Politics
Lower Green Bay Fox River AOC Sediment Remediation Involves Local Governments in Cleanup Spending
Green Bay residents may see shifts in municipal service costs as city and county leaders coordinate on AOC projects along the Fox River and Lower Green Bay.
How we reported this
The Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern program requires ongoing sediment cleanup and pollution reduction work that pulls in Green Bay area municipalities, with potential effects on local government spending that reaches household budgets through taxes and fees.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources designated the area in 1987 under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. A 1988 Remedial Action Plan and 1993 update identified 11 confirmed beneficial use impairments tied to PCB and PAH contaminated sediment, poor water quality, and lost fish and wildlife habitat in the final seven miles of the Fox River below the De Pere Dam and a 21-square-mile section of Lower Green Bay.
Local coordination on project costs
Green Bay, De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Howard, Suamico and Brown County participate in the Local Leadership Council that meets every two months. The group reviews how AOC projects fit with urban development and long-term maintenance of restoration sites, decisions that shape how local governments allocate funds for infrastructure and public services.
The DNR also works with the re-established Clean Bay Backers community advisory committee, which began meeting in October 2024. New North Inc. recruited members with support from the Fund for Lake Michigan to compensate participants, addressing earlier shortfalls in local resources for coordination.
Next steps for Green Bay area work
Technical advisory committees continue to advise on fish and wildlife habitat projects and non-point source pollution controls. Once all impairments are addressed through these actions, the area can be considered for delisting from the AOC list, according to the Wisconsin DNR page on the Lower Green Bay and Fox River AOC.
These steps remain focused on the original 1988 and 1993 plans that set removal targets for the impairments. Local governments in the Green Bay area track project integration to manage ongoing expenses tied to water quality and habitat work.