Overview

Sauk Creek is the major waterway in this watershed and Ozaukee County. The stream flows south and enters Lake Michigan in Port Washington. Sauk Creek originates within Ozaukee County just north of Fredonia at T12N R21E Sec. 26, just west of STH 57. The convergence of three unofficially named branches, hereby named for descriptive purposes as; Ludowissi Lake Branch, Hickory Grove Branch, and Holy Cross Branch, make up the headwaters of Sauk Creek. The Ludowissi Lake Branch of Sauk Creek originates from Ludowissi Lake (T12N R21E Sec. 1) and flows southerly 5.9 stream miles to the main branch of Sauk Creek at T12N R22E Sec. 20. The Hickory Grove Branch of Sauk Creek originates north of Hickory Grove Road at T12N R21E Sec. 12 and flows southerly 2.3 stream miles to a confluence with the main branch of Sauk Creek at T12N R22E Sec. 19. The Holy Cross Branch of Sauk Creek originates south of Holy Cross at T11N R22E Sec. 6 and flows north 3.6 miles to a confluence with Sauk Creek at T12N R22E Sec. 20. All three headwater branches are confluent with the main branch of Sauk Creek within a 1.5 mile reach just south of CTH D near CTH B.

Sauk Creek is classified as a Warm Water Sport Fish communities stream. A review of all historical fish surveys identifies 26 species in Sauk Creek (Fago 1986). Trout and salmon from Lake Michigan are also found in the stream during their seasonal spawning runs. The endangered striped shiner (Notropis chrysocephalus), had been historically found here.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Sauk Creek is a shallow, low gradient stream flowing south and entering Lake Michigan at Port Washington. Fishery value is negligible and suckers and various forage minnows are the only species present. The stream may have supported a smelt fishery at times, however, this is not documented. The bottom is predominantly gravel with some sand. No dams are present. Public access is limited to town, county and state road crossings. Several drainage ditches enter the stream in the upper regions.

Sauk Creek T11N, R22E, Section 28, Surface Acres = 34.66, Length = 13.0 miles, Gradient = 16.19 feet per mile.
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   Aquatic Biologist

General Condition

Fish Community, Habitat, and Water Quality
During 1994 and 1997, fish and macroinvertebrate surveys, habitat assessments and water quality collections were collected in Sauk Creek. These data were reported in the 1999 Sheboygan River Basin State of the Environment Report (WDNR 1999). During 1999 the fish and habitat assessments were focused on the four branches of the stream that make up the headwaters of Sauk Creek.

The macroinvertebrate community is comprised of taxa mainly tolerant to very tolerant of poor water quality. Poor habitat, caused by high turbidity, low flow and excessive sedimentation of course substrate, limits the macroinvertebrate community. Over the last twenty years, Sauk Creek in Port Washington has become very wide and shallow. Fish habitat, water quality and stability of the stream banks have been significantly altered by urbanization in the area. During periods of low water, many sections are difficult for trout and salmon to navigate. During 1994 and 1995 a plan was put in place by WDNR, local sports clubs, city government and other entities to improve fish habitat, water quality and stabilize stream banks so that salmonids could be stocked in the stream (Eggold 1998). The main project objectives were 1) increase the carrying capacity of Sauk Creek; 2) improve the return of salmonids to Sauk Creek through improved imprinting of smolts at time of stocking; 3) improve water quality; and 4) increase fishing opportunities in Ozaukee County.

Sediment Quality
Sediment samples were collected in 1994 at three sites in Sauk Creek to obtain baseline sediment quality data for Sauk Creek and to assess the potential sediment quality impacts from the fly ash landfill adjacent Sauk Creek near Druecker's Quarry. The results for total PCBs for all sites came back less than detect at <0.05 ug/g. The heavy metals selenium, boron, and cadmium were higher in Sauk Creek near the former fly ash landfill. The levels are relatively low and not perceived to be at levels of concern based on the toxicity information that we have for these constituents at this time. Consequently, Sauk Creek adjacent the Druecker's Quarry does not require specific management activities (WDNR 1999).

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Impaired Waters

Sauk Creek (49500) was listed for total phosphorus in 2012. This water was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no 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

Recommendations

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

Sauk Creek 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.