East River Watershed (LF01)

The East River Watershed includes the 206 square mile (534 square kilometers) area of land extending inland from the Fox River and lower bay of Green Bay, stretching from the town of Red Banks to the village of Wrightstown. Approximately 90 percent of the watershed is in Brown County and the remaining in Calumet and Manitowoc County. The watershed contains many small streams and several large rivers draining directly to Fox River. The watershed was named for one of the larger river systems: East River in Brown and Calument Counties. Principal streams in the watershed are the Fox River, Baird Creek, Bower Creek and the East River.

Water quality data should be collected on specific streams to assess long-term water quality trends in the Lower Fox River Basin. (See recommendations below.)

Rural land uses are predominant in the watershed (152-square miles, 73 percent). Agricultural uses and related open space account for 80 percent of the rural areas. Woodlands and wetlands together cover about 15 percent of the watershed (WDNR 1991).

Urban land uses (including developing areas) occupy about 57-square miles, or 27 percent of the watershed. The predominant urban uses are residential (35 percent), and parks and open undeveloped space (48 percent). Population and land use projections indicate that the population will increase between 5 and 10 percent over the next 20 years, resulting in an additional 8,700 acres of urban development (WDNR 1991).

The communities located within the East River Watershed include: the cities of Green Bay, De Pere, the villages of Lawrence, Ashwaubenon, Allouez, Wrightstown, and the townships of Scott, Humboldt, Eaton, Glenmore, Bellevue, Rockland, Holland and Wrightstown.

The East River Watershed was selected as a priority watershed in 1986 under the Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program. This project has an exceptionally high level of participation for pollution control. Normally limited to three years, the landowner signup period was extended by nine months. The signup ended July 17, 1990. The high level of participation, especially in Manitowoc County, is attributed to the ability and efforts county staff made to establish good working relationships with landowners. The success of this project can also be attributed to the counties' willingness to increase staff and offices to administer this large project. According to models, if all cost share agreements and conservation plans signed up for are actually implemented, theoretically, the goals for pollutant load reduction will be met in three of the four categories of pollution sources. The nonpoint source control plan for this watershed contains detailed information about the streams and water quality objectives. A final report for the watershed project will be completed in 1997 by Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation Department.

There are five municipal point source dischargers and 16 industrial point source dischargers in the East River Watershed: city of De Pere, Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wrightstown Sanitary Districts # 1 & 2, Wrightstown Sewer and Water Utility, Atlas Warehouse & Cold Storage, Dean Foods Vegetable Co Green Bay, Dean Pickle & Specialty Products, Eilers Cheese Factory Inc, Fort-James Paper Co (2 plants), Green Bay Dressed Beef, Green Bay Packaging Inc Mill Division, Nicolet Paper Co, Packerland Packing Co Inc, Proctor & Gamble Paper Products Co, Schreiber Foods Inc, Schroeders Greenhouse, Stokely USA Inc Green Bay, Wisconsin Public Service Corp Pulliam and US Army Corps Engineers (Renard Isle).

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) has been seeking permits and approvals from the DNR since 1985 to construct an expansion to their Renard Isle (Kidney Island) confined dredge spoil disposal facility. In 1987 we granted an exemption from solid waste licensing requirements to Brown county. The Department has also issued a 144.04 Wastewater Treatment Plant plan approval. That approval has expired and needs be reissued (WDNR, 1993a). A WPDES permit is required but has not been issued. A water quality certification was denied following a contested case hearing and review by the Secretary. The water quality certification was denied because there was not reasonable assurance that dissolved oxygen (D.O.) levels in the Fox River and Lower Green Bay would not be adversely impacted by the proposed construction. Subsequently, the Corps developed a model and studied the dissolved oxygen question. They concluded that the proposed confinement disposal facility would not significantly affect impact D.O. levels. The Corps requested a second Water Quality Certification (WDNR 1997). Subsequently, however, the proposed expansion of Renard Isle have since been dropped and plans are now underway to close the existing island (Behrens, 1998).

Meanwhile, navigational dredging has been limited, and we have gained greater knowledge about the level of contamination in bottom sediments. The USACOE has been authorized through the Water Resources Development Act to dredge for environmental reasons and to provide assistance for Great Lakes Area of Concern remediation projects. While no funding was allocated to provide such assistance, there are cost sharing provisions for dredging areas adjacent to the navigation channel. Since some of the estimated nine million cubic meters of contaminated sediment in the Fox River Lie outside the channel, USACOE's technical assistance could be beneficial to the Green Bay AOC if dredging is the remedial option of choice (WDNR, 1993a).

Sewer service area plans are developed under Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 121 for cities, towns, villages etc., with populations exceeding 10,000 and in all designated planning areas, such as Brown County. Plans are developed to control growth in outlying areas and to protect water quality of streams, wetlands, lakes, and groundwater. The 1990 census reported 100,786 people in city of Green Bay and an estimated population of 117,247 for 2015 (WDOA 1995 and BCPC 1997). The 1995 census reported 18,397 people in the city of De Pere and an estimated population of 22,001 for 2015 (WDOA 1990 and BCPC 1997). A Sewer Service area plan was developed for Brown County communities (Green Bay, De Pere, Wrightstown, Greenleaf, Pulaski, Scott, New Franken, Pittsfield, Suamico, Holland, Morrison, Denmark and Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin) by the Brown County Planning Commission in 1972 and updated in 1982, 1987 and 1995. In these plans, environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) are identified and protected from sewered development. In 1997, the Brown County Planning Commission revised ESA definitions to incluce the following: all wetlands plus a 50-foot buffer; all navigable streams, plus a 100 ft buffer on either side or the floodplain, whichever is greater; all non-navigable, intermittent streams plus a 35-foot buffer on both sides. There are also provisions for steep slopes and erodible soils. Encroachment into the ESAs is allowed only in specific situations, such as a wetland or stream crossing for a utility line or with approval from Brown County and/or Department. ESAs have been identified for all water resources features in delineated sewer service boundaries. However, Brown County has proposed identifying ESAs countywide. Proposals to protect all ESAs countywide from decentralized sewerage systems (onsite and package systems) have been discussed.

Recommendations

1. Lower Fox River Basin Team staff should conduct fixed station (ambient) monitoring on the Fox River above the De Pere dam to assess long-term water quality trends in the Lower Fox River Basin and to meet the statewide water quality monitoring network goals (Type B).

2. Brown County Planning Commission should continue updating and amending the Brown County Sewerage Plan (SSA Plan) on an as needed basis to prevent development in unsuitable areas (environmental sensitive areas) and protect surface and ground water quality (Type B).

3. Lower Fox River Basin Team, Bureau of Watershed Management, Bureau of Fish Management & Habitat Protection should work with local governments, industry and other environmental agencies (USEPA, USFWS, USGS etc) to remediate contaminated sediment deposits in the Lower Fox River (Type B).

4. The Land and Water Conservation Board should continue funding the East River Priority Watershed Project (Type B).

5. Bureau of WT staff, Lower Fox River Basin Team and partners should secure funds to continue operating the U.S. Geological Survey flow gaging station on Bower Creek at CTH MM (Type B).

6. WDNR FH staff, in cooperation with WT, should analyze walleye, northern pike, white bass, crappie, yellow perch, carp, gizzard shad, common shiners and smallmouth bass, from Lower Fox River (below the De Pere dam) to determine PCB concentrations and to update the Fish Consumption Advisory. Large walleye should also be analyzed for mercury (Type B).

7. The Lower Fox River Team and the Brown County Planning Department should work together to identify and protect all ESAs countywide (Type B, C).

For more information about the following streams, please see the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan for the Duck, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks Priority Watershed, 1997.

Baird Creek

Baird Creek, a 13.1 mile stream which originates in agricultural lands then travels east through wetland, park and urban areas. The creek becomes urban as it joins the East River in Green Bay. The upstream clarity of this stream differs considerably from the turbid waters downstream where many storm sewers discharge to the stream. Walleye are known to migrate up Baird Creek during spring spawning. The creek supports a warm water forage fishery as well as a warm water sport fishery. Stream habitat assessment surveys indicate poor to fair habitat and macroinvertebrate studies indicate very good to poor water quality. In a 1985 survey of Baird Creek, the Redside Dace, a Wisconsin Watch Species, was found (Meyers, 1998).

Birch Creek

Birch Creek, a four-mile creek that flows through agricultural lands and the escarpment. It supports a limited forage fishery. Little information is available for this stream.

Bower Creek

Bower Creek, a 13-mile creek, supports a warm water forage fishery and a warm water sport fishery. This stream is a turbid hardwater stream draining sluggishly into the East River. The stream drains highly agriculturalized land where it picks up the heavy silt load that composes the bottom material. Undercut banks and rock provide instream cover. Crayfish are very prolific in this stream. The fishery consist of bluegills, young-of-the-year northern pike, suckers and carp. Stream habitat assessment surveys indicate poor to fair habitat and macroinvertebrate studies indicate poor to fair water quality. The highly agriculturalized watershed makes very poor recreational waters out of this stream. The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with local, State and Federal agencies, obtains a large amount of data pertaining to the water resources of Wisconsin each year (Holmstrom 1996). A gaging station is located on Bower Creek on the left bank downstream from the County Trunk Highway MM bridge, 1.1 mile east from intersection of Highways G and MM, and 6.2 miles southeast of the post office in De Pere (USGS 1996). Discharge data has been collected since October 1990. Please refer to the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resource Data Wisconsin Water Year 1996 for specific data. Funding should be secured to continue operating this U.S. Geological Survey gauging station to maintain adequate flow records in the Lake Michigan Geological Management Unit (GMU). Data will be used to monitor impacts from land practices in the Bower Creek Subwatershed. The basin was studied during 1985-86 to determine water quality in relation to stream flow. Data for Upper Bower Creek included baseline sample and event analysis. In a report by Hughes (1988) Upper Bower Creek had the highest mean concentrations of BOD-5, total phosphorus, fecal coliform and fecal streptoccoccus of all the sites monitored during 1985-86. This stream exceeded the acceptable coliform level for recreational water quality of 200 counts/100 ml 91% of the time. Agricultural discharges were suspected of contributing significantly to degraded water quality. Suspended solids at the downstream boundary of the Upper Bower Creek watershed was 264 tons/mi²/year. Total phosphorus yields were 2,676 lbs/mi²/yr (Hughes 1988).

East River

The East River travels north through Brown County and roughly parallel to the Fox River. The majority of the stream flows through agricultural lands, then through the urban areas of Allouez, De Pere and Green Bay before discharging into the Fox River. The lower seven miles of the East River is effected by a seiche effect from Green Bay. The seiche effect tends to keep sediment suspended in the water column. This 39-mile river has very hard water and is very turbid. Stream bank cover is very poor, many of the banks are pastured and are highly eroded. Significant amounts of agricultural fertility are added to the stream from pasturing and enriched runoff. The stream bottom consists of silt and clay. Instream cover is sparse and aquatic invertebrates scarce. Stream habitat assessment surveys indicate poor to good habitat and macroinvertebrate studies indicate poor to fair water quality. Many storm sewers discharge to the lower stretch of river creating higher velocities and turbid water. Data from a USGS monitoring operated at Monroe Street (Green Bay) during 1986 was used to estimate a sediment loading rate of 125 Tons/mi²/yr and a total phosphorus loading rate of 1,128 lbs/mi²/yr. Water chemistry data showed this area to be in a degraded state with BOD-5 load levels of 11 milligrams per liter (mg/l), total phosphorus levels of 1.91 mg/l, fecal streptococcus levels of 730,000 colonies/100 milliliter (ml) and fecal coliform levels of 1,410,000 colonies/100 ml. There are three point source facilities which discharge treated wastewater (one industrial and two municipal facilities-please refer to the point source tables for the East River Watershed for more information). Recent fisheries surveys indicate that northern pike utilize the marshy areas of the river located in Bellevue for spring spawning. Walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch are found in the lower four miles of the East River.

Fox River

The Lower Fox River originates at the outlet of Lake Winnebago and flows northeast for 39 miles where it empties into the bay of Green Bay. With an average daily flow of 4320 cfs (Holmstrom, et. al. 1996), the Lower Fox River is characterized by hard water and turbid conditions. The drainage basin of the Lower Fox River includes approximately 601 sq miles.

Historically, the Lower Fox River is a significant waterway. For centuries, native Americans occupied the banks of the Fox River and used the water for drinking, fishing, crop irrigation, and transportation. Beginning in the 1600's, European pioneers utilized the Fox River for fur trading and as a route of exploration. Settlements were established in the early 1800s including Fort Howard which is now the City of Green Bay. Paper mills began to flourish in the mid 1800's. The early 1900's saw a booming timber industry followed by rapid urbanization (WDNR 1988). The Lower Fox River corridor is now occupied by industries, municipalities, small businesses, farms, and thousands of residents.

Around the turn of the century, the Fox River Valley began to experience growing pains. The river was viewed more as an avenue for waste assimilation rather than as a resource. Rapid development caused increased runoff, wetland destruction, and the discharge of raw sewage resulting in dramatic changes of water quality. Historical documentation bears this out. In 1933, reports indicated that the stench from the river was so bad that windows had to remain closed at Green Bay East High School. In 1938, alarmed commercial fisherman pulled up nets of dead fish which was eventually attributed to low dissolved oxygen levels caused by sulphite liquor. Bay Beach was permanently closed to swimming in 1943 for health-related reasons (Campbell 8/14/97).

Some steps were taken to remedy the water quality problems. The Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District was formed in 1931 followed by the construction of Green Bay=s first sewage treatment plant. In 1949, the State of Wisconsin mandated the installation of wastewater treatment plants for all Fox Valley municipalities and paper mills. State pollution control programs were strengthened again in the mid 1960s (WDNR 1988). Despite these efforts, the water quality of the Fox River continued to decline.

The 1972 Federal Clean Water Act gave great impetus to state and national pollution control efforts. A federal permit system named the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System was established to regulate all direct discharges into navigable waters. Funding became available for improved pollution control efforts. Wisconsin employed its own version of the federal permit system known as the Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) in 1974. For the Fox River, the creation of the WPDES permit system meant that industries and municipalities needed to reduce the discharge of organic pollutants to the river (WDNR 1988). Since the enactment of the Federal Clean Water Act, dramatic improvements in water quality have occurred in the Fox River. The discharge of biological oxygen demanding (BOD) products has been reduced which has allowed dissolved oxygen levels to rebound.

Unfortunately, water quality problems remain. A PCB related fish consumption advisory has been effect since 1976 and includes virtually all species of fish in the Lower Fox River. Since the early 1980s a waterfowl consumption advisory has also been included. Wildlife reproduction and growth impairments are frequently documented. These problems have been attributed to contaminated sediments which are a result of historical discharges. Furthermore, the Lower Fox River is plagued by tremendous volumes of suspended sediment and frequent algae blooms resulting from watershed runoff and erosion problems

From 1957 to 1971, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in the process of making carbonless paper. Several mills along the Fox River recycled this paper which included a process for de-inking the paper. Through this de-inking process, and estimated 125 tons of PCBs were discharged to the Fox River and settled among the riverbed sediments.

Initiated in the late 1980's, a $13 million study aimed at understanding the fate of various types of toxic materials was conducted through the Green Bay/Lower Fox River Mass Balance Project. The Mass Balance Project was the largest and most detailed assessment of environmental contamination, hydraulic and toxic transport modeling and food chain bioaccumulation in the Great Lakes. The study brought together the expertise of many agencies and educational institutions including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), State University of New York-Buffalo, Manhattan College, and the University of California--Santa Barbara. Among the findings, the Mass Balance Study revealed that PCB concentrations in the river and bay are expected to decrease slowly over the next 25 years but will still exceed water quality standards by more than 60 times (WDNR 1994). Sediments are now the primary source of PCBs in the system and comprise more than 98% of the sources in the river. The results of the Mass Balance Project are used to set priorities and allocate resources for research, clean-up, and regulatory efforts.

In support of the Mass Balance Study, WDNR=s Sediment Management and Remediation Techniques (SMART) program conducted a Lower Fox River Sediment Transport Study. With the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT), this project acquired of hundreds of sediment cores to assess the location, mass, sources, and movements of PCBs in the Lower Fox River. Through modeling, it has been determined that the Lower Fox River contains 1,900 pounds of PCBs that reside in sediments above the De Pere Dam and 13,000 pounds of PCBs that reside in sediments below the De Pere Dam. Approximately 80 tons of PCB-contaminated sediment have already migrated out of the river into the bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Today, it is estimated that about 600 pounds of PCB-contaminated sediment annually flows from the Fox River into the bay of Green Bay under normal flow conditions (WDNR 1988). There is concern that a major flow event triggered by heavy rainfall or snowmelt could result in tremendous volumes of contaminated sediment being washed into the bay of Green Bay where they would be virtually impossible to recover. This project has allowed managers to begin making decisions on prioritizing and targeting specific sites for clean-up.

In August of 1992, WDNR cooperated with Integrated Paper Services of Appleton and began a two-year Atriad@ assessment. This three prong approach allows for a Aweight of evidence@ determination depicting whether the chemicals present cause or are potentially related to detrimental biological effects in the aquatic ecosystem. The study was initiated to gain a better understanding of which contaminants other than PCBs may be causing impaired uses. Ten study sites with known PCB contamination were sampled by collecting sediments for metals, ammonia, PAHs, PCBs, pentachlorophenol, and organic pesticides analysis along with bioassay testing and macroinvertebrate community evaluation. Results from the study show that pentachlorophenol, ammonia, arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, zinc, and copper, in addition to PCBs, are the contaminants most likely contributing to degraded benthos communities (Kosmond 1996). The data will be used to enhance the ranking of deposits for remediation.

Once PCBs were identified as major impairment to the Fox River ecosystem, a chronology of events occurred which focused on means of remediation. The Great Lake International Joint Commission identified this location as an Area of Concern in 1987. Following this delineation, the Lower Fox River/Green Bay Remedial Action Plan was developed as a joint effort of local, state, and federal governments, industry, academia, and the public at large. The plan identified PCBs as the most important contaminant of concern in the Fox River/Green Bay system. In 1992, the State of Wisconsin in partnership with local mills and municipalities formed the Fox River Coalition with the goal of planning a voluntary river cleanup. These groups have collaborated to develop consensus on a full range of technical issues including: examining all existing data and model results, prioritizing contaminated sites, managing a remedial investigation and feasibility study at selected sites upstream of De Pere, identifying the need and coordinating collection of detailed sediment data downstream of De Pere and developing methods to represent environmental benefits of various levels of remediation. In conjunction with this effort, staff of WDNR's Bureau of Watershed Management developed a modeling analysis with regards to various sediment remediation scenarios.

Recent discussions among stakeholders in the Fox River clean-up effort have lead to an assortment of scenarios. In early 1997, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service indicated that they may pursue a lawsuit against seven mills who have been identified as potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for the contamination. The lawsuit seeks to obtain funding as compensation for past, present, and future environmental losses identified in a Natural Resources Damage Assessment. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Natural Resources along with the PRPs mills came to an interim agreement allotting $10 million to initiate a remediation demonstration project, conduct studies, and implement habitat restoration activities. By June of 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency had unveiled its intent to list the Lower Fox River on its Superfund list. In July of 1997, officials of state, federal, and tribal governments formed a partnership in which all entities agreed to share the responsibility of devising a cleanup plan for the river (Campbell 9/14/97).

In the early 1990s, the WDNR SMART program identified ADeposit A@ to be the inaugural clean-up demonstration site on the Lower Fox River. Located on the upstream end of Little Lake Butte des Morts, the deposit is mapped to be 43 acres in size, averages 2-3 feet in thickness and contains 1500 pounds of PCBs (Turville-Heitz 1992). The deposit was slated to be removed in the mid 1990s as part of an agreement between the state, local mill, and affected municipalities. When all of the feasibility studies were completed, the project was proposed to cost $15 million. As the time approached for actual removal, concerns regarding cost and capability led to the decline of public support and eventually the project was halted.

More recently, a pilot cleanup of sediment located adjacent to the Fort-James turning basin was initiated as part of the 1997 $10 million interim agreement. Labeled AHot Spot 56/57", this area represents one of the most contaminated sites in the river with PCB concentrations up to 400 parts per million (ppm). The site is nine acres in size and is thought to contain 6,600 pounds of PCBs. The consulting firm Montgomery Watson was hired as the design consultant. Funding was also secured to implement the cleanup of a sediment deposit located adjacent to InterLakes Paper in Kimberly. This site is identified as deposit N, is three acres in size, and is thought to contain approximately 414 pounds of PCBs. The consulting firm Foth & Van Dyke had been hired as the design consultant (Fitzpatrick 1997). Sediment sampling in conjunction with caged fish studies were conducted in the fall of 1997 at both sites. These studies were intended to better define the extent of contamination located within each sediment bed. Results from this monitoring will be available in 1998.

In addition to contaminated sediments, nutrient and sediment loading have been identified as major impairments to the Lower Fox River. Research and modeling has been conducted by many different entities including representatives from the University of Wisconsin--Green Bay, Department of Natural Resources, United States Geological Survey, Oneida Nation, and the non-profit group Fox/Wolf Basin 2000. These studies have concluded that 160 tons of phosphorus and 150,000 tons of sediment are delivered to the bay of Green Bay annually. It is estimated that 75-90% of these inputs are a result of non-point sources--those sources which can not be traced to a pipe (WDNR 1988). A common recognition among the multitude of groups is that these loadings have lead to algae blooms, reduced transparency, habitat reduction, and overall eutrophication of the system. In order to begin correcting the impairments, it will be necessary to identify the most cost effective strategies to implement throughout the entire Fox/Wolf basin.

The Green Bay Remedial Action Plan recognizes the need to reduce nutrient loading and to improve habitat. These goals are interdependent with each being necessary to achieve the other. The Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with county conservation agencies statewide has identified priority watersheds as part of the Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program. The selected priority watersheds address urban and rural runoff problems and encourage the installation of approved control measures termed Best Management Practices (BMPs). The Lower Fox River basin has benefitted from the implementation of these programs which include the Duck/Apple/Ashwaubenon and East River watershed projects.

The Lower Fox River flows over twelve dams and was once entirely navigable through 17 locks. Many of these locks are now in a state of disrepair. Currently, the State of Wisconsin is in discussion with the Army Corps of Engineers regarding future caretaking of the locks. This is an issue that will inevitably involve communities to decide what would be in their interest as well. The projected cost of repairing and maintaining the locks is approximately $23 million. Another option is to permanently fill them in which would confine boating and recreation to individual pools within the Lower Fox River.

Mahon Creek

Mahon Creek is located in Northeastern Brown County. The 2.8-mile stream originates in agricultural land then travels northeast through urban residential and University of Wisconsin Green Bay/arboretum area then discharges into the bay of Green Bay. Stream habitat assessment surveys indicate fair habitat and macroinvertebrate studies indicate good water quality. The stream is classified as a warm water forage fishery.

Wequiock Creek

Wequiock Creek, a 8.4-mile stream, flows west through agricultural land, wetlands and a parkway before discharging into the bay of Green Bay. There is a small waterfall located at the HWY 54/57 crossing (Wayside #2, 8 acres). Little information is available for this stream.

Holland Wildlife Area

Holland Wildlife Area is located south west Brown County T21-22N,R30E,S14. Much of this area is used as a wildlife preserve. The State owns 536 areas and leases approximately 200 acres for this preserve (WDNR 1997). The Holland Wildlife Area was first leased as a public hunting ground in 1951. The first parcel of land was acquired in December 1958 and stimulated the establishment of federal, Pittman-Robertson support in 1959. The intent was to provide long-term public hunting opportunities in Brown County. The project was strongly endorsed by the Brown County Conservation Alliance. The 450 acres comprising swamp hardwoods is climax in nature (mature). The edge between the swamp hardwoods and grasslands is highly attractive for wildlife and best represents "production area" of the project. Game species common on the property and in the area include deer, rabbits, gray squirrels, raccoon, red fox, partridge, pheasants, woodcock and ruffed grouse. The wildlife area supports a variety of nongame species indigenous to the area. No endangered plants or animals are know to exist on the property. This property is primarily managed as a pheasant stock and shooting area. Some utilize this area to train hunting dogs. Historically, 400-500 cock pheasants were stocked, now under 300 birds are released (Mella 1998).

Natural Area Sites

Natural ares were identified statewide by the Wisconsin Scientific Areas Preservation Council and the DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources. These areas are contained primarily in environmental corridors and isolated natural areas. They are tracts of land or water which exhibit pristine pre-settlement conditions and/or contain unique plant and animal communities. Natural areas are classified in one of three categories: Category I--statewide or greater significance, Category II--countywide or greater significance and Category III--local significance. The East River watershed contains some of northeastern Wisconsin's finest natural features including the Waldkrich Oak Woods, Cat Island Chain of Islands in the Lower Green Bay and the Duck Creek Marsh (Category I); the Scray Hill Mesic Forest and Bedrock Outcrops and Duck Creek Marsh (Category II): and the Baird Creek Park Dry Mesic Forest and Bellevue Natural Arch (Category III) (WDNR 1993a).

Map of the Watershed