Brown, Outagamie County, Wisconsin
LF01, LF02, LF03, LF04
117900
7.39 - 32.18
24.79
Water is impaired due to one or more pollutants and associated quality impacts.
Notes
This portion of the Fox River is listed for PCBs in fish tissue. Evaluation of phosphorus in the 2016 cycle found levels exceeding criteira and this listing was added. New water quality data reviewed in the 2018 and 2024 cycles showed elevated phosphorus.Pollutant
PCBs
Listed For
Fish Consumption
Impairments
PCBs Contaminated Fish Tissue
Current Use
Specific Restricted Fish Consumption
Listing Status
303d Listed
Attainable Use
General Fish Consumption Advice
Priority
Low
Designated Use
General Fish Consumption Advice
303(d) ID
150
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
This impairment listing may become a 4B (EAP Project) for the 2020 list if the project qualifies.
Date
3/26/2018
Impaired Water Notes
Note: Internal tracking lists EAP but still considered Category 5A
Date
4/1/2008
Impaired Water Notes
“As many as 360 different chemicals have been found in the water, sediments, fish and wildlife of the Lower Fox River. These chemicals include PCBs, dioxins, furans, mercury, ammonia, DDT and other pesticides (see table on page 6 for more information on these chemicals). The Lower Fox River, which flows northeast for about 39 miles from Lake Winnebago at Neenah-Menasha to the river’s mouth at Green Bay, contributes more PCBs to Green Bay and Lake Michigan than any other source.... An estimated 63,000 pounds of the PCBs previously discharged remain in the Lower Fox River. Most of them are downstream of the De Pere dam. An even larger quantity has passed through the Lower Fox River to Green Bay, Lake Michigan and beyond. Results of the intensive “Mass Balance” study conducted by the DNR and EPA in 1989 showed that about 160,000 pounds of PCBs have already found their way into Green Bay from the Lower Fox. It also showed that about 620 pounds of PCBs enter the bay from the river each year.” p. 2 & Figures below p. 4 & 5
Excerpt from: “Draft Studies Completed on Cleanup of PCBs in Lower Fox River Sediments” WDNR Summary Fact Sheet 3/1999
Available at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/documents/rifs/foxrivercleanup.pdf
Date
1/15/2008
Pollutant
Total Phosphorus
Listed For
Fish and Aquatic Life
Impairments
Low DO
Current Use
Unsupported Aquatic Life
Listing Status
TMDL Approved
Attainable Use
WWSF - Warmwater Sport Fishery
Priority
Not Applicable
Designated Use
WWSF - Warmwater Sport Fishery
303(d) ID
150
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
According to the WDNR 303 (d) list, the water quality of Lower Green Bay and the Fox River is impaired due to phosphorus and PCBs (WDNR, 2005). Phosphorus and TSS are the pollutants of concern for this framework. Even though suspended solids are not listed as a pollutant that impairs designated uses for the lower Fox River and the bay, ample research demonstrates that both TSS and phosphorous affect water quality (Harris, 1993; Millard & Sager, 1994). p. 18
Scheberle, D., H.J. Harris, M. Finney, J. Potter, S. Oldenburg, P. Dessart. no date. Toward a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Phosphorus and Suspended Solids: The Lower Fox River Basin and Green Bay Area of Concern
Date
1/15/2008
Impaired Water Notes
The Lower Fox River Basin TP and TSS TMDL was approved by the U.S. EPA on May 18, 2012. The TMDL covers 27 waterbody segments impaired by total phosphorus and 18 waterbodies impaired by TSS for a total of 45 TMDLs. These TMDLs address degraded habitat, low Dissolved Oxygen (DO), eutrophication, and turbidity impairments.
Date
5/25/2012
Impaired Water Notes
This water was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, available biological data do not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category).
Date
10/2/2015