Water Detail - Little Sturgeon Bay, Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed (TK07)

Little Sturgeon Bay, Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed (TK07)

Little Sturgeon Bay (92)

Size

1068.13 Acres

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.

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

Unknown

County

Door

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.

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

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.

Default FAL

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

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

Little Sturgeon Bay, in the Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed, is a 1,068.13 acre lake that falls in Door County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.

Date 2011

Author Aquatic Biologist

Little Sturgeon Bay, Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed (TK07) Fish and Aquatic Life

Little Sturgeon Bay, Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed (TK07) Recreation

Little Sturgeon Bay, Red River and Sturgeon Bay Watershed (TK07) Fish Consumption

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

Little Sturgeon Bay, Door County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (85 mpts)

Little Sturgeon Bay, Door County - Garmin Text File

Watercraft Inspection Special Project Report [Nicole Hanson; Lake Michigan; 10019535; datasheet 2014]

Aquatic Plant Management Plan for Little Sturgeon Bay Door County, Wisconsin

LITTLE STURGEON LAKE MANAGEMENT PLAN

An ordinance to establish a mooring area upon the waters of the Town of Gardner in accordances with State Statutes 30.773 as authorized with State Statues 30.11, for the interest of public safety not detrimental to the use of waterways and public rights

Recommendations

County Land and Water Management Plan

Door County Soil & Water Conservation Department proposes to conduct a phased approach to the development of protection strategies for its waters including lakes. This phase of the project will collect and analyze information regarding surface water resources in order to develop specific implementation recommendations for phase II indlucing upgrading regulatory programs. Project deliverables shall include a draft and final report containing: 1) an inventory and classification of county inland lakes; 2) appropriate supporting data and maps and; 3) recommendations specifying phase II implementation activities including proposed regulatory standards for shoreland and lake protection.

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
DOOR COUNTY: LCO-Door County Inventory of Surface Water Resources	1998
LITTLE STURGEON AREA PROPERTY OWNERS ASSN: Little Sturgeon Aquatic Plant Management Plan Development	2005
DOOR COUNTY: Little Sturgeon Lake Management Plan	2000
DOOR COUNTY: Door County AIS Coordination Project	2005
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	155045	Green Bay - Grid 803 - Little Sturgeon Bay- Shore	10/7/1999	10/7/1999	Map	Data
100400	Keyes Creek	10058372	Little Sturgeon Bay - West of Keyes Island	8/17/2022	8/17/2022	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153034	Keyes Creek - Cth C A L Sturgeon Bay	3/9/1976	6/16/1976	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153257	Green Bay - L Sturg Bay	8/24/2023	8/24/2023	Map	Data
5012298	Unnamed	10058351	Unnamed Creek	7/19/2022	7/19/2022	Map	Data
20	Lake Michigan	10058354	Rileys Point	8/21/2024	8/21/2024	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10058354	Rileys Point	8/21/2024	8/21/2024	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10058372	Little Sturgeon Bay - West of Keyes Island	8/17/2022	8/17/2022	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153163	Little Sturgeon Bay - Deep Spot			Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10058337	Wave Pointe Resort Little Sturgeon	6/24/2024	6/24/2024	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153226	Little Sturgeon Bay - Outer Bay	4/25/2001	8/29/2023	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10058353	Stevenson Pier Rd unnamed creek	7/26/2024	7/26/2024	Map	Data
3000031	Unnamed	10058353	Stevenson Pier Rd unnamed creek	7/26/2024	7/26/2024	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153228	Little Sturgeon Bay - West Of Keyes Island	4/25/2001	10/24/2001	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10019535	Little Sturgeon Bay -- Carmody Boat Ramp	7/4/2008	8/2/2024	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	10007822	Little Sturgeon Bay Lake Michigan - Little Sturgeon Bay	6/14/2006	8/29/2023	Map	Data
5012413	Unnamed	10058353	Stevenson Pier Rd unnamed creek	7/26/2024	7/26/2024	Map	Data
5012298	Unnamed	10058372	Little Sturgeon Bay - West of Keyes Island	8/17/2022	8/17/2022	Map	Data
92	Little Sturgeon Bay	153227	Little Sturgeon Bay - East Of Keyes Island	4/25/2001	10/24/2001	Map	Data
100400	Keyes Creek	10058370	Kayes Creek Little Sturgeon	7/19/2022	7/10/2024	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Little Sturgeon Bay is located in the Red River and Sturgeon Bay watershed which is 139.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (38.70%), wetland (20.90%) and a mix of grassland (18.20%) and other uses (22.30%). This watershed has 149.91 stream miles, 20,800.31 lake acres and 16,378.27 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium 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.

Natural Community

Little Sturgeon Bay's natural community is not yet identified 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.

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