Green Lake
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
White Creek, in the Big Green Lake Watershed, is a 1.11 mile river that falls in Green Lake County. This river is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 as well as a Class I Trout Water under the Fisheries Program. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
White Creek was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
White Creek was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired.
Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show total phosphorus levels too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, bugs, and fish. Available temperature and biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e., no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity scored in the poor condition category). Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list in 2020.
Date 2019
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
Land Acquisition
The Green Lake Sanitary District proposes to purchase 12 acres of land along Big Green Lake known as the Mitchell's Glen parcel.
Land Acquisition
The Green Lake Conservancy Foundation proposes to purchase 3.21 acres of land along Wick Road known as the Specht property for conservancy purposes.
Fish Management, Access
This project will install two carp barriers at key locations tributary to Green Lake. Both areas to be protected are deep water marshes that flow through channel constrictions (bridges) into Green lake. These marsh areas have historically supported carp activity and recruitment. Each barrier will be constructed to allow boat passage yet prevent carp movement.
Best Management Practices, Implement
The Green Lake Sanitary District will implement best management practices (BMP) within the lake watershed to reduce nutrient/sediment loadings and protect and improve shoreline habitat. Earthen and cultural practices will include sediment retention basins, reduced tillage, buffers and nutrient management. These BMPs will be employed within subwatersheds identified as being priority areas for pollutant reduction.
Land Acquisition
The Green Lake Sanitary District proposes to purchase 30 acres of land along Silver Creek which drains directly into Big Green Lake to be used as nonpoint source abatement.
Rivers Management Grant
DNR, county and local partners should work to obtain funds or grants to restore the identified unstable stream banks to reduce sedimentation and erosion in the watershed .
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 |
|---|
| 146600 | White Creek | 243059 | White Creek -At Spring Grove Rd Near Mouth Of Green Lake WI | 5/31/2011 | 12/4/2020 | Map | Data |
| 146600 | White Creek | 243047 | White Creek At Mouth Of Green Lake | 10/16/1996 | 10/27/2020 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
White Creek is located in the Big Green Lake watershed which is 107.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (54.10%), open (12%) and a mix of grassland (10.10%) and other uses (23.70%). This watershed has 141.08 stream miles, 655.29 lake acres and 5,102.67 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available 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.