2.89 Miles
0 - 2.89
Cool-Warm Headwater
2024
Poor
Degraded Biological Community
Total Phosphorus
Walworth
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Water quality in this stream is fair, supporting a limited warm water sport fishery. The creek flows through about 200 acres of wetland. Water quality has improved since the Elkhorn wastewater treatment plant stopped discharging to it. Jackson Creek is a major tributary, both inflow and outflow, to Lake Delavan. This creek has historically carried heavy nutrient and sediment loads to the lake; alterations to the stream and the lake as a part of the Lake Delavan Lake Project may have reduced nutrient and sediment loading. The stream's outflow from Lake Delavan supports walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and various panfish.
Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Jackson Creek (WBIC 793800) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2016. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data did 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 the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Jackson Creek (793800) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use and biological impairment was observed (i.e. at least one macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the poor condition category).
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
Partnership Project
The project proposal is for the Kettle Moraine Land Trust to work with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to develop a watershed protection plan for Jackson Creek in Walworth County. The goal is to improve the hydrology and water quality throughout the watershed, which will ultimately reduce the suspended solids and nutrients draining to Delevan Lake. Methods will include identifying strategic actions and interventions such as streambank stabilization, buffer implementation, and wetland restoration. Also, identify relevant agencies and cost, acquire data on channel width, depth, sinuosity, water quality, and discussion on implementing plan recommendations. Public meeting will be held to inform the public of the project. Educational materials will also be developed to work with and provide assistance to Delavan Lake WIN, municipalities, and landowners within the watershed. Deliverables will include a watershed protection plan in a SEWRPC Memorandum Report or equivalent document and communication of recommendations to citizens and local municipalities.
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 |
|---|
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10051687 | Jackson Creek 940 m DS STH 67 | 10/12/2018 | 7/17/2023 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10039765 | Jackson Creek at Creek Dr between Hwy 67 & Petrie Rd | 5/14/2013 | 10/14/2022 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10039764 | Jackson Creek at Hwy H | 5/14/2013 | 10/1/2018 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 653026 | Jackson Creek at Mound Rd Bridge | 8/25/1992 | 8/25/1992 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10014361 | Jackson Creek -Hwy 67 Bridge Upstream 232 M To End | 11/7/2006 | 10/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10051311 | Jackson Creek - 100m DS of Petrie Road pool | | | Map | Data |
| 5041166 | Unnamed | 653033 | Geneva Trib - Above Jackson Ck | | | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10051165 | Jackson Creek at Petrie Road | 9/21/2018 | 10/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10039841 | Jackson Creek at Mound Rd near Elkhorn WI (USGS 05431016) | 6/8/1994 | 2/14/2023 | Map | Data |
| 793800 | Jackson Creek | 10039766 | Jackson Creek DS of Hwy 67 US of Farm Crossing | 5/14/2013 | 6/28/2019 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Jackson Creek is located in the Turtle Creek watershed which is 288.47 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (69.80%), grassland (9.10%) and a mix of forest (6.50%) and other uses (14.50%). This watershed has 339.80 stream miles, 590.58 lake acres and 6,590.97 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available 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.
Jackson 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.
More Interactive Maps
Maps of Watershed