Upper Chippewa River Basin

The Chippewa River, flowing over 180 miles (294 km) through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin, is formed by the confluence of the West Fork Chippewa River (rising from the 14,500 acre Chippewa Lake, southeastern Bayfield County) and East Fork Chippewa River (rising from the wetlands of the Town of Knight in Iron County). Despite its proximity to Lake Superior, the Chippewa Basin feeds the Mississippi, and was once navigable for 50 miles upstream from the Mississippi by Durand, flowing northeast to Eau Claire.

Hydrologically, the "Upper Chippewa Basin" is divided from the "Lower Chippewa Basin " for management purposes, includes portions of Iron, Ashland, Sawyer, Rusk, Price, Vilas, Chippewa, and Taylor County. The area actually managed by Upper Chippewa Basin Staff, however, includes additional portions of Taylor, Rusk, Barron, Sawyer and Washburn Counties (click "thumbnail" for details). Over 3,000 stream and river miles flow through the basin and with 156,200 acres of freshwater lakes, 22,711 acres of flowages and more than 150 acres of freshwater springs.

Today the river provides significant habitat, recreation, navigation, and is a signficant resource for northwest Wisconsin people. Over 40 lakes in the basin (Excel) host confirmed stands of Wild Rice, a critical natural resource protected by state and tribal governments. Sport fisheries including musky, walleye, smallmouth bass, and more are found throughout the water rich region. Through lake and river planning and protection grants, many projects and management activities have been or are planned for the region. Read Upper Chippewa Monitoring for water quality related data and the Upper Chippewa Fisheries page for fisheries reports.

Fifty-seven (57) Lakes (Excel File) are currently on the state's list of impaired waters, and Spider-Clear Lake is proposed to be added this year based on fish tissue monitoring results. Additional deletions for currently listed rivers upstream of Holcomb Flowage are proposed for this year's 2008 list. There are no Fish Consumption Advisories on the Chippewa R. upstream of the Holcombe Dam.

For more on the Chippewa, see the Lower Chippewa Basin Pages.

Upper Chippewa River Basin

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