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.

East Fork Chippewa

EAST FORK AND WEST FORK CHIPPEWA RIVER (UC21, UC23) - The East Fork of the Chippewa River originates in central Iron County; the West Fork originates in Bayfleld County. Both rivers flow southwesterly through Ashland and Sawyer counties until they join at the Chippewa Flowage, a reservoir formed by the Winter Dam. Minimal pollutant sources discharge to these Chippewa River headwaters. The East Fork receives municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges at Glidden. Resource Managers for the Chequamegon National Forest are developing an aquatic ecological classification system to address biological diversity at three test sites in the Upper Chippewa Basin, including onesegment of the East Fork Chippewa River. Components to be addressed include: 1) ecologically based management of aquatic resources, 2) identification, protection, and management of aquatic species that are sensitive, threatened or endangered, and 3) restoration of aquatic ecological systems. 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.