project - Green Bay Waterfront

Tell us where and how you use the waterways!

On: January 15, 2024

In: 2023, erosion, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, Lake, Lake Management, Lake Winnebago, lwcd, phosphorus, phosphorus removal, project, recreation map, recreational use, restoration, Stream, streambank, survey, Water quality, Watershed Project, wetland, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways, Wisconsin, wwpHomeProject

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is implementing conservation projects to protect our waters for future generations. Help us prioritize future restoration projects and strengthen funding requests by telling us how you enjoy the lakes!

Please be specific – we are interested in the areas you use the most (we are looking to improve your spots, not steal them!). The map will be made public but your name will not be tied to the points you add.

To get started, please click the button “Take the Survey Now!” or use the QR Code on the right.

Once on the map, click the “Edit” icon located on the upper left corner underneath the search bar. The icon looks like a list with a pencil. Select the type of activity that you would like to add, then click on the map where you do this activity to add it.

Add as many points as you’d like, keeping in mind we are interested in the areas most important to YOU. Adding an area that covers a whole lake is not as helpful as adding three points of the areas you fish the most and the boat launch you use to access it.

If you enjoy our waters in a way not listed, please select the most similar activity or select “other”, and add a description of the activity in the notes.

Thank you for your help and participation!

Take the Survey Now!

Contact Katie R with any questions or concerns at katherine@fwwa.org

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Tell us where and how you use the waterways! appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/15/recreationsurvey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recreationsurvey

Katie Reed

Prioritizing stabilization projects using streambank erosion inventories in the Fox-Wolf River Basin

On: January 11, 2024

In: 2023, erosion, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, habitat, Lake, Lake Management, Lake Winnebago, lwcd, phosphorus, phosphorus removal, project, restoration, Stream, streambank, Water quality, Watershed Project, wetland, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways, Wisconsin, wwpHomeProject

Project Overview

In 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Upper Fox and Wolf River (UFW). A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can absorb and still meet water quality. The TMDL was utilized in the creation of the EPA’s Nine Key Elements (9KE). Within the 9KE there is a requirement for reductions in pollution to meet water quality goals. The goals within this plan are to reduce Total Phosphorus (TP) which also relates to the reduction of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) such as erosion and flooding.

Approximately 34% of the reduction from the TMDL needs to come from the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area with 51% of that reduction assigned to agriculture. Alteration in farming practices and structural changes will help make reductions.

Currently, a missing piece in the TMDL and draft 9KE plan is streambank erosion. Streambank erosion is lumped in with agricultural loading estimates and required reductions in the TMDL. In some watersheds, we anticipate streambank erosion being a significant contributor to the total TMDL agricultural load. We need to inventory the streambanks in each HUC12 so that we can estimate potential TP/TSS reductions that could come from stabilizing streambanks to stop streambank erosion and to prioritize project locations. Stabilizing streambanks would be paired with efforts to increase infiltration on the land to reduce the volume and rate of flow that damages streambanks during storm events.

For this project, we will begin by completing streambank inventories in the four highest loading HUC12s located within the WWRA. The pollutant load from these HUC12s significantly contributes to water quality impairments of the streams within each HUC12, the Winnebago Lakes, and Lake Michigan. In addition to providing loading estimates from streambank erosion, this project also seeks to identify and prioritize potential locations for future restoration projects to help reduce nutrient loading and protect or enhance existing habitat. Going forward, this project will serve as a template for completing future streambank inventories for the remaining 28 HUC12s located in the WWRA.

Target HUC12 Subwatersheds in the 2023 Streambank Erosion Inventory

HUC12 to be Inventoried HUC12 Code Stream Miles

Town of Dale-Rat River 040202022102 60

Eldorado Marsh-Fond Du Lac River 040302020204 63

Lake Poygan – Willow Creek 040302022006 88

Pipe Creek – Frontal Lake Winnebago 040302020303 91

Project Timeline

In the Spring of 2023, a method was developed using GIS to determine streambanks to be physically inventoried as they are representative of the HUC12 they are located in. The method developed has been recorded in SOP#1: Streambank Erosion Inventory Desktop Review so it can be duplicated.

Fieldwork was accomplished in the summer of 2023. Streambank information from the desktop review was utilized to complete a physical inventory of these sections.

December 2023 – February 2024: Streambank Inventory Data Analysis was developed along with the extrapolation. These tools will allow an estimation of sediment loss and load & phosphorus loss and load for an entire watershed.

Project Funding & Partners

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Prioritizing stabilization projects using streambank erosion inventories in the Fox-Wolf River Basin appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/01/11/streambank-inventory/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=streambank-inventory

Katie Reed

Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop June 17th, 2023

On: May 23, 2023

In: Barrel, Bay of Green Bay, build, community, Event, Event - FWWA, EVENT - NEWSC, Fox-Wolf Basin, Green Bay, Keepers of the Fox, Keepers of the Fox Event, NEW Water, NEWSC, northeast wisconsin, opportunity, Outreach and Education, project, rain, rain barrel, stormwater, Upper Fox River, Urban Stormwater, Watershed Project, Workshop

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/05/23/build-your-own-rain-barrel-workshop-june-17th-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=build-your-own-rain-barrel-workshop-june-17th-2023

Alyssa Reinke

Trash Free Waters & Oshkosh North Communities Students Partner for Litter Prevention

On: April 26, 2023

In: 2023, communities, fishing, fishing line, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, litter, Litter Prevention, oshkosh, Oshkosh North High School, Outreach and Education, project, receptacles, Students, trash, trash free waters, Upper Fox River, Urban Stormwater, Volunteer Spotlight, volunteers, Winnebago County

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance has partnered with Oshkosh North Communities students for several years. Our previous projects included a kayak cleanup of Miller’s Bay, shoreline restoration plant maintenance, and a cleanup of Asylum Point Park. When we were contacted earlier this year to continue this partnership, we jumped at the chance to work with students on a litter prevention effort. The plan was to have Communities students build and install fishing line receptacles at public fishing locations in the greater Oshkosh area.

Fishing line left as litter in our watershed has devastating effects on wildlife and can become entangled and difficult to remove. Fishing line receptacles offer anglers the opportunity to properly dispose of their used fishing line before it becomes a problem in the environment. These containers also bring awareness to a major litter issue in our lakes and rivers.

Seven students chose the Eco Pod consisting of three earth-friendly projects, including the pollution prevention project with Trash Free Waters. Kelly Reyer who runs the Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf, met with the students several times throughout the semester, setting a project schedule and helping to coordinate with the Winnebago County Parks Department.

The students researched the best receptacle design, created a budget, submitted their budget request, and bought the needed supplies, and then worked together to built three receptacles. The three receptacles were installed at:

Asylum Point Park
Ken Robl Conservation Park
Butte des Morts Landing

The Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is proud to work with Oshkosh North High School Communities students on this litter prevention project. Thank you to the students, Sawyer, Blake, Shawn, Hammza, Katie, Keira, and Emily.

A quote from Katie Wetterau, Oshkosh North High School Communities Student:

“Fishing line is not biodegradable. When the monofilament is left in our waterways it stays there for hundreds of years harming the environment and its wildlife. For the future that I and many other children will grow up in, I am glad to have made an impact to help our earth with our partner Kelly Reyer from Trash Free Waters.”

A celebration of the project took place at Asylum Point Park on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 in the afternoon. In attendance were school officials, family members, other Communities students, project partners, and local TV media. The students shared their experience working on this project and were interviewed about their experience by both WLUK Fox-11 and WBAY TV-2.

Here are links to both TV news stories:

Trash Free Waters is a program of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance that works to prevent and reduce trash and litter on our lands and in our waters through targeted campaigns, cleanup events, and outreach and education.

The mission of the Oshkosh North High School communities program is to create a better community through content, communication, collaboration, commitment, creative thinking, and critical thinking.

To learn more about our Fox-Wolf’s Trash Free Waters program, visit: www.trashfreewaters.org or contact Kelly Reyer – 920-915-1502 or kelly@fwwa.org.

The post Trash Free Waters & Oshkosh North Communities Students Partner for Litter Prevention appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/fishing-line-receptacle-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fishing-line-receptacle-project

Kelly Reyer

Volunteers needed – Wetland Restoration Planting

On: April 19, 2023

In: Agriculture, ducks, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, habitat, harbor, kalbus, lwcd, planting, project, restoration, team snw, volunteer, volunteer opportunity, Water quality, wetland, Winnebago, Winnebago County, Winnebago Waterways, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, WWA

We are looking for 10-15 volunteers to help plant 2,720 plant plugs for a wetland restoration on the west side of Lake Winnebago.

Volunteers are needed May 5th, 6th, and possibly 7th at Kalbus Country Harbor in Oshkosh. Each day will start at 9:00 am. Volunteers are welcome to volunteer as much or as little as available.

To sign up, please contact John by May 1st at: 920-426-0062 (via text or call) or email kalbuscamping@gmail.com

We will have some tools available, but recommend bringing what you prefer to use with you, dress for the weather, and be prepared to get dirty. For those who sign-up, John will follow up with additional details.

Read more about the Kalbus restoration project: CLICK HERE

KALBUS PROJECT WEBSITE