The Lower Fox River and Green Bay TMDL

The WDNR is collaborating with multiple agencies and groups to develop a TMDL for the Lower Fox River (LFR) Basin, including the Green Bay Area of Concern (GB AOC). Thirteen waterbodies in the LFR Basin are impaired due to excessive sediment and phosphorus. Additional pollutants include PCBs and mercury, however, these will not be addressed in the TMDL.

Update on Project Status

The actual development of the TMDL will be developed by a consultant hired by U.S. EPA in cooperation with DNR. It is anticipated that the contract with EPA and the consultant will occur in early Fall of 2008. This is a little later than expected, so the TMDL technical team will be developed sometime in early September 2008. The workplan time schedule may shift slightly, so we will try to keep everyone updated with the website. The details on the technical team structure and future meeting dates will be posted and updated as needed.

Thanks for your patience on this project! We are continuing to develop materials for outreach, so look out for our first newsletter from UW-GB to come out soon!

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

The LFR Basin and GB AOC TMDL will provide reductions needed from both nonpoint and point sources of sediment and phosphorus to achieve water quality standards. Excessive sediment and phosphorus can cause low dissolved oxygen levels, poor water clarity, loss of submerged aquatic plants, degraded habitat for fish and wildlife, beach closings, harmful algal blooms, loss of recreational opportunities, and decreased property values.

Lower Fox River TMDL Fact Sheet [PDF 2.16MB]

The Lower Fox River Basin was chosen for a TMDL due, in part, to the vast amount of data the DNR, GBMSD, USGS, UW-GB, UW-Sea Grant, UW-Milwaukee (Great Lakes Water Institute) and the Oneida Tribe of Indians has collected on the waterbodies over the past 40 years. The Lower Fox River and Green Bay are important environmental and economic resources to Wisconsin and are also part of the Great Lakes - an area of national significance.

This TMDL will be conducted in four phases and interested parties will be provided opportunities to learn more and to comment on each phase of the project.

Phase I of the TMDL was a preliminary exercise to explore the cost-effectiveness of best management practices intended to reduce phosphorus in the basin. The Cadmus Group, an independent consultant, was retained under contract by the U.S. EPA to conduct the Phase I study. Cadmus used a phosphorus reduction goal of 50% to develop cost estimates. That goal was selected based on targets from the Green Bay Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan published in 1993. However, this reduction does not represent the targets that will be chosen for the final TMDL. A final report was completed and provided to the DNR. The report was a good start at looking at various local agricultural practices, however as the Department moves toward TMDL Development, we will consider additional information related to various local agricultural practices, best management practices for stormwater, construction site erosion control and more up-to-date point source information. The report can be viewed using the following link:

Phase I: The Final Report: An Integrated Approach Demonstration Project [PDF 1.27MB]
Phase I Appendices (provided by The Cadmus Group and U.S. EPA) [PDF 2.58MB]
Point Source Dischargers Meeting (August 22, 2007) [PDF 1.64MB]

Phase II included developing the workplan [PDF 769KB] to define objectives of the project, the relationship of stakeholders involved, and timelines for the project. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback and comments. Phase II also involved an outreach component: several meetings were held for municipal and industrial dischargers and agricultural stakeholders. Storm water officials and representatives were invited to two rounds of meetings by UW-GB to help out in our planning process. More meetings to come include meeting with environmental groups and elected officials. The first “kick-off” meeting explaining the purpose of the TMDL and the workplan was held in Grand Chute on January 23rd, 2008.

Presentation from Public Meeting January 23, 2008 [PDF 2.05MB]

For questions and comments regarding the LFR Basin and GB AOC TMDL, please contact Nicole Richmond (608)-266-0152 or Rob McLennan (920)-424-7894.