Sheboygan River Basin Partnership in Wisconsin

The Sheboygan River Basin Partnership (SRBP) is a non-profit organization working to improve water quality and preserve our natural resources within the Sheboygan River Basin. Improving the health of our rivers and lakes is our goal. The SRBP is an alliance of conservation and environmental groups; local businesses; local, state and federal agency staff, and concerned individuals. Together, we are working to cultivate partnerships to raise public awareness, engage participation in stewardship, and promote informed decision-making regarding issues that affect the health of water resources in our area.

Sheboygan River Basin Defined

The Sheboygan River Basin includes most of Sheboygan County, along with northeast Ozaukee County, northeast Fond du Lac County and parts of southern Manitowoc County

Watershed Leadership Awards - Due Jan 15, 2010

The Watershed Leadership Awards recognizes individuals who have dedicated their time and talent to improve the health of the Sheboygan Basin waters, including watersheds of the Sheboygan, Pigeon, Black, Onion and Mullet Rivers and Sauk and Sucker Creeks. Up to six awards for accomplishents in the past two years will be given at the SRBP annual membership meeting in the spring of 2010.

Who’s Eligible?
Adult and youth individuals, formal and non-formal educators, businesses, and organizations are eligible for recognition of accomplishments achieved in the Sheboygan Basin within the past two years. (Government agencies and agency staff are not eligible for awards). Think about people you know who are active in water conservation, environmentally-friendly landscaping, education, research, monitoring habitat restoration, and environmental leadership. Nomination forms are due by 4:30 pm on January 15, 2010. Call Debbie Beyer at (920) 459-6644 with questions. View nomination form and additional information.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer insect has been confirmed in downtown Green Bay. An adult EAB was found on one of the purple sticky box traps in a parkway along the Fox River. Wisconsin Dept. of Ag and WDNR personnel are in the process of assessing the threat. View press release. Learn how to identify the Emerald Ash Borer and its destructive habits. Encourage your friends and neighbors to stop moving firewood around. All tree species have pests and diseases that are easily moved from place to place hitchhiking on firewood. Remember to, "Burn it where you buy it."

Wild Pasnip

The sap from this plant, once activated by the UV light of the Sun, will cause a chemical burn on the skin. Wear appropriate clothing and gloves and wash immediately after working with this plant. If you encounter individual or small clumps of plants and have the means to do so, digging (i.e. slicing the taproot), pulling up the plants or cutting off the seed heads and disposing of them in the garbage or burn barrel (so that the seeds are destroyed) will help slow the weed’s exponential growth. Note where you found it this year, as follow-up next year will be needed. Please report any sightings/work done on the DCIST website. Once seed heads are drying out and dropping seeds, it is best to stay out of the patch. Digging or spraying rosettes can be done in fall or spring.

Basin Recreational Usage

Recreational use of this basin varies for each locality or region. In the eastern regions, non-contact recreation such as, jogging, walking, and bicycling is popular in many of the parks in Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls. The beaches and near shore waters in the Sheboygan area are also popular spots for wading and swimming. However, due to the extensive amount of privately owned river frontage around the city of Kohler, these activities are sometimes restricted.

Generally, there is a good diversity of sport fish, especially in the low reaches of this basin. However, dam and impoundment areas around the cities of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls and Kohler present barriers to fish movement, and usually result in poor water quality because of the chronic sediment and nutrient build-up. The western portion of this basin is a popular area for hunting and fishing due to its high density of wetlands and surface waters (lakes).

Water Quality

Runoff from both specific and diffuse sources, contaminated sediment, habitat modifications (such as channelization and dams) have degraded water quality throughout the Sheboygan River basin. Construction site erosion and impervious surfaces (roads, roofs, parking lots) are generating threats to water quality, especially in the eastern portions, as the Sheboygan River basin grows increasingly urban.