Winnebago
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Neenah Slough is a unique system in which it can be characterized as a stream, lake and marsh. Muck, silt and detritus are the major bottom materials along with some gravel, sand and debris. The slough is one of the major northern pike spawning areas adjacent to Little Lake Butte des Morts. Other fish known to be present include sucker, carp, bullhead, freshwater drum, perch and white bass. Both summer and winter fish kills have occurred. The land use near the headwaters of Neenah Slough is mainly agricultural with severe development pressures (Techlow 1998). The stream is impacted by storm sewer discharge, which carries high levels of polluted sediments. Winnebago County has worked with landowners near the headwaters of the Neenah Slough to restore wetland areas (Neu 1998). Migrating waterfowl utilize these wetlands as resting and feeding areas.
Bougie, Cheryl A. 1999. Lower Fox River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Public Review Draft. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1999
Author Cheryl Bougie
Historical Description
Neenah Slough, T20N, R17E, Section 21 (14), Area = 12.0 acres, Length = 4.5 miles, Gradient = 4.0 feet/mile.
Neenah Slough is unique as it has characteristics of a stream, lake and marsh. Nearly the entire slough is lined with a mat of vegetation consisting of arrowhead, pickerel weed, and cattail. Muck, silt and detritus are major bottom materials along with gravel, sand, debris and trash. The slough is one of the major northern pike spawning areas adjacent to Little Lake Butte des Morts. Other fish known to be present include sucker, carp, bullhead, drum, perch and white bass. Aquatic vegetation provides most in-stream cover. The slough supports a significant population of muskrats.
Nesting mallards, blue-winged teal, and migrant puddle ducks use the area. Once a well known hunting and fishing area, Neenah Slough has been dredged and polluted until it is no longer capable of supporting this type of recreation. Both winter and summer fishkills have occurred. Pollutants of various types enter from several paper mills, a dairy, and a foundry. Drainage and filling of adjacent marsh lands has further hastened destruction of this stream. Public access is provided by several city street crossings, one federal highway, and one county highway. Navigable water access via Litte Lake Butte des Morts is also available.
From: 1975. Surface Water Resources of Winnebago County: Lake and Stream Classification Project.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.
Date 1975
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Neenah Slough, from its mouth at the Fox River upstream to Breezewood Lane (miles 0 to 2.77), has been impaired since 1998 for PCBs in fish tissue, total phosphorus, and low dissolved oxygen. This segment of Neenah Slough was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2012 to 2022; the phosphorus listing was confirmed. Temperature, chloride, fish, and bug data indicated good conditions. This water is part of the Lower Fox River TP & TSS TMDL that was approved by the EPA in 2012.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Neenah Slough, from Menasha Corp. effluent ditch to Woodenshoe Road (miles 3.55 to 6.12), has been impaired since 1998 for PCBs in fish tissue, total phosphorus, and low dissolved oxygen. During the 2020 cycle degraded biological community was also identified. This water is part of the Lower Fox River TP & TSS TMDL that was approved by the EPA in 2012.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Neenah Slough, from Breezewood Lane to Menasha Corp. effluent ditch (miles 2.77 to 3.55), has been impaired since 1998 for PCBs in fish tissue, total phosphorus, and low dissolved oxygen. This water is part of the Lower Fox River TP & TSS TMDL that was approved by the EPA in 2012.
Date 2014
Author Aquatic Biologist
Condition
Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.
Reports
Recommendations
Navigability Determination
19N 17E S7; Neenah Slough; extension of previous determin
Navigability Determination
20N 17E S33; Neenah Slough;
Navigability Determination
S31, T20N R17E ; Neenah Slough; extension of previous determin
Navigability Determination
19N 17E S6; Neenah Slough; extension of previous determin
Navigability Determination
19N 16E S13; Neenah Slough, unnamed trib; extension of previous determin
Navigability Determination
T20N R17E; Neenah Slough;
Navigability Determination
SE S11 T19N R16E; Neenah Slough ;
Navigability Determination
19N 16E S6; Neenah Slough, unnamed trib; 10/15/01 confirm nav Lancaster
Navigability Determination
19N 17E S18; Fox River, unnamed trib;
Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
Neenah Slough and Mud Creek are highly impacted urban streams that are listed on the State's list of impaired waters for Total Phosphorous, Total Suspended Sediment, Chlorides, and PCBs. East District Biologists propose to monitor Mud Creek and Neenah Slough which will complete the assessments within the remaining two HUC 12's in the Lower Fox River Basin that have not had contemporary water quality data collected.
Monitor Fish Tissue
130800 name Neenah Slough TMDL ID 308 Start Mile 0 End Mile 2.77
Monitor Fish Tissue
130800 name Neenah Slough TMDL ID 308 Start Mile 2.77 End Mile 3.54
Monitor Fish Tissue
130800 name Neenah Slough TMDL ID 308 Start Mile 3.55 End Mile 6.12
Management Goals
Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable
Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.
Monitoring
Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.
Grants and Management Projects
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 130800 | Neenah Slough | 10048429 | Neenah Slough 10m US Woodenshoe Rd | 5/23/2017 | 10/11/2017 | Map | Data |
| 130800 | Neenah Slough | 10048138 | Neenah Slough 10m DS CTH G | 5/9/2017 | 8/1/2023 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Neenah Slough is located in the Little Lake Butte des Morts watershed which is 43.77 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily suburban (32.90%), agricultural (23%) and a mix of urban (22.50%) and other uses (21.50%). This watershed has 60.88 stream miles, 74.47 lake acres and 848.70 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.