The Lower Fox River Basin encompasses 638 square miles in northeastern Wisconsin. The basin stretches from northeastern Winnebago County to the mouth of the Fox River in Brown County. The Lower Fox River originates at the outlet of Lake Winnebago and flows northeast for 39 miles where it empties into Green Bay. Click here to view a 360 ° panoramic view of the mouth of the Fox River where it empties into the bay.
The river empties a drainage basin of 6,349 square miles, including drainage from the Wolf River and Upper Fox River Basins. Within the Lower Fox Basin, there are six watersheds: East River, Apple and Ashwaubenon Creeks, Plum and Kankapot Creeks, Fox River/Appleton, Duck Creek, and Little Lake Butte des Morts. A portion of lower Green Bay is also included in the Lower Fox River Basin. 
More information is available in the Lower Fox River Basin Integrated Management Plan, which is available to download at WDNR's Lower Fox Basin Web Site.
Many of the waterbodies in the basin are affected by runoff pollution. This pollution occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground surface, picking up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants. This water flows directly into the same waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water. Because of this runoff pollution, and also because of the pollution of the Fox River by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the Lower Fox River Basin has a long history of water quality initiatives.
Learn more about watersheds and why they are important.
Learn more about runoff pollution in the Lower
Fox Basin.
Learn more about the history of water quality initiatives in the Lower Fox River Basin.
