Fond Du Lac
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Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
The Fond du Lac River (WBIC 133700) is formed by the juncture of the East and West Branches of the Fond du Lac River in the City of Fond du Lac. It flows approximately two miles to Lake Winnebago. It is a completely urban waterway whose pollutant load includes the urban and rural loading of the East and West Branches. There are a number of industries either along the river or nearby which contribute stormwater runoff. Fond du Lac River water was used as background control water during bioassay monitoring done at the Galloway West Company (currently Saputo Cheese USA, Inc.) facility in Fond du Lac. Organisms in the control water failed the chronic toxicity test indicated there may be some problem with water quality in the river. Additional monitoring will be done to try to determine if this “failure” of the chronic toxicity test was an anomaly or if nonpoint sources of pollution are causing the problem (WDNR SCR-Files, 1996).
Date 2011
Author Michael Reif
Impaired Waters
Fond du Lac River (133700) was added to the impaired waters list in 1998 for contamination by unspecified metals and PCBs. In 2012 the river was also listed for total phosphorus. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use, however, no biological data (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) were available to assess biological impairment. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
T16N R16E & T16N R17E; West Branch Fond du Lac River;
Water Quality Planning
This project will evaluate water quality improvements made in the Fond Du Lac River Watershed from Best Management Practices installed in the watershed from 1997 through 2008 as part of the Fond Du Lac River Priority Watershed Project. [TWA HUC 10-0403020302 FDL]
Monitor Targeted Watershed Area (TWA)
This project will evaluate water quality improvements made in the Fond Du Lac River Watershed from Best Management Practices installed in the watershed from 1997 through 2008 as part of the Fond Du Lac River Priority Watershed Project. [TWA HUC 10-0403020302 FDL]
Aquatic Invasive Species Removal
Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the watershed.
Educate and engage residents
Educate and work with land owners to reduce phosphorus and sediment runoff.
Nine Key Element Plan
Fond du Lac River PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The Fond du Lac River Watershed ranked as a high priority for surface water concerns and a medium priority for groundwater concerns in the Upper Fox River Water Quality Management Plan. The project compliments the Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan in addressing pollutant load reductions to Lake Winnebago.
Restore Wetlands
Identify opportunities for wetland restoration and reestablishment.
Best Management Practices, Implement
Work with farmers to implement cover crops to reduce cropland erosion during late fall and spring.
Rivers Planning Grant
Work with external partners on opportunities to compete for River Planning and Protection Grants to improve water quality.
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Identify and reduce sediment and nutrient loads from agricultural and urban sources.
Nutrient Budget Development
Prioritize highest sources of pollutants.
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 |
|---|
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 168 | Fond Du Lac River - Mouth | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 10037884 | Fond du Lac River 60FT S OF JOHNSON ST BRIDGE LEFT BANK SEDIMENTS | 2/9/1990 | 2/9/1990 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 10002452 | Fond Du Lac River West Branch - R 05 Fond Du Lac | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203031 | Fond Du Lac River West Branch - Fond Du Lac 007 Marys-Ruggles St | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203124 | Fond Du Lac River at Confluence-Main R And Supple Marsh Chanl | 10/5/2000 | 10/5/2000 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203121 | Fond Du Lac R at Johnson Str Upstr Of St. Adj. To Mgp And 16' Off Rdb | 10/5/2000 | 10/5/2000 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 10002460 | Fond Du Lac River - 10 Bel Jhnsn St | 9/4/2003 | 10/29/2018 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203055 | Fond Du Lac River - A Sth 45 Fonddulac | 9/13/2014 | 9/13/2014 | Map | Data |
| 131100 | Lake Winnebago | 10019312 | Lake Winnebago -- Fond Du Lac - Lakeside West Park - Supple Marsh | 4/29/2007 | 9/24/2023 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 10045490 | Phragmites Occurrence - Lake Winnebago - Lakeside West Park - Supple Marsh | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203050 | Fond Du Lac River - Sadoff-Ruday Ind Fond Du Lac 001 | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203029 | Fond Du Lac River - Fond Du Lac 005 Portage-Seymour | | | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203090 | Fond Du Lac River at Arndt St | 10/10/1989 | 12/15/1997 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 203122 | Fond Du Lac River at RR Bridge/Upstr across frm S | 10/5/2000 | 10/5/2000 | Map | Data |
| 133700 | Fond Du Lac River | 10022877 | Fond Du Lac River At W. Arndt St. USGS Site ID 04083545 | 4/1/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Fond Du Lac River is located in the Fond du Lac River watershed which is 244.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (15.90%) and a mix of wetland (10.90%) and other uses (16.00%). This watershed has 461.86 stream miles, 991.41 lake acres and 16,649.99 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.