Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Nor-X-Way Channel, in the Menomonee River Watershed, is a 4.90 mile river that falls in Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties. This river is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Nor-X-Way Channel 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, chloride, and temperature 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 continued impairment by total phosphorus, as well as chloride and temperature levels too high for healthy aquatic communities, like plants, fish, and bugs, according to 2020 WisCALM standards. This water has been listed as impaired since 2010 for Fecal Coliform and since 2014 for total phosphorus. In 2020, the additional impairments of chronic aquatic toxicity by chloride and elevated water temperature by an unknown pollutant were added. This water is part of the Milwaukee River Watershed TMDL, which was approved by the USEPA in 2018.
Date 2019
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
The 2018 assessments of Nor-X-Way Channel (WBIC 18450) showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. No biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological impairment. New temperature sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Nor-X-Way Channel (18450) was placed on the impaired waters list for fecal coliform in 2010 and total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, no biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological impairment. This water was also assessed for temperature and sample data did not exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
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
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
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.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
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.
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 |
|---|
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10047410 | Wetland [ID 68423690481] | 7/26/2017 | 7/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10034039 | Nor-X-way Channel W of Fountain Blvd (downstream) | 6/10/2009 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10034040 | Nor-X-way Channel S of Cty Line Rd W (upstream) | 6/10/2009 | 10/21/2015 | Map | Data |
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10016128 | Nor-X-Way Tributary - Approx. 80 Ft Downstream Of Stan-Ley Drive (Ernie Von Schlenn) | 5/29/1997 | 5/29/1997 | Map | Data |
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10047408 | Wetland [ID 68423690350] | 7/26/2017 | 7/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 18450 | Unnamed | 10037493 | Nor-X-Way Channel at Fond du Lac Ave | 5/27/2012 | 6/28/2020 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Unnamed is located in the Menomonee River watershed which is 136.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (34.50%), urban (32.70%) and a mix of agricultural (11.10%) and other uses (21.70%). This watershed has 174.17 stream miles, 352.64 lake acres and 5,967.40 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.