Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning

Purpose

Watershed plan update started in 2014. The Middle Fox River Watershed is the largest of the Fox River Basin watersheds (248 square miles), encompassing portions of Racine and Waukesha Counties, along with a very small portion of Walworth County. Portions of the Cities of Burlington, Muskego, New Berlin and Waukesha lie within the watershed, along with the Villages of Big Bend, Mukwonago, North Prairie, Rochester, Wales and Waterford. Land cover in the watershed is primarily rural, with agricultural (41%). Other rural uses include grasslands (18%), wetlands (14%) and forests (13%). Urban areas comprise nearly four percent of the land cover in the watershed . It is recommended that dam removal and habitat improvements be implemented to improve existing conditions. Where practical, habitat restoration and buffer implementation should be employed to provide multiple benefits including bank stabilization, water quality, fisheries, reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading.

Study Design

Watershed specified for planning and assessment purposes. Assessment of water quality condition in this respective county will use protocols described in WisCALM of the year of assessment. Minimum assessment work includes biological data (macroinvertebrates, fish indices), chemistry and habitat data. Additional work includes identification of priorities and goals, creating recommendations for actions, and updating narratives for watersheds and waterbodies. Assessments are to be double checked by at least one additional biologist.

Related Reports

Run Project Summary Report
View Umbrella-Projects
View Related-Projects

Water Quality Planning
Targeted Watershed Plans
FX04_WTPLAN
2013
Active
 
Reports and Documents
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning PRWs 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning Land Use 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning Dams and Outfalls 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning Basemap 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning Wetlands 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning Trout Streams 2013
Middle Fox River (FX04) Watershed Planning OERW 2013
Assessment package for watershed planning.
 
Activities & Recommendations
Water Quality Planning
The Middle Fox River Watershed is the largest of the Fox River Basin watersheds (248 square miles), encompassing portions of Racine and Waukesha Counties, along with a very small portion of Walworth County. Portions of the Cities of Burlington, Muskego, New Berlin and Waukesha lie within the watershed, along with the Villages of Big Bend, Mukwonago, North Prairie, Rochester, Wales and Waterford. Land cover in the watershed is primarily rural, with agricultural (41%). Other rural uses include grasslands (18%), wetlands (14%) and forests (13%). Urban areas comprise nearly four percent of the land cover in the watershed . No streams in the watershed are listed on the 303(d) list. The main impacts to streams in this watershed include agricultural, development, sedimentation, channelization, elevated temperatures and stormwater runoff. It is recommended that dam removal and habitat improvements be implemented to improve existing conditions. Where practical, habitat restoration and buffer implementation should be employed to provide multiple benefits including bank stabilization, water quality, fisheries, reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading.
Dam Safety or Removal
It is recommended that dam removal and habitat improvements be implemented to improve existing conditions. Where practical, habitat restoration and buffer implementation should be employed to provide multiple benefits including bank stabilization, water quality, fisheries, reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading.
TMDL Actions in Wisconsin
Dam Safety or Removal
The Middle Fox River Watershed is the largest of the Fox River Basin watersheds (248 square miles), encompassing portions of Racine and Waukesha Counties, along with a very small portion of Walworth County. Portions of the Cities of Burlington, Muskego, New Berlin and Waukesha lie within the watershed, along with the Villages of Big Bend, Mukwonago, North Prairie, Rochester, Wales and Waterford. Land cover in the watershed is primarily rural, with agricultural (41%). Other rural uses include grasslands (18%), wetlands (14%) and forests (13%). Urban areas comprise nearly four percent of the land cover in the watershed . No streams in the watershed are listed on the 303(d) list. The main impacts to streams in this watershed include agricultural, development, sedimentation, channelization, elevated temperatures and stormwater runoff. It is recommended that dam removal and habitat improvements be implemented to improve existing conditions. Where practical, habitat restoration and buffer implementation should be employed to provide multiple benefits including bank stabilization, water quality, fisheries, reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading.
 
Watershed
 
Waters