GREEN BAY -- The natural resources trustees for the Lower Fox River today announced a proposed settlement with the Fort James Operating Company, a subsidiary of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, for damages to the environment caused by widespread contamination of the Fox River and Green Bay by polychlorinated biphenyls released from their papermaking operations. The trustees are the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and, representing federal agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .
The basis for this agreement, reached through the cooperative effort of the trustees and the Wisconsin and U.S. Departments of Justice, is for restoration and recreation projects on or adjacent to the Fox River and Green Bay. The selected projects were chosen from a comprehensive list created by the trustees working with local communities, organizations and individuals over the past several years. The projects being addressed in this settlement represent the priority requests sought by the communities with the trustees acting to facilitate funding by Georgia-Pacific.
Specifically, the settlement provides for:
- The acquisition of 1,063 acres of ecologically significant threatened habitat on the west shore of Green Bay including:
-- approximately 900 acres along the shores of the Peshtigo River, giving the state almost contiguous shoreline ownership from Peshtigo to the mouth of the river at Green Bay.
-- approximately 75 acres of Green Bay shoreline immediately to the south of the mouth of the Peshtigo River.
-- approximately 50 acres near Long Tail Point and within the Green Bay West Shore Wildlife Area.
-- approximately 38 acres near the Suamico River and adjoining the Sensiba Wildlife Area.
By acquiring this desirable property now, the DNR will be able to ensure that it will be available for long-term environmental and recreational value to the local communities and those who visit the area. These land acquisitions will be managed for the protection and restoration of the wetland ecosystems and the fish and wildlife they contain. The property provides habitat for red-shouldered hawks, osprey, beaver and other species, foraging territory for bald eagles, northern harriers, Forsters terns and common terns. The waterways they contain provide spawning areas for northern pike and forage fish, and nursery areas for fish, waterbirds and shorebirds.
- The trustees have worked cooperatively with seven municipalities in Brown County to identify11 recreational projects that will be implemented as a result of this settlement, including:
-- approximately 3.7 additional miles of improved river-front trails,
-- construction of a new multipurpose nature center, including a greenhouse, nature-related exhibits and a marsh overlook, for use by school and community groups, and other visitors at the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve,
-- a major improvement to the DePere/Brown County Fairgrounds property, including the boat launch facility, where the old docks and launch pads will be removed and replaced with six new launch pads and three floating docks, a restroom facility added, and the parking lot expanded and paved,
-- waterfront recreational facilities in the city of Green Bay, including barrier free shoreline fishing facilities,
-- acquisition of more than 60 acres of open and improved park land on or near the Fox River.
- Specific habitat restoration projects that include:
-- the local share of reconstruction of the Cat Chain,
-- yellow perch restoration investigations,
-- the spotted musky restoration project,
-- the northern pike habitat restoration projects,
-- the feasibility investigation and design of the Oneida Lake project.
- Establishment of a land acquisition fund and a habitat and water quality enhancement fund.
