Water Detail - Ashwaubenon Creek, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks,East River Watershed (LF01)

Ashwaubenon Creek, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks,East River Watershed (LF01)

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Ashwaubenon Creek (122200)

Size

14.15 Miles

Segment

0 - 14.15

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-Cold Headwater, 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

Poor

This river is impaired

Impairments include

Low DO, Degraded Habitat

Pollutants include

Total Phosphorus, Sediment/Total Suspended Solids

County

Brown

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.

Restricted Aquatic Life

Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.

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.

WWSF

Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport 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.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Ashwaubenon Creek, a 15-mile sluggish, hard water stream flowing through agricultural and residential Brown County. Bottom materials consist of rubble, gravel and silt. In the agricultural portion of the stream the stream banks and hills are bare and erosion heavy due to cattle pasturing. In the residential area the stream is filled with litter an debris.

Nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution and urban stormwater runoff singly or in combination cause sedimentation, low dissolved oxygen levels, all of which contribute to poor water quality. Dissolved oxygen and temperature were monitored to document swings in DO due to external factors like rain or plants. Violation of the 5 mg/l state DO standard occurred often. Low or no stream flow during critical summer months also plays a major role in limiting aquatic life in the watershed (Johnson 1996).

Date 1999

Author Cheryl Bougie

Ashwaubenon Creek, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks,East River Watershed (LF01) Fish and Aquatic Life

Ashwaubenon Creek, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks,East River Watershed (LF01) Recreation

Ashwaubenon Creek, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks,East River Watershed (LF01) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Ashwaubenon Creek was put on the Impaired Waters List in the 2008 cycle for phosphorus and sediment as pollutants; DO and degraded habitat as impairments. This water is part of the Lower Fox River TP & TSS TMDL that was approved by the EPA in 2012. This segment of Ashwaubenon Creek was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2012 to 2022; elevated phosphorus levels were confirmed in several cycles. Biological communities, bugs and fish, were found to be in good condition.

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

Amendment to the 2040 Brown County Sewage Plan - SSA 2022-01 HOB Major

Ashwaubenon Creek, Ashwaubenon Creek-Glory Rd., Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List

Ashwaubenon Creek 10007874 Station (WBIC 122200) NC Validation 2005

Ashwaubenon Creek 10007874 Station (WBIC 122200) NC Validation 2015

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Streams/Rivers AIS ED Monitoring Pilot 2015 Brown County, Ashwaubenon Creek, 122200, 10044187

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

Lower Fox River Basin TP TSS TMDL 2012

Ashwaubenon Creek 122200 Impaired Waters Listing Documentation 2008

Duck/Apple?Ashqaubenon Creeks Priority Watershed Surface Water Resource Appraisal Report

Ashwaubenon Creek, Brown Co., Use Designation File

Brown County Surface Water Resources 1972

Report on an Investigation of the Pollution in the Lower Fox River and Green Bay Made During 1966 and 1967

Recommendations

Navigability Determination

Private Claim 35,36 T22N R19E; Ashwaubenon Creek, trib;

Navigability Determination

S6 T22N R20E; Ashwaubenon Creek;

Nine Key Element Plan

Duck, Apple, and Ashwaubenon Creeks PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The purpose of the Nonpoint Source Control Plan developed for this project is to assess nonpoint pollutants in the Duck, Apple, and Ashwaubenon Creeks Watershed and guide the implementation of control measures. Nonpoint source control measures and education are needed to meet very specific water resource objectives designed to protect and enhance the surface and groundwater in the watershed.

Nine Key Element Plan

TMDL (USEPA) Approved

Ashwaubenon Creek TMDL Approved

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
Lower Fox River TMDL	2007
CITY OF DE PERE - ENGINEERING: Streambank Stabilization Construction	2000
CITY OF DE PERE: East River Priority Watershed Project	1995
Brown County Navigability	2008
Duck, Apple, and Ashwaubenon Creeks PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan	1997

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
117900	Fox River	053213	Fox River at Ashwaubenon Creek	8/31/1976	10/3/2022	Map	Data
5547629	Unnamed	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10017403	Ashwaubenon Creek-Schneider International	9/28/1999	9/28/1999	Map	Data
5549071	Unnamed	10044187	Aswaubenon Creek at HWY 41 frontage Rd & Little Rapids Rd	7/29/2015	10/9/2019	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10044187	Aswaubenon Creek at HWY 41 frontage Rd & Little Rapids Rd	7/29/2015	10/9/2019	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053641	Ashwaubenon Creek at Cth G Brg	5/12/1980	12/16/1997	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10057263	Ashwaubenon Creek at Mid Valley Drive	10/6/2018	5/23/2023	Map	Data
5018655	Unnamed	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10044357	Ashwaubenon Creek-Glory Rd.	4/28/2015	4/8/2020	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053697	Ashwaubenon Creek at Baeten Rd			Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053233	Ashwaubenon Creek - Trib Nr Ashwab Cr	5/13/1976	5/13/1976	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053231	Ashwaubenon Creek at Cth F	4/28/1976	6/24/1976	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10007892	Aswaubenon Creek - Glory Rd Upstream	11/9/2000	11/9/2000	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053119	Ashwaubenon Creek - County Highway H-Broadway St. 150 Feet Upstream Of Bridge	7/13/1992	7/7/1999	Map	Data
121600	Dutchman Creek	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053232	Ashwaubenon Creek at Creamery Road	5/13/1976	10/25/2023	Map	Data
20	Lake Michigan	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	053671	Ashwaubenon Creek - Ashwaubenon Creek At Cth H Bridge De Pere			Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10043029	Ashwaubenon Creek DS Ashwaubomay Park Entrance Road			Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10007874	Ashwaubenon Creek- Creamery Rd. Downstream	1/1/2015	8/27/2015	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10019161	Fox River -- Ashwaubomay Park			Map	Data
5547291	Unnamed	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
117900	Fox River	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10058278	Fox River	6/24/2024	7/9/2024	Map	Data
122200	Ashwaubenon Creek	10016502	Ashwaubenon Creek - Grant Street	9/29/1994	10/16/2024	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Ashwaubenon Creek is located in the East River watershed which is 206.32 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.70%), suburban (19.50%) and a mix of grassland (14.70%) and other uses (22.10%). This watershed has 432.18 stream miles, 7,625.39 lake acres and 6,193.00 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Ashwaubenon Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Headwater, 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.