Archive: Fox River/Green Bay Focus Area
Last updated: May 21, 2001
Background
The focus area covers approximately 6,640 square miles from Lake Winnebago to the mouth of the Fox River and the southern portion of Green Bay. The lower 39 miles of the river is impounded by 12 dams, has 17 navigation locks and supports 20 pulp and paper mills. The International Joint Commission has designated the lower Fox River and Green Bay as an Area of Concern.
Water quality and clarity remain impaired by large amounts of phosphorus from land runoff and wastewater discharges, sediment loading due to agriculture and construction- induced erosion, and contaminated sediment resulting from industrial processes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed placing the Lower Fox River on the Superfund National Priorities List because of the large volume and high concentrations of PCBs in the river sediment. Federal, State and Native American trustees are working on a natural resources damage assessment pertaining to natural resource injury due to the contaminated sediments.
Activities
The focus area team is cooperating with state and local agencies on a watershed scale to address non-point source water quality issues, contaminated sediment remediation, habitat degradation and loss, as well as sustainable land use and development.
On-the-Ground Project
A project to restore the Cat Island Chain in lower Green Bay is proposed to increase wetland and island habitat for colonial waterbirds, waterfowl, fish, and other aquatic organisms.
Partners
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Wisconsin-Sea Grant, University of Wisconsin- Green Bay, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
For More Information
Janet Smith, Focus Area Team Leader
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Green Bay Field Office
Phone: 920/ 465-7440