (1,2,3-CD) pyrene, perylene, phenanthrene, and pyrene) came back as no detect (<160 ng/g). The metals data show values for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc consistent with the concentrations observed in urban impacted streams and do not require specific management activities at this time (WDNR 1999).

Date  

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER AT LM 93.8 - OVERVIEW
T14N R23E Sec. 2 SENE Stream Length = 11.4 WBIC = 50300

The Black River is the major waterway in this watershed. The Black River originates near the Village of Oostburg and flows west then north through Kohler-Andrae State Park along Lake Michigan before emptying into Lake Michigan in the City of Sheboygan. The river’s average gradient drops 8.5 feet per mile in its 11.4 mile length. The primary land use in this watershed is natural lowlands with adjacent agricultural lands. Residential areas surround the river’s very upper and lower reaches. The Oostburg Wastewater Treatment Plant is a permitted point source discharger to the upper reaches of the Black River.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER, SEGMENT 2 (RM 1.6-11.0)

This reach extends from Indian Mound Road through the length of Kohler-Andrae State Park to the headwaters in Oostburg. Water quality is poor, with polluted runoff causing excessive sedimentation. As a result, habitat for fish, macroinvertebrates and periphyton is poor. The headwaters area receives wastewater from the Oostburg sewage treatment plant. The historical stream classification for the Black River split the stream into two segments. The upper 9.4 river miles was classified as limited aquatic life and the lower 1.6 river miles as limited forage fish (the recent stream classification eliminates this segmentation WDNR 1995). A review of historical fish surveys identifies 20 species in the Black River (Fago 1985). Trout and salmon (coho salmon, chinook salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout) from Lake Michigan are also found in the stream during their seasonal spawning runs.

WDNR personnel conducted fish surveys in 1994, 1999 and 2000 on the Black River. Only three species (two tolerant, one very tolerant according to Ball 1982) were collected from the Black River in 1994 compared with the 20 species collected in the past (Table 14). WDNR personnel recently conducted fish surveys on the Black River in 1999, upstream of Indian Mound Road (river mile 1.6) and in 2000, downstream of CTH KK (Table 14). Stream habitat and available fish cover in these two areas of the Black River was rated as fair (Table 15). Bottom substrate primarily consists of sand and the riparian buffer is mainly wetlands and woodlands. Agricultural and residencial land use in the watershed contributes to poor water quality conditions.

Sediment Quality

A sediment sample was collected in 1994, at a site between CTH A and the Oostburg WWTP outfall in the headwaters of the Black River as part of the Sheboygan River Basin Sediment Survey. The results for total PCBs were consistent with what the Department finds at control sites as a result of atmospheric deposition (0.05 ug/g). The PAHs, (acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo (A) anthracene, benzo (B) fluoranthene, benzo (K) fluoranthene, benzo (GHI) perylene, benzo (A) pyrene, benzo (E) pyrene, chrysene, dibenzo (A,H) anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno (1,2,3-CD) pyrene, perylene, phenanthrene, and pyrene) came back as no detect (<160 ng/g). The metals data show values for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc consistent with the concentrations observed in urban impacted streams and do not require specific management activities at this time (WDNR 1999).

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER, SEGMENT 1 (RM 0-1.6)

This reach of the Black River, extending upstream from the mouth to Indian Mound Road has poor to fair water quality. This segment of the river is primarily composed of low-flow wetlands, dominated by the introduced plant pest, purple loosestrife. The purple loosestrife severely out-competes native vegetation in the wetlands (Katsma, 1998). The Jerving Conservancy, located at the estuary with Lake Michigan, was once a highly valued bird migratory bird site, but is now being severely degraded by the overgrowth of purple loosestrife. The macroinvertebrate community has many tolerant taxa that are limited by poor habitat. Streambed sedimentation contributed by upstream sources of polluted runoff is moderate. Fish diversity is poor, but provides seasonal fishing opportunities during the spawning runs of smelt, trout and salmon.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER OVERVIEW (AT LM 93.8) - T14N R23E Sec. 2, Stream Length = 11.4.
The Black River is the major waterway in this watershed. The Black River originates near the Village of Oostburg and flows west then north through Kohler-Andrae State Park along Lake Michigan before emptying into Lake Michigan in the City of Sheboygan. The river’s average gradient drops 8.5 feet per mile in its 11.4 mile length. The primary land use in this watershed is natural lowlands with adjacent agricultural lands. Residential areas surround the river’s very upper and lower reaches. The Oostburg Wastewater Treatment Plant is a permitted point source discharger to the upper reaches of the Black River.

Various water quality parameters including; water chemistry, macroinvertebrate and fish community assessments, habitat, and sediment chemistry were sampled on the Black River. Water quality ratings based on fish, habitat, and macroinvertebrate community assessments were conducted during 1994. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), and Habitat Quality results for the Black River indicated fair to poor quality.

Sediment Quality - A sediment sample was collected between CTH A and the Oostburg WWTP outfall in the headwaters of the Black River as part of the Sheboygan River Basin Sediment Survey. The results for total PCBs were consistent with what the Department finds at control sites as a result of atmospheric deposition (0.05 ug/g). The PAHs, (acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo (A) anthracene, benzo (B) fluoranthene, benzo (K) fluoranthene, benzo (GHI) perylene, benzo (A) pyrene, benzo (E) pyrene, chrysene, dibenzo (A,H) anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno (1,2,3-CD) pyrene, perylene, phenanthrene, and pyrene) came back at <160 ng/g. The metals data show values for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc consistent with the concentrations observed in urban impacted streams and do not require specific management activities at this time.

From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER, SEGMENT 1 (RM 0-1.6) - This reach of the Black River, extending upstream from the mouth to Indian Mound Road has poor to fair water quality. This segment of the river is primarily composed of low-flow wetlands, dominated by the introduced pest purple loosestrife. The purple loosestrife severely out-competes native vegetation in the wetlands (Katsma, 1998). The Jerving Conservancy, located at the estuary with Lake Michigan, was once a highly valued bird migratory bird site, but is now being severely degraded by the overgrowth of purple loosestrife. The macroinvertebrate community has many tolerant taxa that are limited by poor habitat. Streambed sedimentation contributed by upstream sources of polluted runoff is moderate. Fish diversity is poor, but provides seasonal fishing opportunities during the spawning runs of smelt, trout and salmon.

From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Overview

BLACK RIVER, SEGMENT 2 (RM 1.6-11.0) - This reach extends from Indian Mound Road through the length of Kohler-Andrae State Park to the headwaters in Oostburg. Water quality is poor, with polluted runoff causing excessive sedimentation. As a result, habitat for fish, macroinvertebrates and periphyton is poor. The headwaters area receives wastewater from the Oostburg sewage treatment plant, which was recently upgraded in 19??.
The historical stream classification for the Black River split the stream into two segments. The upper 9.4 river miles was classified as limited aquatic life and the lower 1.6 river miles as limited forage fish (the recent stream classification eliminates this segmentation WDNR 1995). A review of historical fish surveys identifies 20 species in the Black River (Fago 1985). Trout and salmon (coho salmon, chinook salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout) from Lake Michigan are also found in the stream during their seasonal spawning runs. A recent fish survey was conducted by WDNR personnel in 1994 on the Black River at CTH KK (river mile 7.6). Only three species (two tolerant, one very tolerant according to Ball 1982) were collected from the Black River in 1994 compared with the 20 species collected in the past.

From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Impaired Waters

Black River (50300) was listed for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the poor condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Black River is located in the Black River watershed which is 35.51 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (45.90%), grassland (13.60%) and a mix of forest (11.20%) and other uses (29.30%). This watershed has 83.77 stream miles, 6,359.43 lake acres and 2,238.69 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.