The State of the Upper Fox River Basin October, 2001 WT-665-2001 Fox River at Eureka, Winnebago County, Bureau of Watershed Management A Report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Cooperation with the Upper Fox River Basin Partnership Team and Stakeholders State of the Upper Fox Basin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/ GOVERNOR Scott McCallum NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD Trygve A. Solberg, Chair James E. Tiefenthaler, Jr., Vice-Chair Gerald M. O'Brien, Secretary Herbert F. Behnke Howard D. Poulson Catherine L. Stepp Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Darrell Bazzell, Secretary Franc Fennessy, Deputy Secretary Barbara Zellmer, Executive Assistant Gene Fransisco, Administrator Division of Forestry Steve Miller, Administrator Division of Land Susan L. Sylvester, Administrator Division of Water Ron Kazmierczak, Director Northeast Regional Office Ellen Barth, Land Leader Robin McLennan, Water Leader Oshkosh Service Center http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/index.htm ii State of the Upper Fox Basin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/ October 2001 To: Recipients of the Upper Fox River Basin State of the Basin Report We are pleased to present the Upper Fox River Basin State of the Basin Report. The primary purpose of this report is to: provide background information about the basin; articulate land, air, and water quality concerns; present management objectives; and serve as a tool for the improvement and protection of the resources of the basin. This is a working document that will evolve over time as ecological and social changes occur and as resource management evolves and progresses in the future. This report was prepared using an Integrated Ecosystem Management approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of ecological components. The Upper Fox River Basin Team better serves the land, water, air, and people of the basin by using this approach. As resource managers, one of our greatest challenges is addressing resource issues in an integrated manner -- one that mimics the connectedness of nature -- while maintaining needed accountability to our individual programs. On the positive side, new relationships developed through our partnership efforts continue to bolster our enthusiasm and effectiveness in the realm of resource management. We believe that by establishing joint efforts on truly integrated projects, we can make tangible progress toward improving, maintaining, and/or protecting our natural resources. We look forward to communicating our management philosophy, goals, and objectives to you through personal meetings and discussions, electronic media and in paper format, through updates to this and other public documents in the future. Sincerely, __________________________ __________________________ Ellen Barth, Leader Robin McLennan, Leader Upper Fox River Basin Land Team Upper Fox River Basin Water Team iii State of the Upper Fox Basin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/ The State of the Upper Fox Basin November 2001 A Report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Upper Fox River Basin Partnership Team PUBL WT-665-2001 iv State of the Upper Fox Basin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Preparation of the State of the Upper Fox River Basin plan was accomplished by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Upper Fox River Basin Land and Water Teams with support from its partnership group and WDNR field and central office staff in the Divisions of Land and Water. Many individuals contributed information, provided analysis, or assisted with the review process. Their help is much appreciated. Primary Author: Scott Provost Contributors: Linda Hyatt, Robin McLennan, Steve Fix, Brad Johnson, Kelley O’Connor, Ellen Barth, Dave Johnson, Shawn Eisch, Dave Bartz, Al Niebur, Nancy Cervantes, Tom Nigus, Ron Bruch, Art Techlow, Chad Cook, Mark Corbett, Tim Connolly, Bryan Ellefson, Jennifer Huffman, Kendall Kamke, Tim Lizotte, Kevin McKnight, Dave Misterek, Bob Olynk, Jennifer Pelczar, Mark Randall, Mike Reif, Bobbi Jo Reiser, Doug Rinzel, Kristy Rogers, Paul Samerdyke, Jim Savinski, Jim Schedgick, Mark Stanek, Dean Starks, Y Su, Kathy Sylvester, Art Techlow, Greg Tilkens, Jenna Tobias, Tom Vanden Elzen, Jim Holzwart, Lynne Tomlinson, and Mike Penning. Review: Robin McLennan, Ellen Barth, and Lisa Helmuth Editing: Robin McLennan, Ellen Barth, Greg Moeller, and Lisa Helmuth Mapping: Janel Pike, Kyle Burton, Scott Provost, Dean Starks, and Linda Hyatt Partnership Team Members: Lake Puckaway Rehabilitation District Green Lake Sanitary District Wisconsin Farm Bureau NRCS-Fond du Lac County Fox-Wolf Basin 2000 UW-Oshkosh WDNR-Upper Fox River Basin Team Adams County LWCD Marquette County LWCD Marquette County LCC Columbia County LWCD Waushara County LWCD Audubon Society Citizens At-Large Wisconsin Conservation Congress UW-Extension Basin Educator This publication was partially funded by 604(b) and 104(b) grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fulfill requirements of Areawide Water Quality Management Planning under Section 208 of the Clean Water Act and NR121 of Wisconsin's Administrative Code. This plan also serves as an implementation component of Wisconsin's Fisheries, Habitat and Wildlife Strategic Implementation Plan. Equal Opportunity Employer The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. This publication can be made available in alternative formats (large print, Braille, audio-tape, etc.) upon request. Please call L. Helmuth, 608-266-7768, for more information. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 This report can also be found on the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/index.htm v State of the Upper Fox Basin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/ TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... V TABLE OF CONTENTS..........................................................................................................................................VI MISSION STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES........................................... 1 STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN......................................................................................................................... 1 I. MAKING PEOPLE OUR STRENGTH............................................................................................................ 1 County Land and Water Plan Priorities.............................................................................................................................2 II. SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS .................................................................................................................. 4 Elements of an Ecosystem Based Management Philosophy..............................................................................................4 III. PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY................................................................................... 4 IV. PROVIDING OUTDOOR RECREATION............................................................................................. 4 Upper Fox Basin Public Recreation Goals ........................................................................................................................5 Public Lands in the Upper Fox Basin................................................................................................................................5 FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, AND HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WISCONSIN.................................... 6 OVERVIEW OF THE UPPER FOX RIVER BASIN............................................................................................... 7 LOCATION ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 ECOREGIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 GEOMORPHOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 7 SOILS....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Soils and Watersheds........................................................................................................................................... 9 Soils and Water Quality..................................................................................................................................... 11 GROUNDWATER................................................................................................................................................. 11 Quantity............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Quality............................................................................................................................................................... 13 WETLANDS.........................................................................................................................................................