Water Detail - Wilson Park Creek, Kinnickinnic River Watershed (MI01)

Wilson Park Creek, Kinnickinnic River Watershed (MI01)

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Wilson Park Creek (15200)

Size

2 Miles

Segment

3.50 - 5.50

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.

Cool-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.

2024

General Condition

Unknown

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Recreational Restrictions - Pathogens

Pollutants include

Fecal Coliform

County

Milwaukee

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.

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.

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

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.

WWFF

Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent forage fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.

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.

LFF

Streams capable of supporting small populations of forage fish or tolerant macro-invertebrates that are tolerant of organic pollution. Typically limited due to naturally poor water quality or habitat deficiencies. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 3 mg/L.

Overview

Wilson Park Creek is a five-and-a-half-mile long tributary to the Kinnickinnic River that originates on the city border of Milwaukee and Cudahy. From its mouth to three and a half miles upstream the current use of Wilson Park Creek is listed for Limited Aquatic Life, while the remainder of the stream is listed for Fish and Aquatic Life. The attainable use of the entire stream, however, is believed to be as a Warm Water Forage Fishery.

Some improvement has occurred in the concentrations of BOD in Wilson Park Creek. While BOD concentrations downstream of General Mitchell International Airport were often very high during the period 1998 to 2001, they were lower than during the period from 1996 to 1997. Deicing compounds from General Mitchell International Airport (GMIA) are likely to constitute a major source of BOD to this stream. The GMIA has implemented management measures over the last few years to reduce the amount of glycol reaching the storm sewers and the tributary draining over 2000 acres of airport lands. A monitoring effort with the U.S. Geological Survey is currently underway to document the changes in water quality in Wilson Park Creek as a result of glycol management practices in place at the airport.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Wilson Park Creek, Kinnickinnic River Watershed (MI01) Fish and Aquatic Life

Wilson Park Creek, Kinnickinnic River Watershed (MI01) Recreation

Wilson Park Creek, Kinnickinnic River Watershed (MI01) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Wilson Park Creek from its mouth at the Kinnickinnic River upstream to just north of CTH Y (miles 0 - 3.5) was put on the Impaired Waters List during the 2010 cycle due to high bacteria concentrations causing recreational restrictions. During the 2018 cycle phosphorus and chloride pollutants were identified. Evaluations in the 2020 and 2022 cycles confirmed the phosphorus and chloride listings.

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

Final Milwaukee TMDL Update for New Impaired Waters Listings_2024

Wilson Park Creek, Wilson Park Creek East of 20th St., Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL USEPA Approval Letter

USEPA Decision Document for the Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL, WI

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

2013 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report -WILSON PARK CREEK AT 13TH STREET

Kinnickinnic River Watershed Plan (MI01)

WILSON CREEK WQ CLASSFICATION MAP

WILSON PARK CREEK UNNAMED TRIB, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN S.D. WWTP USE DESIGNATION

WILSON PARK CREEK, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN SD WWTP USE DESIGNATION

VILLA MANN CREEK, MILWAUKEE COUNTY, NO SPECIFIC WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment

Monitor total phosphorus to corroborate poor biological condition.

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
WILSON PARK CREEK AT 13TH STREET	2012
Wilson Park Creek at 20th and Wilson Park	2009
Milwaukee River TMDL	2012
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings	2000

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413742	Wilson Park Creek at 2nd St.	10/2/1992	10/2/1992	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413032	Mitchell Field (Nps) - Site #4	8/5/1967	11/23/1977	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413033	Unnamed - Mitchell Field (Nps) - Site #5	8/13/1977	11/1/1977	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	10033717	Unnamed Tributary - Adjacent to East Grange Avenue	8/29/2011	8/29/2011	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413811	Wilson Park Creek - Wilson Park Cr at Gmia Outfall 7	12/20/1998	7/25/2024	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413810	Wilson Park Creek - Wilson Park Cr at Gmia Infall	12/20/1998	12/28/2021	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413029	Mitchell Field (Nps) - Site #1	11/1/1967	11/23/1977	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413031	Mitchell Field (Nps) - Site #3	6/16/1977	11/23/1977	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413082	Kk Trib To at Nw Corner Airport	5/27/1975	4/12/1976	Map	Data
15200	Wilson Park Creek	413030	Mitchell Field (Nps) - Site #2	11/20/1977	11/23/1977	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Wilson Park Creek is located in the Kinnickinnic River watershed which is 33.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily urban (70.30%), suburban (24.10%) and a mix of forest (2.80%) and other uses (2.70%). This watershed has 26.80 stream miles, 4,950.14 lake acres and 68.30 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Wilson Park Creek is considered a 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.

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