Fox-Wolf Soil Health Project in Pipe Creek Watershed – Fond du Lac County

Pipe Farmers – Project Background

Lake Winnebago drains over 5,900 square miles of land from the Upper Fox and Wolf River Basins. The surface water runoff that comes from that huge area of land carries with it large amounts of phosphorus and sediment pollution to the lake. In addition to surface water runoff, the lake also receives phosphorus and sediment pollution from urban stormwater, wastewater discharge, and streambank/shoreline erosion.

Excessive phosphorus is a major driver behind impairments of our lakes, rivers and streams, including Lake Winnebago. This is why intense harmful algal blooms are often observed throughout the spring, summer, and fall each year.

A study was completed by the WI DNR in 2020 that identified major sources of phosphorus and sediment pollution, estimated the amount of pollution coming from those sources, and listed reductions needed from those sources in order for Lake Winnebago to meet water quality standards. Pipe Creek watershed is also top of the priority list for targeted efforts to reduce phosphorus pollution entering Lake Winnebago in the Winnebago Waterways Lake Management Plan.

The portion of the Pipe Creek Watershed that lies within Fond du Lac County contributes 19,953 lbs. of phosphorus to Lake Winnebago each year. Approximately 57% of that total phosphorus load is from agricultural cropland which is consistent with agriculture being the dominant land use in that area of the watershed (information sourced from the Pipe Creek 9 Key Element Watershed Plan).

Dairy farms have a large impact within the Pipe Creek subwatershed. Increasing dairy cattle numbers have resulted in a greater reliance on corn silage to sustain expanding dairy operations. The change in cropping practices has resulted in less plant residue left on the fields to hold soil in place during late fall and spring runoff events. The impacts of reduced crop residue on water quality are compounded when factoring in manure management. The increased cattle numbers also lead to increased manure and the need for producers to apply manure to cropland in both fall and spring. This manure is often incorporated, which means additional tillage passes and less residue on the surface to protect and hold soil in place.

Pioneering farmers in other areas have shown conservation farming practices can have major benefits for both the farm, through improved soil health, and the water by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution that enters the lakes. Agriculture is an important part of our heritage, identify, and economy in the Fox-Wolf Basin, and land use in reflects this. In order to increase adoption, we need local agricultural champions in our area. In order to create local champions,  conservation professionals need to work with our local producers to overcome the perceived hurdles of implementing these practices consistently.

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, in partnership with Fond du Lac County, applied for and received a large GLRI grant to fund a multi-year project in the Pipe Creek subwatershed. The motivation behind the GLRI grant is twofold:

1.) To get adoption on the land of the best management practices within a dairy system—no tillage, cover crops, and low disturbance manure; and
2.) To have farmers in the watershed to serve as Farmer Champions – pioneers to test out the practices and innovate in order to find solutions that are applicable to the local community.

A portion of the funding was used by Fond du Lac County Land and Water Conservation Department to bring on an additional staff person to work with the local producers as well as others in the area. Successful implementation of the project is expected to result in a reduction of 1,314 lbs. of phosphorus to Lake Winnebago, the Lower Fox River and Green Bay. Fond du Lac County LWCD has contracted 450 acres with 2 producers to be managed utilizing a suite of soil health practices.

CLICK HERE to read about Chad and Dave – the Pipe Creek Farmer Champions!