4.81 Miles
0 - 4.81
Macroinvertebrate, Cool-Warm Headwater
2015
Poor
Degraded Biological Community
Unknown Pollutant
Ozaukee
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
T12N R22E Sec. 20 Stream Length = 5.1 miles WBIC = 49700
This branch of Sauk Creek has been unofficially called the Ludowissi Lake branch by the biologist for descriptive purposes (WDNR 1999). The Ludowissi Lake Branch of Sauk Creek originates from Ludowissi Lake (T12N R21E Sec. 1) and flows southerly 5.5 stream miles to the main branch of Sauk Creek at T12N R22E Sec. 20. In 1994 a macroinvertebrate sample was collected from this branch just upstream of the confluence with the main branch south of CTH D. The biotic index (HBI) rating indicated fair water quality at this site. A fish and habitat survey was conducted in 1999 upstream of CTH D. The fish community assessments and tolerance to pollution for each fish species are summarized in Table 6. The Index of Biotic Integrity, Hilsenhoff Biotic Index and habitat rating scores are shown in Table 7.
The very headwaters of Sauk Creek in the Ludowissi branch originates in a large drain tile at Jay road just east of STH 57. The water then flows north behind a barnyard and pasture then easterly to a confluence with the tributary from Ludowissi Lake. Cedar Valley Cheese is located at the southwest corner of Jay Road and STH 57 in Ozaukee County, discharges irrigated waste high in chlorides across Jay Road to the north, west of STH 57. In spring of 1998 water from the irrigated field was observed flowing from the drain tile under STH 57 (easterly direction) to a farm swale between the manure storage facility and barn, across the pasture to the headwaters of Sauk Creek. The water from the irrigated field was observed entering the headwaters of Sauk Creek (Ludowissi branch) at T12N R21E S1 NWSW (WDNR 1998). Chlorides are toxic to freshwater aquatic organisms (From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI).
In 1999 the large drain tile that the stream originates from discharged organic rich sludge to the stream. Corrective actions were taken in late 1999 to stop the source, flush the tile line, and remove sludge from the stream.
Macroinvertebrate samples were colleceted at two sites in 1999, one just below the stream reach with the sludge and another 1.2 river miles downstream from there at CTH D. The HBI index, which is a measure of the degree of organic pollution rated the water quality poor at the first site (HBI score 8.27) and the stream showed some improvement at the downstream site with a water quality rating of Fair (HBI score 6.06) upstream of CTH D. Diel (24 hour) dissolved oxygen concentrations were recorded for three days in late July 1999 from the same two stream reaches. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration recorded downstream of Jay Road below the drain tile and sludge shows very low DO concentartions at levels that are prohibitive of most aquatic life. The DO concentrations recovered to more normal levels within 1.2 miles downstream to Kay-K Road.
Date 2001
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments showed biological impairment; new macroinvertebrate sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) average 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
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 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 49700 | Unnamed | 10015784 | Unnamed Trib To Sauk Creek - Local Name - Ludowissi Lake Branchdownstream Of Jay Road And Mueller Farm | 11/16/1999 | 11/16/1999 | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 10032114 | Sauk Creek 800 ft south of CTH D | 3/30/1994 | 11/16/1994 | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 10039433 | Sauk Creek at Hickory Grove Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 10032610 | Unnamed Tributary to Sauk Creelk at Kay - K Rd. culvert | | | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 463067 | Sauk Creek at Cth D (Bi Survey) | 5/15/1980 | 7/22/2009 | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 10015522 | Unnamed Tributary to Sauk Creek - Upstream Of Cth D | 11/4/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 463068 | Sauk Creek at Cth B (Bi Survey) | 5/12/1980 | 10/17/1980 | Map | Data |
| 49700 | Unnamed | 10031941 | Unnamed Tributary to Sauk Creek - Upstream of Jay Road | 11/4/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Sauk and Sucker Creeks watershed which is 58.43 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (60.90%), grassland (17.50%) and a mix of suburban (6.80%) and other uses (14.80%). This watershed has 83.35 stream miles, 8,362.44 lake acres and 1,578.16 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.
Ludowissi L Br To Sauk Creek is considered a Macroinvertebrate, 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.