River and Stream Narratives of the Upper Chippewa Basin

Below are narrative descriptions for waters for which we have a description on file. Not all waters in the basin are listed below.

Couderay River

The Couderay River joins the Chippewa River just below the Arpin Dam: upstream of this confluence, the Couderay is impounded to form the Grimh Flowage. Larson, Nancy and Lisa Kosmond (Helmuth). 1996. Upper Chippewa River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. PUBL-WR-345-96-REV. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

The Couderay River is fed by Grindstone, Lac Courte Oreilles, Whitefish, and Sand lakes in west-central Sawyer County. From its outlet at Little Lac Courte Oreilles, the Couderay flows south 5.5 miles, before heading east to meet the Chippewa River just below Radisson. There are two impoundments on the river, the Billy Boy Flowage, a 74- acre impoundment just south of Little Lac Courte Oreilles, and Grimh Flowage, an 86- acre impoundment near Radisson which has a hydroelectric plant. Fish movement between the Chippewa and Couderay Rivers is blocked by dams. The Couderay would probably be a sturgeon stream if not for the barrier imposed by the dam at Grimh Flowage. The Couderay River, which is managed as a sports fishery, is better known for its rougfish than its northern pike and walleye (Pratt 1993). The river is one of the few streams in the watershed not known to be affected by beaver activity.