Surface Water Inventory of Door County
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Surface Water Inventory of Door County Prepared by the Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department December of 2000 Principal author and contributors Jaime Corbisier Conservationist Beth Hanson Administrative Assistant Kathy Krebsbach Administrative Assistant Karl Kuepper Conservationist (Maps) Technical Advisory Committee Robert Florence Door County Planning Dept. Mike Grimm The Nature Conservancy Jeff Pritzl Department of Natural Resources Tim Rasman Department of Natural Resources Patrick Robinson UW-Extension Basin Educator William Schuster SWCD County Conservationist Ron Stieglitz UW- Green Bay Mike Toneys Department of Natural Resources Joel Trick US Fish & Wildlife Service CONTENTS Preface. ................................................................................................................................................. iii Introduction..........................................................................................................................................1 Lake Michigan and Door County...................................................................................................... 1 Geology and Geological Components Related to Surface Waters ............................................... 3 Primary Surface Waters.......................................................................................................................8 Secondary Surface Waters...................................................................................................................8 Ridge-Swale Habitats.............................................................................................................8 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................10 Significant Seasonal Surface Waters ..................................................................................13 Navigability .........................................................................................................................................13 What’s in a Name? .............................................................................................................................15 303(d) Listed Waters..........................................................................................................................15 Primary Surface Water Descriptions...............................................................................................17 Streams...................................................................................................................................17 Lakes.......................................................................................................................................33 Bays, Harbors and Partially Bounded Coastal Waters ....................................................42 Resource Threats................................................................................................................................52 Exotic Species Threats.........................................................................................................52 Non-point Pollution Threats..............................................................................................55 Shoreline Development and Permanent Structure Threats ...........................................56 Rare and Endangered Species of Door County ............................................................................57 Commercial Fishing: Past and Present ...........................................................................................59 Ownership and Public Access Issues..............................................................................................60 Surface Water Inventory Recommendations .................................................................................65 Contacts...............................................................................................................................................66 Sources For Document .....................................................................................................................67 Appendix A Soil association descriptions ....................................................................................70 Appendix B Technical rankings, ratings and categorizations of stream and lakes ................73 Appendix C Descriptions of County Parks .................................................................................78 Glossary A...........................................................................................................................................79 Glossary B...........................................................................................................................................83 i Tables, Figures and Photographs Table 1 Popular Fish Species Distribution (for Streams)................................................29 Table 2 Summary of Stream Morphology and Biology...................................................30 Table 3 Popular Fish Species Distribution (for Lakes) ...................................................40 Table 4 Lake Summary Information and Water Chemistry............................................41 Table 5 Physical Characteristics of Partially Bounded Coastal Waters .........................44 Table 6 Species Encountered in Sport and Commercial Fishing...................................60 Table 7 Approximate Land Use Distribution...................................................................61 Table 8 Information on Door County Parks System ......................................................62 Figure 1 Historic Lake Levels for Lake Michigan-Huron .................................................. 3 Figure 2 Generalized Cross Section of Door Peninsula..................................................... 4 Figure 3 Swallet, Spring and Sinkhole Features of Door County ..................................... 5 Figure 4 Generalized Geologic Map of Door County........................................................ 6 Figure 5 Watershed Groups and Closed Depressions of Door County .......................... 9 Figure 6 Hydric Soils and Wetlands of Door County ......................................................12 Figure 7 Navigable/Non-navigable Waters of Door County..........................................14 Figure 8 Door County Streams ............................................................................................16 Figure 9 Door County Lakes and Ponds ............................................................................32 Figure 10 Door County Bays, Harbors and Partially Bounded Coastal Waters..............43 Figure 11 General Distribution of Rare Species and Habitats in Door County .............58 Figure 12 Public Access...........................................................................................................63 Figure 13 Door County Parks System...................................................................................64 Photo Bythotrephes (spiny water flea) Under Magnification ..........................................52 Photo Bythotrephes on Down Rigger Line.........................................................................52 Photo Dresenia polymorpha (zebra mussels) on Native Clam.........................................53 Photo Neogobius melonostomus (round goby) Profile.........................................................53 Photo Petromyzon marinus (sea lamprey) on Lake Trout.................................................53 Photo Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) in Wetland .................................................54 Photo Myriophyllum spicatum Descriptive Drawing..........................................................54 Photo Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian water milfoil) Stalk Photograph ....................55 Photo Non point source pollution-soil erosion plume.................................................55 ii Preface The Surface Water Inventory of Door County is a document of compiled information. The known surface water resources of Door County are addressed by giving general descriptions, locations and small narratives about the resource. Lakes, streams, and bays are listed by official and/or known local names when possible. Other less distinct surface water resources, such as wetlands and ridge-swale complexes, are discussed in a general overview and may again be noted in the narratives of a specific named resource. The inventory portion of the document is followed by other relevant information concerning the use and protection of Door County’s surface water resources. iii Introduction Door County has been referred to as one of the most environmentally sensitive and ecologically important areas in the Midwest. Many features throughout the county, such as the rock outcroppings, sand dunes and wetlands, are an integral part of what gives Door County this status and makes this area aesthetically pleasing. The surface waters are a large component of the ecological importance and they add to the popularity of the county. The Surface Water Resources of Door County, published in 1965, was the first surface water inventory for Door County. Since then, many areas of the county have had land disturbances and alterations, including dredging, construction and filling, some of which have greatly affected the surface waters. The changing landscape has spurred concern for the health of surface waters from resource professionals and