Sheboygan
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The fishery in Sevenmile Creek is dominated by pollution-tolerant forage fish; but, fisheries staff feel
there is a high likelyhood of native gamefish using the stream or portions of the stream during periods
when normal to higher than normal water levels exist. The ability of the creek to support a significant
sport fishery is limited due to the extreme low flow. Stream habitat assessments indicate fair habitat
although dissolved oxygen readings, obtained in conjunction with habitat survey, were depressed. These
low dissolved oxygen readings are indicative of organic pollution. Staff should conduct surveys to assess
existing and potential uses during normal to slightly higher water summer periods.
From: Willman, Guy and Mike Toneys. 2001. The State of the Lakeshore Basin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 2001
Author Michael Toneys
Overview
The fishery in Sevenmile Creek consists of pollution-tolerant forage fish. The ability of the creek to support a viable fishery is limited due to the extreme low flow. Stream habitat assessments indicate fair habitat although dissolved oxygen readings, obtained in conjunction with habitat survey, were depressed. These low dissolved oxygen readings are indicative of organic pollution.
Date 1997
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Sevenmile Creek was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired.
Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show impairment by total phosphorus. Phosphorus levels were too high for aquatic communities (plants, fish, bugs) according to 2020 WisCALM standards. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.
Date 2019
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
Recommendations
Nine Key Element Plan
Sevenmile-Silver Creek PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Sevenmile-Silver Creek Priority Watershed project is to protect and improve the water resources in the watershed. The priority watershed plan develops a strategy for obtaining the protection and improvement of the water resources through the abatement of pollution from nonpoint sources.
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 65100 | Sevenmile Creek | 10044253 | Sevenmile Creek at Luelloff Rd W of LS | 7/14/2015 | 7/14/2015 | Map | Data |
| 65100 | Sevenmile Creek | 603296 | Sevenmile Creek at CTH LS | 8/31/1978 | 11/7/2019 | Map | Data |
| 65100 | Sevenmile Creek | 10011353 | Sevenmile Creek - Sevenmile Creek Upstream Of Confluence With Lake Michigan | 10/19/2004 | 10/19/2004 | Map | Data |
| 65100 | Sevenmile Creek | 10043916 | Seven Mile Creek at Lake Michigan | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Sevenmile Creek is located in the Sevenmile and Silver Creeks watershed which is 112.90 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.20%), grassland (18.40%) and a mix of wetland (7.50%) and other uses (16.80%). This watershed has 184.08 stream miles, 10,577.89 lake acres and 4,732.70 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.