Project Detail

Lake Winnebago East PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan

Purpose

Lake Winnebago is a highly eutrophic lake caused to a large degree from excessive nutrient and sediment loading from urban and rural nonpoint sources. Excessive algal growth have reduced sunlight penetration which negatively impacts rooted aquatic plants. The loss of those plants further impacts other forms of life dependent upon them including aquatic insects, fish, waterfowl and other wildlife. The present lake habitat favors an unbalanced fish community and reduces fish diversity. Serious nitrate contamination of groundwater is not a widespread problem in the Lake Winnebago East Watershed. Well water samples obtained as part of the rural land use inventory and other well water sampling studies do reveal however, that groundwater is being contaminated from nitrogen-containing materials in 27-42% of the samples obtained. Fecal coliform bacteria have also been detected in 25% of well water samples from certain areas of the watershed. The Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Lake Winnebago East Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resource objectives for Lake Winnebago and its tributaries. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of pollutants originating from nonpoint sources that reach surface water and groundwater within the Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project area.

Objective

The primary objective of the project is to reduce nonpoint source pollution to the surface water and groundwater, and to enhance and protect the water quality of streams in the Lake Winnebago East Watershed.

Outcome

To improve water quality in Lake Winnebago and the tributary streams, this plan calls for: 1) A 50% reduction in the sediment reaching Lake Winnebago 2) A 50-70% reduction in nonpoint source phosphorus loading to the watershed streams is needed to reduce the nutrients which cause excessive weed and algae growth in Lake Winnebago 3) For the City of Fond du Lac, urban nonpoint source reduction level targets have been established: a. A 50% reduction in the sediment reaching Lake Winnebago, b. A 0-60% reduction of the 1990 heavy metal load (as measured in zinc or copper) to reduce the potential of violating the state water quality standards in the stormwater from existing urban areas (the percent reduction varies for each stormwater drainage basin), c. A 45-60% reduction in the heavy metal load (as measured in zinc or copper) from the City's planned urban growth area to reduce the potential of violating the state water quality standards in this stormwater.

Study Design

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/nonpoint/documents/9kep/expired/LakeWinnebagoEast.pdf

Project Type

Water Quality Planning

Project Sub Type

Priority Watershed Plan

Project ID

NKE54

Year Started

1994

Status

Complete

Reports and Documents

Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project

The Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Lake Winnebago East Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resource objectives for Lake Winnebago and its tributaries. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of pollutants originating from nonpoint sources that reach surface water and groundwater within the Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project area.https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/nonpoint/documents/9kep/expired/LakeWinnebagoEast.pdf

Activities & Recommendations

Nine Key Element Plan

Lake Winnebago East PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Lake Winnebago East Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resource objectives for Lake Winnebago and its tributaries. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of pollutants originating from nonpoint sources that reach surface water and groundwater within the Lake Winnebago East Priority Watershed Project area.

Watershed

Waters

Purpose

Objective

Outcome

Study Design

Related Reports