Brown, Kewaunee
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
School Creek has only 5.6 miles of perennial flow, yet drains a watershed of 25 square miles. High flows occur sporadically and spring flooding is common. Water quality is generally poor throughout the creek due to low flows, high water temperatures and severe degradation by agricultural runoff. In addition, noxious materials from milkhouse drains are suspected to be degrading surface and groundwater quality. From its mouth to County Highway P in Brown County, School Creek is capable of supporting a forage fishery, but Fisheries managers believe this potential is not being met. Water resources managers believe that polluted runoff from the golf course at Luxemburg may be degrading the stream. Above County Highway P, the stream becomes intermittent and partially supports its potential for tolerant forage fish and macroinvertebrates.
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
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of School Creek showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) 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
Recommendations
Sewer Service Area Planning
A sewer service area identifies the land area intended for sewer services that will be made available during the 20-year planning period. The village of Luxemburg is located at the junction of State Trunk Highways 54 and 163 in the west central section of Kewaunee County. The village is located fifteen miles east of the city of Green Bay, fourteen miles southwest of the city of Algoma, and twelve miles northwest of the city of Kewaunee.
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 |
|---|
| 92200 | School Creek | 313166 | School Creek at Valley Road | 10/26/1978 | 7/29/2024 | Map | Data |
| 92200 | School Creek | 10007954 | School Creek 1 (W. Of Valley Rd) | 12/6/1988 | 12/6/1988 | Map | Data |
| 92200 | School Creek | 313122 | School Creek at Christoff Ln Lux | 10/26/1978 | 5/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 92200 | School Creek | 10020829 | School Creek-100 Feet Below Bridge Off Rendezvous Road Orchard Above On Both Sides. | 6/26/2024 | 10/27/2024 | Map | Data |
| 92200 | School Creek | 10041140 | School Creek 105 m ds STH 54 | 8/27/2013 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
School Creek is located in the Kewaunee River watershed which is 142.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (61.10%), grassland (17.30%) and a mix of wetland (10.10%) and other uses (11.60%). This watershed has 292.03 stream miles, 540.90 lake acres and 7,312.87 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.