Q
NONPOINT SOURCE SUCCESS STORY
Wisconsin
Stream Restoration Improves Pike River in Petrifying Springs Park
Waterbody Improved
A degraded biological community was identified in the Pike River
in 2012. The impairment was attributed to total phosphorus levels
from nonpoint sources, which caused the river to exceed water quality criteria. Consequently, in
2012 the Pike River was added to Wisconsin's Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) impaired waters
list. In 2018 Kenosha County Division of Parks led efforts to restore stream conditions and improve
riparian habitat in Petrifying Springs Park. As a result, an estimated 368 pounds of phosphorus
will be prevented from polluting the Pike River annually, and post-implementation water quality
monitoring showed a 55 percent phosphorus concentration reduction.
Problem
The Pike River watershed flows though portions
of Racine and Kenosha counties in southeastern
Wisconsin, draining an area of over 30,000 acres
directly into Lake Michigan. This success story is cen-
tered around the work done in the Petrifying Springs
Park portion of the Pike River (Figure 1). Although the
Pike River as a whole is 39 percent agricultural, this
section of river is mainly parkland. That being said, this
area has been impacted by pollution contributed from
upstream practices in the agricultural portions of the
watershed.
The target area of about 20,000 linear feet of stream
has been severely degraded by agricultural ditching,
which channelized the river around the turn of the
twentieth century. This channelization led to flashy
flow conditions; increased erosion, and sediment
loading during rain events. As a result, the Pike River
is characterized by highly eroded streambanks and
sediment accumulation, which has led to water quality
problems.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(WNDR) conducted a 2012 water monitoring data
evaluation, which led them to list this section of the
Pike River as impaired on Wisconsin's 2012. CWA
section 303(d) list of impaired of waters. WDNR ranked
the river's biological community as poor, as relatively
few fish species were observed. Additionally, the
fish species growth rates and condition factors were
considered to be depressed. Water quality monitoring
results from 2012 also indicated that total phosphorus
concentrations (median 0.114 milligrams per liter
[mg/L] and minimum 0.084 mg/L) clearly exceeded
locai stream water quality criteria, which established
an upper threshold of 0.075 mg/L.
Project
^Watershed
^37 Sq. Miles
[Petrifying
.Springs Park
Phase 1
.Phase 2
Pike River Streambank Restoration
Petrifying Springs Park
Kenosha County, Wl
Kenosha County Department of Public Works
Final Engineering Design
Watershed Map
(Upstream Tributary Area ot Pike River @ Petrifying Springs Park)
Figure 1. The Pike River flows through Petrifying Springs
Park before draining into Lake Michigan.

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Story Highlights
Results
The Pike River in Petrifying Springs Park was identi-
fied as a priority area for restoration in the approved
Pike River Watershed Restoration Plan, which was
completed in 2013. The Pike River restoration project
specifically addresses the plan's recommendations for
river unit #PR11 (the Petrifying Springs Park portion
of the river), which calls for "restoring streambanks
using bioengineering techniques; removing problem-
atic debris jams; and selectively removing invasive
trees." In 2017, Kenosha County secured a Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative grant award from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate
Phase I restoration efforts. With County Executive
Jim Kreuser as the champion of this project, Kenosha
County addressed streambank erosion and improved
in-stream structure and streamflow dynamics on a
3,145-linear-foot reach of the stream. Additionally,
native vegetation plantings were installed within the
5.2-acre riparian habitat to stabilize and improve filtra-
tion and infiltration of the riparian corridor. A wetland
delineation was also completed in the summer of 2017.
Engineering, design, and construction documents
were completed in spring of 2018 and restoration at
Petrifying Springs Park project began in July 2018. All
grading work was completed by November 2018.
Strategic stream stabilization included installing
in-stream structures to increase hydraulic roughness
aimed to dissipate energy, improve channel stability,
and re-introduce aquatic habitat. In-stream structures
included rock riffles, wing deflectors and boulder
clusters. These structures will also enhance the
recreational experience and aesthetics of the stream
in highly visible areas: adjacent to parking and access
areas, park pavilions, and trails. Green infrastructure
practices and management in the project site
addressed nonpoint source pollution in the Pike River
and ultimately Lake Michigan. Restoration of the Pike
River at Petrifying Springs Park will continue in Phases
II and III.
In addition to improvements in water quality and
stream habitat, public awareness of the project was
increased through informative banners, press releases,
social media posts, interpretive signage, and public
forums. These educational efforts have been and will
continue to be important to educate the public about
the benefits of the Pike River restoration.
Kenosha County collaborated with the University
of Wisconsin-Parkside to conduct water quality
sampling. Monitoring by the university suggests
positive changes are occurring in the Pike River, with
short-term data showing reductions in concentrations
of phosphorus (55% reduction) and nitrogen (44%
reduction) (Table 1). Kenosha County has allotted funds
to continue gathering monitoring data to analyze the
impact of completed and future restoration work on
the Pike River.
Table 1. Pre- and post-implementation stream
monitoring of the Petrifying Springs Park Pike River
Restoration project (Phase I).
Parameter
(units)
2018 average
(before)
2019 average
(after)
Target
level
Nitrogen (mg/L)
2.706
1.51
< 1.798
Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.22
0.1
<0.075
Turbidity (NTU)
7.8
11.2
< 14
In addition to water quality monitoring data, modeling
(using the Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant
Load [STEPL]) indicates that the streambank stabiliza-
tion is estimated to have removed 527 tons of sedi-
ment and 368 pounds of phosphorus from the river as
a result of Phase I restoration. While this restoration
project has been successful, additional work to reduce
nonpoint pollution in the Pike River watershed will be
needed to fully meet water quality goals.
Partners and Funding
The Pike River Watershed Restoration Plan was com-
pleted in 2013 as an EPA Nine-Element Watershed-
Based Plan. This plan served as a catalyst to convene
project partners and pursue funding to implement
the long-term improvements. In addition to Kenosha
County Division of Parks, project partners included
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, WDNR, and the
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, among many
other educational, governmental and environmental
groups. Funding for the project included $500,000
from EPA via the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
award (2017), $150,000 from the Fund for Lake
Michigan (2017), and $591,000 of in-kind match from
Kenosha County, for a total of $1,241,000.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841-F-20-001GG
December 2020
For additional information contact:
Dave Giordano
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network
262-496-2199 • dave@rootpikewin.org
Craig Helker
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
414-550-2970 • craig.helker@wisconsin.gov
Matt Collins
Kenosha County Division of Parks
262-857-1850 • matthew.collins@
kenoshacounty.org

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