Water-resources-related information for the Oneida Reservation and vicinity, Wisconsin

Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4266
Prepared in cooperation with the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
By:  and 

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Abstract

Water-resources information has been compiled from 82 studies in which data were collected from the Oneida Reservation and vicinity. Forty-seven studies addressed surface-water issues, 33 studies addressed ground-water issues, and 23 studies addressed aquatic-biology issues. Some multidisciplinary studies are included in more than one category.

Most of the surface-water studies summarized in this report included both water-quality and flow information. Several surface-water studies provided detailed short-term descriptions of surface- water quality and flow for parts of the Reservation and vicinity.

Surface-water and stream-sediment quality data from several data bases have been compiled for this report. Most of the compiled data come from two sites on Duck Creek. Data from Duck Creek were analyzed for trends in concentrations of suspended sediment, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, and dissolved atrazine. No trends were detected for any of these constituents. Trends in concentration of most constituents in surface-water samples were not calculated because of the short period of data collection at nearly all of the sites.

Most of the ground-water reports that were identified included both quality and quantity and flow information. None of the ground-water studies provided a detailed description of ground-water quality for the Reservation as a whole. Several reports provide varied and detailed information for ground-water models that are useful for understanding hydrogeology and ground-water flow for the Reservation and vicinity.

Ground-water quality data from 180 wells, compiled from several data bases, provided an incomplete summary of the condition of the drinking- water resources of the Reservation. Only 12 constituents, from a small number of wells, exceeded a USEPA drinking-water limit. Most of the exceedences were for trace metals and organics. No exceedences for pesticides or nitrate were reported; however, pesticide data were collected from only a small number of wells.

Most of the aquatic biology studies described in this report include fish data, habitat data, or calculations of biotic index values, most of which comes from Duck Creek. Historical aquatic biology data for the Reservation and vicinity are limited. Most of the 23 studies described here were done since 1992. Most of the biota-quality data compiled for this report come from several sites on Duck Creek and represent a small number of samples.

Results of the community survey regarding the water resources of the Oneida Reservation indicate that water usage by Tribal members today has declined when compared to the past. The most common reason given for the decline in usage was pollution. Most of those surveyed perceived Duck Creek as being "polluted," but about 50 percent thought that water quality in the Reservation was improving.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water-resources-related information for the Oneida Reservation and vicinity, Wisconsin
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 98-4266
DOI 10.3133/wri984266
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Wisconsin Water Science Center
Description v, 57 p.
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Brown County, Outagamie County
Other Geospatial Duck Creek, Fish Creek, Oneida Creek, Oneida Reservation, Trout Creek
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details