Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

Larson Creek Watershed
Larson Creek is a 4-mile long intermittent stream originating in Cunningham Swamp. The
stream flows through rural areas and pastures before emptying into Sand Bay. Larson Creek is part of an
8.9 square mile watershed.
• The surrounding land use is predominantly cropland with lesser amounts of idle cropland, other
natural area, and single family residential.
• Soils are shallow to deep, well drained, and almost level to moderately steep. A sandy loam or loam
subsoil overlays sandy loam or find sandy loam till or dolostone bedrock. (USDA SCS 1978).
• Larson Creek is classified as a warm water forage fishery, with a fair habitat ranking.
• Fish known to use the stream include walleye, northern pike, and white sucker. Snapping turtle
(Chelydra serpentines) are also known to live in the stream.
• It is unknown if nay threatened or endangered plant and animal species are present, as biological
inventories have not been completed.
CONSERVATION GOALS:
• Enhance and maintain the integrity of the large lowland cedar and ash swamps (i.e., May and
Cunningham Swamps).
• Restore and maintain the water quality and landscape buffers along the stream corridors to protect the
fish spawning areas of Lost Creek and Larson Creek.
THREATS:
• Possible threats to this large wetland complex include the effects of nearby agriculture and future
residential growth.
• There are major sinkholes and solution features receiving non-point source pollution, creating the
potential for water quality problems.
• Sedimentation threatens wetlands in this complex.
• Carp in the harbor and surrounding wetlands stir-up low-lying sediment disturbing native plant and
animal growth.
INFORMATION NEEDS / GAPS:
• Plant and animal inventories are needed
• Develop a list of individuals and organizations interested in conservation efforts
Sawyer Harbor / Lost Creek & Larson Creek Watersheds Complex 73