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). The Lower Fox River Basin was chosen for a TMDL due, in part, to the vast amount of water quality 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!

Fourteen waterbodies in the LFR Basin are polluted (or impaired) due to excessive total suspended solids (such as sediment and soil from runoff) and phosphorus (a nutrient needed for plant growth). Additional pollutants include PCBs and mercury, however, these will not be addressed in the TMDL. PCBs are currently being addressed through the Comprehensive Environmental Remediation and Liability Act.

A green Lower Fox River at Kimberly, June 2007. Photo courtesy of Bruce Cleland

The TMDLs developed for the Lower Fox River Basin and Green Bay will identify sediment and phosphorus reductions needed from both nonpoint and point sources 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. More information is available in the Lower Fox River Fact Sheet [PDF 11.7MB].

TMDL Development Status

The LFR and GB AOC 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. TMDL Development (Phase III) has started on the Lower Fox River and Green Bay. To do the modeling, development and writing portion of the TMDL, the Cadmus Group, Inc., has been retained by the U.S. EPA in cooperation with DNR. The estimated timeline [PDF] predicts a draft TMDL to be completed by November 2009. The TMDL Development "Kick-off" Meeting between the Ad-hoc Science Team, Outreach Committee, and Technical Team was held October 2, 2008.

Many exciting things are moving forward at a rapid pace to help complete this TMDL. Please check out the Lower Fox River Basin Web site for details on Outreach activities associated with the TMDL.

For questions and comments regarding the LFR Basin and Green Bay TMDL, please contact Project Manager:
Nicole Richmond (608) 266-0152 or Regional Impaired Waters Coordinator;
Rob McLennan (920) 424-7894 or Lower Fox River TMDL Implementaion Coordinator;
Erin Hanson (920) 662-5419.