Watershed - Walla Walla and Alder Creeks (WR03)
Walla Walla and Alder Creeks Watershed

Details

The Walla Walla and Alder Creek Watershed (locally known as Walla Walla Creek Watershed) lies in portions of Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago Counties on the northwest shore of Lake Poygan. Those portions of the watershed within Winnebago County are in the Lower Fox River Designated Planning Area. The Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan rated this watershed a high priority due to critical animal waste problems and soil loss. The Wolf River Basin Plan data indicates polluted runoff problems with excess vegetation and habitat deterioration. Approximately 20 percent of the watershed (in the western part) is highly susceptible to groundwater contamination (WDNR and WGNHS, 1987).

Date  2001

Nonpoint and Point Sources

The Village of Fremont is the only point source discharger in the Walla Walla and Alder Creek Watershed. The 97 square-mile watershed is ranked number one in the Waupaca County Animal Waste Management Plan for concerns over both surface and groundwater. A substantial number of medium to high priority barnyard/feedlot operations exist in the Waushara County portion, with many of these draining directly into Lake Poygan via man-made ditches. In the Winnebago County portion, three barnyard/feedlot operations were ranked as critical polluted runoff pollution hazards, one was ranked as high priority; three as medium priority. Average soil erosion rates are 3.1 tons per acre per year in Waupaca County, 3.5 tons per acre per year in Waushara County, and 2.0-3.0 tons per acre per year in Winnebago County. This watershed drains directly to Lake Poygan and is likely to affect lake water quality during storms.

Date  1996