Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan for the Lower Fox River And
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LOWER GREEN BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN for the Lower Fox River and Lower Green Bay Area of Concern Published by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707 Major Contributors Lynn Persson - WDNR, Bureau of Water Resources Management (Primary Author) Victoria Harris - WDNR, Lake Michigan District Cynthia Lukas - WDNR, Bureau of Water Resources Management Jeanne Christie - WDNR, Bureau of Water Resources Management H. J. Harris - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Lee Meyers - WDNR, Lake Michigan District John Sullivan - WDNR, Bureau of Water Resources Management Paula Allen - WDNR, Bureau of Water Resources Management Ron Baba - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay With help from members of the Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan, Citizens Advisory and Technical Advisory Committees February 1988 PUBL-WR-175-87 REV 88 State of Wisconsin \ DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Carroll D. Besadny Secretary February 23, 1988 File Ref: 8250I I am pleased to approve the Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan as part of Wisconsins Water Quality Management Plan. The plan is an important contribution to Great Lakes cleanup. It is also an important step in the long-term effort of Fox River and Green Bay communities, industries, and citizens to restore and protect this valuable state resource. The lower Green Bay and Fox River area is one of 42 Great Lakes "Areas of Concern" identified by the International Joint Commission because of ongoing water quality problems. This area represents an important resource for the people of the State of Wisconsin. During the past two years, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources worked cooperatively with other agencies, researchers, and the citizens of northeast Wisconsin to develop a remedial action plan for the Lower Green Bay and the Fox River. A Citizens Advisory Committee and four technical advisory committees advised the Department in the preparation of the plan. All groups worked together to identify management goals for the bay and river for the year 2000. They also developed 16 Key Actions and many specific recommendations necessary to achieve their "Desired Future State." The plans goals call for restoring swimming in the Bay and River and providing a fishery and ecosystem that is free from the effects of toxic contamination. These and other goals described in the Citizen Advisory Committee "Desired Future State" are very worthwhile goals. Judging by the response at the public hearing and the commitment of those that contributed to the preparation of the plan, there is great opportunity to achieve the water quality goals laid out in the plan. The plan incorporates the updating requirements of Public Law 92-500 as amended by Public Law 95-217 and as outlined in Federal Regulations 40 CFR, Part 35. This planning document is governed by the process for adoption of areawide water quality management plans as set forth in NR 121.08(1)(a) and (b). Sincerely, .A C.D. Besadny Secretary P0912-15 EXECUTIVE OFFICE THOMAS D. CUENE COUNTY EXECUTIVE Brown County 305 EAST WALNUT, P. O. BOX 1600 GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN 54305-5600 PHONE (414) 436-3355 March 1, 1988 C.D. Besadny, Secretary Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 Dear Secretary Besadny: The Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan is the culmination of nearly two years of effort by local citizens, elected officials, DNR personnel and our scientific community. As County Executive, I am pleased to support this plan which builds upon the tremendous success we have experienced in water quality improvement over the past 15 years. For the citizens of Brown County, this plan presents an incredible opportunity to improve the environment in which they choose to live. Many challenges remain and we must all work hard to solve the difficult problems facing us. It is imperative that all concentrate their efforts toward implementation of the plans recommendations. you that Brown County is prepared to do its share. Thomas D. Cuene Brown County Executive TDC:cld OFFICE OF THE MAYOR WISCONSIN ROOM 200 - CITY HALL - 436-3621 5 4 3 0 1 SAMUEL J. HALLOIN Mayor February 23, 1988 C. D. Besadny, Secretary Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 Dear Secretary Besadny: As Mayor of the City of Green Bay, I want to express my support for the Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan. The Citizens Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committees have worked hard for nearly two years preparing this plan. The individuals who served on those committees deserve our wholehearted congratulations and gratitude on the plans completion. The technical analysis and implementation strategy in this plan will serve as a basis for the future management of our water resources. As Mayor of Green Bay, I look forward to participating in the implementation process. Sincerely, Samuel J. Halloin Mayor -vi- Members of the Citizens Advisory Committee and DNR staff worked together to develop the Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan. (Photo by Dave Crehore) Introduction to the Remedial Action Plan from the Citizen Advisory Committee "We live here. This is our home. For some of us it is our ancestral home. Our families arrived here centuries ago. Others of us have only recently arrived but we all have a common commitment to the land and water which surrounds us. We are very aware of the many decades that have passed in which human activities created environmental problems here in the Green Bay area. We are also aware that in the past decade or so many investments of both private and public funds occurred so the River and the Bay could be cleaned up. Now we are learning more about how difficult it will be to continue this i mprovement process. We are committed to this progress. We are willing to work together, seeking the proper changes and improvements. We are not afraid to lobby for new laws, for both private and public funds. We are afraid that some of the current institutional structures and the present division management activities to solve these problems will not be enough for cost-effective results. We are not limited by the past. We are committed to the future. Our general goal is to lay the foundation for a quality life experience here in the Green Bay area for our children and our grandchildren. This report is the result of many people working together to provide ideas to achieve that goal. It is called a remedial action plan. For us it is much more. It is a significant gift to future generations. Many of us will not be alive early in the 21st Century when some of these ideas will begin to bear fruit. Our involvement in this activity, therefore, is similar to planting a seed." This statement was read by Chairman John Rose at the January 22, 1987 public hearing and was reported in full in the January 23, 1987 Green Bay Press Gazette. TABLE OF CONTENTS Paqe No. Open Letters ........................................................... Introduction to the plan from the Citizens Advisory Committee ............ vii Table of Contents.............................................................i x List of Figures.............................................................. xi i List of Tables.............................................................. xi i i List of Appendices .............................................................x Acknowledgements .............................................................. xi Executive Summary............................................................xi v I. INTRODUCTION............................................................1 RAP Background..................................................... 3 Plan Preparation and Citizen Input ............................... 4 Relationship to Other Planning and Management Activities...................................................... 6 Citizen Actions for a Clean Bay and River........................ 7 II. THE SETTING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOURCES............... 9 The Setting....................................................... 11 The Environmental Setting .................................... 11 The Historical Setting....................................... 1 4 Environmental Problems ............................................1 6 Biota and Habitat Problems................................... 1 7 Toxic Substances Problems.................................... 1 8 Nutrients and Eutrophication Problems....................... 1 9 Institutional and Socioeconomic Concerns ....................20 Pollution Sources and Other Factors Affecting The Bay and River...............................................22 Pollution Loadings ................................................ 28 III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................. 31 The Citizens Advisory Committees Desired Future State .........33 Plan Goals......................................................... 36 Plan Objectives ................................................... 40 IV. THE STRATEGY: KEY ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A RESTORED BAY AND RIVER ..............................................53 Introduction .......................................................55 Guide to the Plans Key Actions..............................56 Guide to the Plans Recommendations......................... 57 - x - Table of Contents (Cont) Page No. Key Action #1. Reduce Phosphorus Inputs to the River and Bay from Nonpoint and Point Sources ...................... 63 Key Action #2. Reduce Sediment and Suspended Solids Inputs . 81 Key Action #3. Eliminate