Watershed - Lower Wolf River (WR04)
Lower Wolf River Watershed

Details

The Lower Wolf River watershed is 120 square miles and covers parts of Outagamie, Waupaca and Winnebago Counties. This includes a portion of the mainstem Wolf River from the junction with the Embarrass River to the mouth of the Waupaca River, including the lower portion to the Weyauwega millpond. The mainstem Wolf River flows within the watershed for about 19 miles and contains a diverse warm water sport fishery. Wetlands adjacent to the river provide excellent spawning grounds for these fish. Those portions of the watershed within Winnebago and Outagamie counties are in the Lower Fox River Designated Planning Area.

Date  2001

Nonpoint and Point Sources

There is one industrial point source discharger and one municipal point source discharger in the Lower Wolf River Watershed: Hillshire Farm Co. Div. Sara Lee Corp., and the City of New London.

Date  1996

Ecological Landscapes for Lower Wolf River Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The Lower Wolf River Watershed is located primarily in the Southeast Glacial Plains Ecological Landscape which makes up the bulk of the non-coastal land area in southeast Wisconsin. This Ecological Landscape is made up of glacial till plains and moraines. Most of this Ecological Landscape is composed of glacial materials deposited during the Wisconsin Ice Age, but the southwest portion consists of older, pre-Wisconsin till with a more dissected topography. Soils are lime-rich tills overlain in most areas by a silt-loam loess cap. Agricultural and residential interests throughout the landscape have significantly altered the historical vegetation. Most of the rare natural communities that remain are associated with large moraines or in areas where the Niagara Escarpment occurs close to the surface. Historically, vegetation in the Southeast Glacial Plains consisted of a mix of prairie, oak forests and savanna, and maple-basswood forests. Wet-mesic prairies, southern sedge meadows, emergent marshes, and calcareous fens were found in lower portions of the Landscape. End moraines and drumlins supported savannas and forests. Agricultural and urban land use practices have drastically changed the land cover of the Southeast Glacial Plains since Euro-American settlement. The current vegetation is primarily agricultural cropland. Remaining forests occupy only about 10% of the land area and consist of maple-basswood, lowland hardwoods, and oak. No large mesic forests exist today except on the Kettle Interlobate Moraine which has topography too rugged for agriculture. Some existing forest patches that were formerly savannas have succeeded to hardwood forest due to fire suppression.

Date  2010

Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Daggets Creek
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Fox River
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
7/1/2002
Waters Involved
Keller Lake
Status
Complete

Waupaca County: Acq-Keller Lake Land Acquisition: Waupaca County proposes to purchase 36 acres of unimproved property located adjacent to Keller Lake for conservancy purposes.

(The metes and bounds survey of this property indicates 57 acres of property, which includes acreage under Keller Lake: 21 acres. This entire purchase includes taking title of this 21 acres of lake bed. The valuation, however, does not include this 21 acres of lake bed because it has no value.)


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Lake Butte des Morts
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Spring Brook
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
5/5/1997
Waters Involved
Wolf River
Status
Complete

Butte Des Morts Conservation Club, Inc: Acq-Lake Butte Des Morts Land Acquisition-Molinski Property: The Butte des Morts Conservation Club will acquire approximately 1,183 acres of land, including 13,000 feet of shoreline, situated on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County to protect Lake Butte des Morts, and its fish and wildlife habitat. The property is primarily shallow marshland including cattails, sedges and grasses. It also includes 164 acres of upland containing trees and shrubs. The goals of the property's management plan focus on 1) the protection of the lake and the Winnebago Pool Watershed, 2) the protection and restoration of the property's plant communities and fish and wildlife habitat, and 3) allowing public access to the property for recreational purposes.


Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/1998
Waters Involved
Wolf River - Unnamed Horseshoe
Status
Complete

Wolf River Preservation Association: Lmi-Wolf River Erosion Control Project: The Wolf River Preservation Association proposes to conduct a project to restore two stream bank erosion areas extending a combined 1,000 linear feet along the main channel of the Wolf River. The project will reduce sediment loading, improve riparian habitat and provide potential fish spawning habitat.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
10/25/1993
Waters Involved
Keller Lake
Status
Complete

Waupaca County: Keller Lake Management Planning: Assemble and review existing information on the lake and its watershed to determine what additional information needs to be obtained on water quality and land use nutrient imputs. Conduct water quality monitoring for parameters and on schedule as described in the application. Conduct aquatic plant survey.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
7/20/1995
Waters Involved
Partridge Crop Lake
Status
Complete

Wolf River Preservation Association: Wolf River, Partridge Crop, Partridge Lake Mgmt Planning: Initiate development of a comprehensive management plan. Assess water quality status. Establish trend monitoring strategy. Identify sheet erosional areas.Characterize aquatic plant growth. Identify exotic species. Identify potential water use conflicts and safety concerns. Disseminate information to the public by newsletter mailings, video programs, public meetings, local newspaper articles anda comprehensive management plan.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
10/1/1998
Waters Involved
Partridge Lake
Status
Complete

Wolf River Preservation Association: Wolf River Water Clarity Study Phase 3: The Wolf River Preservation Association proposes to examine differences in percent contribution of algae, detritus, and sediment to total suspended solids concentration by mass during different months; and study the relationship between diurnal fluctuations in tirbidity and motorboat use levels and differences in motorboat impacts on turbidity by time of year. This project is the 3rd phase of studies which includes 3 lakes and the main stem of the Wolf River. Data from this study will be used to develop future recommendations for improving water clarity in Partridge Lake, Partridge Crop Lake, Cincoe Lake and the Wolf River. If a relationship is found between motorboat use and turbidity levels, management prescrpitions aimed at reducing the impact will be developed. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. The results of the study will be disseminated locally and to local and state government via community meetings and a written report.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
10/1/1996
Waters Involved
Wolf River
Status
Complete

Wolf River Preservation Association: Wolf River Watershed Management Planning - Phase 2: The Wolf River Preservation Association proposes to continue watershed management planning activities. Phase 2 project activities include continuing water quality monitoring, conducting a recreational use survey, continuing to assess erosional areas, continuing to identify exotic species, and preparation of a report summarizing the data collected and analyses performed. The sponsor will provide the Department of Natural Resources with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the report. Information about the results of phase 2 activities will be disseminated to the public by newsletter, fact sheet, public meeting, and local newspaper article.


Grant Details
Targeted Runoff - Rural Construction
Date
1/1/2015
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Outagamie County: Wagenson Farms: This grant provides funding and authorizes cost-share reimbursement by the department for the above named project as described in the grant application submitted for calendar year 2015 for the eligible best management practices listed below to address nonpoint sources of pollution. The cost-share reimbursement rate will be up to 70 % of the actual eligible installation costs, to the maximum amount contained in Part 2. Cost-share agreements (CSAs), with the appropriate operation and maintenance requirements, must be signed with any landowner involved if work is to be performed on privately owned land.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2002
Waters Involved
Little Wolf River
Status
Complete

Ne Wisconsin Land Trust: Little Wolf Headwaters Protection & Restoration Project: Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust (NEWLT) proposes to build a partnership to protect and restore critical resources of the Little Wolf River Headwaters Ecosystem of Waupaca and eastern Portage Counties in collaboration with other organizations, individuals, government units and agencies. They will employ the land protection tools developed by NEWLT to secure permanent protections of, and improvements to, water quality in the Little Wolf River. They will develop a community-based approach to river protection through critical land protection. Specifically, NEWLT will: 1.) Develop partnerships and capacity through a collaborative, community-based approach to resource conservation, 2.) Develop a plan for protection of critical land in the project area, 3.) Develop, produce and use outreach materials and methods to support the goals of the project, and 4.) Raise funds for implementation of land protection plan.

The Department of Natural Resources will be provided with both a paper and electronic copy of the final report.


Grant Details
River Planning Grant
Date
7/1/2006
Waters Involved
Wolf River
Status
Complete

Waupaca Co. Natural Resources Foundation: Wolf River Conservation Alliance Organization Development: The Waupaca County Natural Resources Foundation proposes to organize the Wolf River Conservation Alliance. The Alliance will be a coalition of non-governmental organizations with interests in land conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education related to protecting and improving the health of the Wolf River and protecting and restoring land in the areas known as the Wolf River Bottomlands. Specifically, the organization will conduct a formal organizational assessment, assist in local strategy development by supporting the development of a citizen-led site conservation planning process, and finally, develop a sustainable leadership structure in order to establish a method of operation for the Alliance. The project elements and deliverables will be completed as described in the project proposal submitted to the Department and dated May 1, 2006.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Lower Wolf River Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County NOD
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: install permanent best management practices to address discharges from the landower's operation.
9/19/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Little Wolf River - Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system; a manure storage system closure; diversions; underground outlets; a waste transfer system; and a milking center waste control systems.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Little Wolf River - Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system; a barnyard runoff control system; roof runoff systems; a waste transfer system; and a milking center waste control systems.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Apple Creek Watershed Large-scale TRM
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of the Apple Creek Watershed and was funded by the 319 grant.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction BMPs
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system; heavy use area protection; roof runoff systems; subsurface drains; and wastewater treatment strips.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Pigeon Lake - Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system; a manure storage system closure; a waste transfer system; and a milking center waste control systems.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Winnebago County Stormwater Quality Modeling Update
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; other new ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; and an updated storm water management plan for part of the developed urban area.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction BMPs
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system, a waste transfer system, and a milking center waste control system to remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County - Upper Duck Creek TMDL Implementation
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: critical area stabilization, filter strips, grade stabilization, cover and green manure cropping, residue management, riparian buffers, waterway systems, and water and sediment control systems to remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff entering waters of the state and address the following NR 151 Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions:sheet, rill, and wind erosion; tillage setback; and phosphorus index.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca Wellhead Protection - Animal Waste Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system, roofing, and barnyard runoff control system to remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure management project.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction BMPs
Date
Status
Outagamie County Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction BMPs
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Farm BMPs
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system and a waste transfer system to remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Maple Creek - Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system, a barnyard runoff control system, diversions, a waste transfer system, and a milking center waste control system to remedy discharges of manure, sediment and phosphorus in runoff.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Notice of Discharge
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will provide 70% cost-sharing to the grantee to assist landowner(s) / operator(s) in addressing the sources of direct runoff to an unnamed tributary of the Black River, as cited in the Notice of Discharge.
5/23/2016
In Progress
Projects
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County Beef Farm BMPs
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system, a barnyard runoff control system, roof runoff systems, underground outlets, a waste transfer system, and wastewater treatment strips.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Waupaca County Manure Management
Date
Status
This project is a landowner installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: a manure storage system, a barnyard runoff control system, diversions, roof runoff systems, underground outlets, a waste transfer system, and a milking center waste control system.
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Outagamie County - Plum & Kankapot Creeks
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant.
1/1/2015
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Best Management Practices, Implement
Greenville - Rain Garden Retrofits
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will implement: rain garden retrofits.
1/1/2015
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Control Streambank Erosion
Garners Creek - Buchanan Road Stream Restoration
Date
Status
Garners Creek - Buchanan Road Stream Restoration
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Harrison - Stormwater Planning
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin?s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: other new ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; development and implementation of a new financing mechanism for funding the storm water program; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and a new storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Omro - Stormwater Management Plan Update
Date
Status
This project promotes nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Storm water planning activities will be undertaken by the municipality and will result in the following products: updated construction erosion control ordinance; updated storm water ordinance for new development and re-development; other updated ordinances that affect runoff from the developed urban area; updated storm water management plan for the entire developed urban area; and a new storm water management plan for new development.
1/1/2018
In Progress
Projects
 
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Commerce Court Pond Expansion and Storm Sewer Installation
Date
Status
Commerce Court Pond Expansion and Storm Sewer Installation
1/1/2016
In Progress
Projects
Documents
 
Lower Wolf River WatershedWatershed History Note