Watershed - Wind Point (SE04)
Wind Point Watershed

Details

The Wind Point Watershed is located in the extreme eastern portion of Racine County, north of the City of Racine, around the Village of Wind Point. Two unnamed perennial tributaries, totaling 4.4 miles, receive runoff from the watershed and drain a combined area of almost 19 square miles. Land cover for the Wind Point Watershed is pretty evenly split between urban and rural. Urban land uses account for 36 percent of the water basin. Rural uses include 20 percent grassland, 19 percent agriculture, and 14 percent forest. Other uses include shrubland (4%), and wetland (2%). There are no lakes within the Watershed.

Date  2002

Population, Land Use

Municipalities found in this watershed include the Village of Wind Point, portions of the City of Racine, and the Towns of Caledonia and Mount Pleasant.

Date  2002

Ecological Landscapes for Wind Point Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape is located in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin along Lake Michigan. The landforms in this Ecological Landscape are characteristic of glacial lake influence, with ridge and swale topography, clay bluffs, and lake plain along Lake Michigan. Further inland, ground moraine is the dominant landform. Soils typically have a silt-loam surface overlying loamy and clayey tills. The historic vegetation in the northern part of this Ecological Landscape was dominated by sugar maple-basswood-beech forests with some oak while the southern part was dominated by oak forest, oak savanna and prairies. Wet, wet-mesic, and lake plain prairies were common in this area. Black ash and relict cedar and tamarack swamps were found in this Ecological Landscape. Today, most of the area is dominated by dairy and cash grain agriculture and intense urban development. Only about 8% of the Ecological Landscape is forested. Maple-beech forests are about half of the remaining forest types with the remainder split equally between oak-hickory and lowland hardwood forest types. There are some areas of wet-mesic and wet prairie but only small preserves remain since the landscape is heavily disturbed and fragmented. Because of this isolation, fragmentation, and high level of disturbance, non-native plants are abundant.

Date  2010

Wind Point Watershed At-a-Glance

Impaired Water in Wind Point Watershed
River and Stream QualityAll Waters in Watershed

The two unnamed streams within the watershed support forage fish communities, one rated Warm Water Forage Fish, the other Limited Forage Fish. No water bodies within the Watershed are listed on the state’s impaired waters (303(d)) list.

Date  2002

Watershed Trout Streams
Watershed Outstanding & Exceptional Resources

Lakes and Impoundments

Impaired Waters

List of Impaired Waters
Watershed Documents
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Hoods Creek
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Lake Michigan
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Lockwood Park Pond
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
North Branch Pike River
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Pritchard Park Pond
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Reservoir Park Pond
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Root River
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Early Detection and Response
Date
5/1/2010
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

City Of Racine: City Of Racine- Hairy Willow Control: The City of Racine will contract to remove a well established Hairy Willow Herb population in Carre-Hogle Memorial Park. The project is located in a highly disturbed shoreland wetland. The project involves cutting the Hairy Willow Herb and spraying the cut stems with glyphosate. The contractor will also search for Hairy Willow Herb in the adjacent city parks (Meyer and Simonson). The project deliverables will be a report that summarizes and evaluates the treatment along with photos of the site after treatment. The report will also relay the results of searching for Hairy Willow Herb in Meyer and Simmons parks.


Grant Details
Toxics and Areas of Concern
Date
1/1/2010
Waters Involved
Kinnickinnic River
Status
In_Progress

Develop Multiple Tmdls For The Kinnickinnic River Watershed: The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District proposes to develop third-party pathogen, phosphorus, and sediment TMDLs for the Kinnickinnic River Watershed in Southeastern Wisconsin. Additionally, Cladophora algae blooms and increased beach closings have been shown to have a direct relationship to polluted stormwater runoff. The TMDLs will result in pollutant load and wasteload allocations that must be met to meet water quality standards and targets and in implementation plans that will identify the steps needed to achieve the load and wasteload allocations.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Wind Point Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Respect our Waters NPS Ed.-Greater Milwaukee Watersheds
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: a comprehensive storm water information and education program.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Brown Deer - SW Management Plan Update & TMDL Analysis
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; other updated ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Sherwood - MS4 Planning
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance, updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development, new ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area, new storm water financing mechanism, new storm water management plan for the developed urban area, and updated storm water management plan for the developed urban area.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
St. Francis City Wide Storm Water Quality Mgmt Plan Update
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance, updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development, updated ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area, updated feasibility analysis of alternative funding mechanisms, updated storm water management plan for the developed urban area, and updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Citizen Stream Monitoring
Date
Status
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
1/1/2012
In Progress
Projects
 
Cost-Share Agreement
Packard Avenue Reconstruction Streetscape Project
Date
Status
This grant provides funding and authorizes cost-share reimbursement by the department for the above-named project as described in the grant application submitted for calendar year 2015 for the eligible storm water construction activities listed in the application to address nonpoint sources of pollution.
1/1/2015
In Progress
Projects
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
GLPF2018_LM1802_ChlorideStudy
Date
Status
Chloride Impact Study for the Southeastern Wisconsin Region
6/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Nine Key Element Plan
Wind Point Watershed Restoration Plan - Nine Key Element Pla
Date
Status
Wind Point Watershed Restoration Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - Wind Point watershed (12 Digit HUC# 040400020101) is located in southeast Wisconsin in Milwaukee and Racine Counties. It is named for the conspicuous ?Point? that extends out into Lake Michigan in the southeast portion of the watershed. The watershed is relatively narrow with a north-south orientation along Lake Michigan. Many small tributary streams and stormsewer networks in the watershed drain approximately 18.7 square miles (11,996 acres) of land surface east to Lake Michigan. The Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (Root-Pike WIN) is a grassroots organization that awards grants to projects that will preserve, promote, and protect watershed health.
7/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Rivers Planning Grant
SEWRPC SWEET Water Trust ARRA 18C Grant
Date
Status
Kinnickinnic River Watershed Restoration Plan for the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (SWWT). The consultant would also provide the information to Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to incorporate into their Kinnickinnic River Watercourse Flood Control Study.
10/1/2009
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Sewer Service Area Planning
SEWRPC WQM Planning, Grants support, TMDL work
Date
Status
sewrpc area WQM planning
12/31/2020
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
River Hills - TMDL Storm Water Plan
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Norway- In-Depth Water Quality Analysis & Stormwater Program
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated storm water management plan for part of the developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Shorewood - TMDL Storm Water Plan
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Targeted 9 Element I&E Program of SE WI Clean Water Network
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: a comprehensive storm water information and education program.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
SEWRPC Burlington Stormwater Study
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will conduct a storm water management study for the city of Burlington. The study shall identify the location and destination of current storm water flows, identify city and private property owners that have storm water capacity issues, and provide recommendations for eliminating flooding at the city's major businesses.
9/25/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Greenfield City Wide Storm Water Quality Mgmt Plan Update
Date
Status
Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance, updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development, updated low impact development/conservation subdivision ordinance, updated feasibility analysis of alternative funding mechanisms, updated storm water management plan for the developed urban area, and updated storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
TMDL Development
Kinnickinnic TMDL
Date
Status
MMSD and Partners create TMDL for Watershed.
1/1/2010
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Water Quality Planning
AWQMP Program - SEWRPC
Date
Status
sewrpc program 2021
1/1/2021
In Progress
Projects
 
Wind Point WatershedWatershed History Note

In 1855, the Thomas family slowly began to clear the heavily wooded western shoreline of Lake Michigan at the point where the land protruded the farthest eastward along the entire length of the lake. In 1856, the Wishau's, Schmitz's, Born's, Hauche's, and then others, carved their farms out of the forest. In 1879, the U.S. Lighthouse Service began construction of a light station at the tip of Wind Point to mark the hazardous reef nearby. The lighthouse was designed by Orlando Metcalfe Poe and the beacon was originally powered by a three-wicked kerosene lamp, magnified by a third-order Fresnel lens. The lamp, a fog horn and a life saving station using a boat, were manned by the lighthouse keeper and two assistants, who, along with their families, lived in the residence adjacent to the 108 foot tall tower. In 1924 The lighthouse was the first one to be electrified on the Great Lakes, and in 1964 the light was replaced by a DCB-24R airport beacon. The light can be seen for 19 miles. A signal house, without the horns, remains on the grounds, as well as a garage, two storage buildings, and an oil house. The Village of Wind Point has maintained the lighthouse and grounds since 1964, and uses the old keepers' quarters as a village hall and police headquarters. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Date  2011