Apple, Ashwaubenon Creek Watershed (LF02)

The Apple/Ashwaubenon Creek watershed was selected as a Priority Watershed Project (PWS) along with the Duck Creek Watershed in 1994 and a Priority Watershed Plan was completed in 1997 (WDNR 1997). It joined approximately 80 similar watershed projects statewide in which nonpoint source control measures are being planned and implemented. The plan was prepared cooperatively by the WDNR, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP), the Brown County Land Conservation Department, and the Outagamie County Land Conservation Department, Oneida Nation Planning Department with assistance from the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Priority Watershed Plan is considered an amendment to this plan.

The Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Duck, Apple, and Ashwaubenon Creeks Priority Watershed Project (WDNR 1997) describes in detail the water resources in the watershed. The plan outlines nonpoint source problems, establishes water quality goals and objectives, and identifies management practices to achieve those goals and objectives. The project began the sign up period in the fall of 1997. For additional information regarding the priority watershed project please refer to the 1996 Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Duck, Apple, and Ashwaubenon Creeks Priority Watershed Project. The watershed was selected based on three criteria:

• The severity of the water quality problems.
• The seriousness of the nonpoint sources.
• The capability and willingness of the local units of government and agencies to carry out the project.

The Apple and Ashwaubenon Creek Watershed is 113 square miles (294 square kilometers) in size; approximately 60 percent lies within Outagamie County and 40 percent is located in Brown County. There are 171 miles of named and unnamed streams in the watershed, all of which empty into the Fox River. Land use in the watershed is primarily agriculture and residential, though industrial ares do exist in the urban areas of Green Bay and the north side of Appleton. Many intermittent tributaries discharge to Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks and serve as the transport system for rain runoff; the headwaters are often dry in summer. Aquatic life habitat and macroinvertebrate communities in these headwaters are generally fair to poor in condition. Sediment and phosphorus loading from upland agricultural fields are the major sources of nonpoint pollution in the watershed.

There are no municipal point source dischargers and two industrial point source dischargers in the Apple and Ashwaubenon Creek Watershed: Fabco Equipment and Super Value Stores Inc.

Recommendations

1. The Land and Water Conservation Boardshould secure and continue funding for the Duck, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks Priority Watershed Project (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. The Lower Fox River Basin Team should conduct basin assessment trend station stream monitoring on Apple Creek, Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek to assess long-term water quality trends in the Lower Fox River Basin (Type B).

4. The Lower Fox River Basin Team should continue to monitoring activities on Apple Creek, Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek to meet the Lower Fox River Basin IEM Project goals (Type B).

5. The State Lab of Hygiene and Lower Fox River Basin Team staff should conduct biomonitoring on Apple Creek, Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek to determine acute and chronic toxicity levels and how it is impacting aquatic organisms (Type B).

6. Lower Fox River Basin Team staff should conduct sediment sampling on Apple Creek, Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek to determine if sediment contamination exists and to develop a sediment inventory for the Lower Fox River Basin (Type B).

Apple Creek

Apple Creek, a 24-mile creek, is usually dry except for scattered pools near road crossings and toward the mouth of the river where it drains into the Fox River. Bottom materials are silt, rubble and gravel, with few boulders. As many streams in Brown County, this one is plagued by erosion. Cattle pasturing along streambanks and hills has caused heavy erosion and no vegetation. Macroinvertebrates indicate fairly poor water quality. Nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution and urban stormwater runoff singly or in combination cause sedimentation, low dissolved oxygen levels, all of which contribute to poor water quality. Dissolved oxygen and temperature were monitored to document swings in DO due to external factors like rain or plants. Violation of the 5 mg/l state DO standard occurred often. Low or no stream flow during critical summer months also plays a major role in limiting aquatic life in the watershed (Johnson 1996).

Ashwaubenon Creek

Ashwaubenon Creek, a 15-mile sluggish, hard water stream flowing through agricultural and residential Brown County. Bottom materials consist of rubble, gravel and silt. In the agricultural portion of the stream the stream banks and hills are bare and erosion heavy due to cattle pasturing. In the residential area the stream is filled with litter an debris. Nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution and urban stormwater runoff singly or in combination cause sedimentation, low dissolved oxygen levels, all of which contribute to poor water quality. Dissolved oxygen and temperature were monitored to document swings in DO due to external factors like rain or plants. Violation of the 5 mg/l state DO standard occurred often. Low or no stream flow during critical summer months also plays a major role in limiting aquatic life in the watershed (Johnson 1996).

Dutchman Creek

Dutchman Creek, a 17-mile stream, has been ditched and the course altered to accommodate residential and commercial developments beginning in the area (HWY 41 & 172 and near Oneida Street). During mid-summer low flow conditions, most of Dutchman Creek and all of its tributaries dry up. Bottom materials consist mainly of soft sediments. Riffle areas are rare and there seems to be little scouring of the stream bottom. Streambanks are generally in poor condition and buffering is limited or absent. Crops and livestock dominate the riparian zone in the upper reaches, while residential, commercial and industrial land uses are dominate near the mouth. Stream habitat assessment surveys indicate poor habitat and dissolved oxygen measurements showed several violations of the state standard (5 mg/l) (Johnson 1996).

Hemlock Creek

Hemlock Creek, a 7-mile stream, is impacted by low flow during the summer months. Streambanks are generally in poor condition and buffering is limited or absent. Crops and livestock dominate the riparian zones (Johnson 1996).

Map of the Watershed