Lower Fox River & Green Bay Area of Concern Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL)

DNR Moves Forward on Fox River TMDL Project

The Department is developing 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.

Lower Fox River TMDL Fact Sheet

The Lower Fox River Basin was chosen for a TMDL due, in part, to the vast amount of data the DNR, 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

Phase I Appenices (provided by The Cadmus Group and U.S. EPA)

Point Source Dischargers Meeting (August 22, 2007) [PDF 1.64MB]

Phase II included developing the workplan 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. More meetings to come include meeting with the stormwater communities, 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]

Phase III will be the actual development of the TMDL. Similar to Phase I, the TMDL will be developed by a consultant hired by U.S. EPA in cooperation with DNR. It is anticipated that a final report will be submitted in late spring 2009 and will include an implementation plan that provides details on where phosphorus and sediment reductions need to occur. A TMDL technical team will be developed in summer of 2008 to look at load allocation processes and restoration scenarios that are both economically and socially feasible. Phase III will also include several opportunities for public involvement as well as a final public meeting and formal comment period upon receipt of a draft report.

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.