Ozaukee
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This branch of Sauk Creek has been unofficially called the Holy Cross branch for descriptive purposes. The Holy Cross branch of Sauk Creek originates south of the Town of Holy Cross and flows north 3.6 miles to a confluence with the main branch of Sauk Creek at T12N R22E Sec. 20 (From: Galarneau, Steve and Masterson, John. 1999. Water Resources of the Sheboygan River Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI). A fish and habitat survey was conducted in 1999 upstream of CTH D.
Date 2001
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
T12N, R22E, Section 20 (7), Surface Acres = 2.2, Length = 2.7 miles, Gradient = 7.41 feet per mile.
A small, intermittent stream flowing from a shallow marsh south of Holy
Cross northward to Sauk Creek. The upper region is intermittent where it then
changes to a ditch for a distance of about one mile. Fish value is negligible. Flow
is slow and silt covers a sand and gravel base throughout most of its length. The
stream receives septic overflow from a cheese factory on occasion.
From: Poff, Ronald J., Gernay, Ronald, and Threinen, C.W., 1964. Surface Water Resources of Ozaukee County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Holy Cross Branch Of Sauk Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
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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49500 | Sauk Creek | 10015749 | Sauk Creek - Holy Cross Branch Sauk Creekupstream Of Cth B | 10/20/1999 | 10/20/1999 | Map | Data |
49900 | Unnamed | 10031942 | Unnamed Tributary to Sauk Creek - Upstream of CTHY B | 11/4/2010 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
49900 | Unnamed | 10015563 | Sauk Creek - Holy Cross Branch | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Sauk and Sucker Creeks watershed which is 58.43 miĀ². 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.