Watershed - East Fork Chippewa River (UC21)
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East Fork Chippewa River Watershed

Details

The East Fork Chippewa River Watershed has 17 listed trout streams, more than any other watershed in the Upper Chippewa River Basin. It is predominantly wetland and forest, with limited agricultural activities so nonpoint source pollution is not widespread. Glidden is the only Village in the watershed. Glidden has a wastewater treatment plant that discharges into the East Fork of the Chippewa River just south of the village. The remaining residents have private septic systems. Virtually all trout streams in this watershed have beaver dams.

Date  2018

Ecological Landscapes for East Fork Chippewa River Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The North Central Forest Ecological Landscape occupies much of the northern third of Wisconsin. Its landforms are characterized by end and ground moraines with some pitted outwash and bedrock controlled areas. Kettle depressions and steep ridges are found in the northern portion. Two prominent areas in this Ecological Landscape are the Penokee-Gogebic Iron Range in the north extending into Michigan, and Timm's Hill, the highest point in Wisconsin (1,951 feet) in the south. Soils consist of sandy loam, sand, and silts. The vegetation is mainly forest, with many wetlands and some agriculture, though the growing season is not as favorable as it is in southern Wisconsin. Lake Superior greatly influences the northern portion of the Ecological Landscape especially during the winter season, producing greater snowfall than in most areas in Wisconsin. The historic vegetation was primarily hemlock-hardwood forest dominated by hemlock, sugar maple, and yellow birch. There were some smaller areas of white and red pine forest scattered throughout the ecological landscape, and individual white pines trees were a component of the hemlock-hardwood forest. Harvesting hemlock to support the tanneries was common at the turn of the century, and the species soon became a minor component of forests due to over-harvesting and lack of regeneration. Currently, forests cover approximately 80% of this Ecological Landscape. The northern upland hardwood forest is dominant, made up of sugar maple, basswood, Yellow Birch, Balsam Fir, and also including some scattered hemlock and white pine pockets within stands. Aspen & White Birch stands are also relatively abundant due to timber harvest management practices. There is also a variety of forested and non-forested wetland spread across the landscape.

Date  2018

Watershed Documents
1998 Lake Survey Summary for Fishtrap Lake
2005 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Order Issuing New License
2006 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Purple Loosestrife Inventory
2007 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Notice of Intent to File Surrender Application
2007 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Purple Loosestrife Inventory
2008 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Order Amending License to Include Revised Water Quality Certification
2008 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Purple Loosestrife Inventory
2008 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Suspension of Application for Surrender of License
2009 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Purple Loosestrife Inventory
2010 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Purple Loosestrife Inventory
2011 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2011 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Maps to Accompany Land and Wildlife Management Report
2012 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2012 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Map to Accompany Land and Wildlife Management Report
2012 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Map to Accompany Water Quality Monitoring Report
2012 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2013 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2013 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2014 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2014 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2015 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2015 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2016 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Land and Wildlife Management Report
2016 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2017 Winter Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2064, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
AIS Early Detection 2013 Data Form Ashland Gordon Lake 2406500
AUGUSTINE NESTS
Ashland County Surface Water Resources 1966 Part 2 of 2
BLUEGILL LAKE NESTS
Bay Spring Creek downstream of Bay Spring Pond [2405000]
Black Lake Boat Landing Access at East Side of Lake [Sawyer County]
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Cunningham at Rocky Run [2404900]
Dorns Creek, Natural Community Validation 2017
East Fork Chippewa River [2399800]
East Fork Chippewa River at Canoe Launch [2399800]
East Fork Chippewa River at chemistry site [2399800]
East Fork Chippewa River looking downstream at Bay Road [2399800]
East Fork Chippewa River looking upstream at Bay Road [2399800]
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
Kenyon Springs Pond non-summer [2405700]
Kenyon Springs Pond with green vegetation [2405700]
Kenyon springs photo - SMALL
Kocmoud Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Augustine Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Barker Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Bear Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Black Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Blaisdell Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Blue Gill Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Burd Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Cammerer Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Cub Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Fishtrap Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Gates Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Gordon Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Hunter Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Mud Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Muskellunge Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Pelican Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Snoose Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Torrey Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Two Axe Lake
Lake Bathymetry Map for Zielke Lake
Muskellunge Creek downstream at Forest Road [2405800]
Muskellunge Creek upstream at Forest Road [2405800]
Rocky Run Adjacent to Right of Way Road [2404900]
Rocky Run At Right of Way Road [2404900]
Rocky Run East Fork Chippewa_Muskellunge Creek WQM Plan Final Draft 2017 [UC21]
Shoreline of East Fork Chippewa River at Bay Road [2399800]
Survey of Freshwater Mussels at Snaptail (Winter, East Fork) Hydroelectric Project(FERC #2064)E. Fork Chippewa River, Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Winter Hydroelectric Project FERC Project Number P-2064: Flambeau Hydro LLC Final 2012 Land & Wildlife Management Report
Winter Hydroelectric Project FERC Project Number P-2064: Flambeau Hydro LLC Final 2012 Land & Wildlife Management Report
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
East Fork Chippewa River
Status
Complete

Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Assoc: Chippewa Flowage Ais Project: Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association will conduct an AIS program that will reduce the problem of AIS (purple loosestrife, Eurasian water milfoil (EWM)) in the Chippewa Flowage through monitoring, education, control and prevention.

Project goals includes: 1) Develop a Clean Boats, Clean Waters program for five landings on the Chippewa Flowage; 2) Perform a survey of all 33 boat landings to determine presence/absence of EWM at or near the landings; 3) Develop a resort owner educational program on boat landing improvements and signage; 4) Continue to survey, raise biocontrol, and control purple loosestrife; 5) Develop a test plot to determine effectiveness of herbicide control on EWM in boat landing areas.

Project deliverables include: 1) Provide results of the EWM control testing (Hay Creek); 2) Provide maps of EWM presence at or near boat landings; 3) Provide maps for Purple loosestrife locations (including herbicide control and beetle release sites); 4) Provide the department a summary of the volunteer AIS monitoring and number of hours/boaters contacted under Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program; 5) Provide a summary of the educational activities at the landings including signage.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1) The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports/plans generated as a result of this project; 2) APM Permit must be approved prior to EWM treatment; 3) Implement the department pre and post monitoring protocol at EWM herbicide treatment sites; 4) Contact UW-Extension staff for information on training, workshops or educational materials for the AIS Monitoring (Laura Herman, 715-365-8998) Program; 5) Contact Christal Campbell (608-266-0061) and Erin McFarlane (715-346-4978) prior to constructing signs to make sure a consistent message is being sent.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
Lake Chippewa
Status
Complete

Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Assoc: Chippewa Flowage Ais Project: Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association will conduct an AIS program that will reduce the problem of AIS (purple loosestrife, Eurasian water milfoil (EWM)) in the Chippewa Flowage through monitoring, education, control and prevention.

Project goals includes: 1) Develop a Clean Boats, Clean Waters program for five landings on the Chippewa Flowage; 2) Perform a survey of all 33 boat landings to determine presence/absence of EWM at or near the landings; 3) Develop a resort owner educational program on boat landing improvements and signage; 4) Continue to survey, raise biocontrol, and control purple loosestrife; 5) Develop a test plot to determine effectiveness of herbicide control on EWM in boat landing areas.

Project deliverables include: 1) Provide results of the EWM control testing (Hay Creek); 2) Provide maps of EWM presence at or near boat landings; 3) Provide maps for Purple loosestrife locations (including herbicide control and beetle release sites); 4) Provide the department a summary of the volunteer AIS monitoring and number of hours/boaters contacted under Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program; 5) Provide a summary of the educational activities at the landings including signage.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1) The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports/plans generated as a result of this project; 2) APM Permit must be approved prior to EWM treatment; 3) Implement the department pre and post monitoring protocol at EWM herbicide treatment sites; 4) Contact UW-Extension staff for information on training, workshops or educational materials for the AIS Monitoring (Laura Herman, 715-365-8998) Program; 5) Contact Christal Campbell (608-266-0061) and Erin McFarlane (715-346-4978) prior to constructing signs to make sure a consistent message is being sent.


Grant Details
Aquatic Invasives Education
Date
4/1/2010
Waters Involved
West Fork Chippewa River
Status
Complete

Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Assoc: Chippewa Flowage Ais Project: Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association will conduct an AIS program that will reduce the problem of AIS (purple loosestrife, Eurasian water milfoil (EWM)) in the Chippewa Flowage through monitoring, education, control and prevention.

Project goals includes: 1) Develop a Clean Boats, Clean Waters program for five landings on the Chippewa Flowage; 2) Perform a survey of all 33 boat landings to determine presence/absence of EWM at or near the landings; 3) Develop a resort owner educational program on boat landing improvements and signage; 4) Continue to survey, raise biocontrol, and control purple loosestrife; 5) Develop a test plot to determine effectiveness of herbicide control on EWM in boat landing areas.

Project deliverables include: 1) Provide results of the EWM control testing (Hay Creek); 2) Provide maps of EWM presence at or near boat landings; 3) Provide maps for Purple loosestrife locations (including herbicide control and beetle release sites); 4) Provide the department a summary of the volunteer AIS monitoring and number of hours/boaters contacted under Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program; 5) Provide a summary of the educational activities at the landings including signage.

Specific conditions for this Project: 1) The WDNR will be provided electronic and hard copies of all data and or reports/plans generated as a result of this project; 2) APM Permit must be approved prior to EWM treatment; 3) Implement the department pre and post monitoring protocol at EWM herbicide treatment sites; 4) Contact UW-Extension staff for information on training, workshops or educational materials for the AIS Monitoring (Laura Herman, 715-365-8998) Program; 5) Contact Christal Campbell (608-266-0061) and Erin McFarlane (715-346-4978) prior to constructing signs to make sure a consistent message is being sent.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Project Name (Click for Details)Year Awarded
SAWYER COUNTY: Sawyer County AIS Coordinator2006
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000
CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE AREA PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC: Chippewa Flowage AIS Project2010
IRON COUNTY: LCO-Iron County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance Revision Project2010
IRON COUNTY: RES-Iron County Shoreland Protection Project2011
SAWYER COUNTY: Northwest Lakes Conference 20072007
Rocky Run Creek East Fork TWA WQM Plan(2017)2015
SAWYER COUNTY: Sawyer County AIS Program2018
Fish Propagation Actions2001
IRON COUNTY: Aquatic Invasive Species Education, Prevention & Outreach2008
IRON COUNTY: LCO-Amendment of Iron County Zoning Ordinance2009
IRON COUNTY: D.O. Meter Purchase2009
IRON COUNTY: Turtle-Flambeau Flowage AIS Project2011
SAWYER COUNTY: Sawyer County AIS Coordinator2008
SAWYER COUNTY: LCO-Sawyer County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance2010
SAWYER COUNTY LAKES FORUM: Sawyer County Lakes Forum Newsletter2010
SAWYER COUNTY: LCO-Lake Classification Implementation2000
ASHLAND COUNTY: LCO-Lakes Classification & Protection Guide Booklet2002
SAWYER COUNTY: Sawyer County AIS Coordination Project2007
Aquatic Invasives County Coordinator - Ashland County2011
SAWYER COUNTY LAKES FORUM: AIS Prevention Project2008
Wetland Restoration Database2016
SAWYER COUNTY: Lake Classification and Ordinance Development - Phase 11996
SAWYER COUNTY: Lake Classification and Ordinance Development - Phase 11996
IRON COUNTY: Iron County Lakes Classification & Management Planning Model1996
Aquatic Invasives County Coordinator - Iron County2008
ASHLAND COUNTY: LCO-Ashland Co Lake Class, Environmental Prot., & Ordinance Dev1999
IRON COUNTY: LCO-Iron County Shoreland Health Classification2017
Aquatic Invasives County Coordinator - Sawyer County2007
SAWYER COUNTY: Sawyer County Mapping Project2008
East Fork Chippewa River Watershed

Goals

1/15/2018
Make recommendations to improve or protect water quality consistent with Clean Water Act guidelines and state water quality standards.
1/15/2018
Identify water resource issues.
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Watershed wide BMPs
Date
Status
Identify water resource issues, and make recommendations to improve or protect water quality consistent with Clean Water Act guidelines and state water quality standards.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
Fish Management, Access
Culvert Maintenance
Date
Status
Maintain culverts and conduct periodic culvert audits to verify adequate water flow, confirm the avoidance of excessive sedimentation, and determine allowable fish passage with partners.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
Monitor Fish Community
Re-survey Dorn's Creek
Date
Status
Water Quality staff should re-survey Dorn�s Creek for fish to re-evaluate the fish community.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
11/15/2011
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
11/1/2011
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
11/1/2011
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
10/28/2011
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Targeted Area
Total Phosphorus Sampling 2406800
Date
Status
This water was assessed during the 2016 and 2018 listing cycle; general mIBI assessment indicates that this water is meeting Fish and Aquatic Life use. Fish IBI from 2018 is "Good", and TP meets water quality standards but more TP samples are needed for statistical results.
7/30/2017
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Targeted Area
Monitoring TP to evaluate condition
Date
Status
One TP sample is available with biology but that is not enough to present statistical results.
7/23/2017
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Dorns Creek Biology fIBI
Date
Status
Only assessment result is "poor". Furthe monitoring recommended. AU: 15424; Station ID: 10044621
5/1/2018
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Unnamed Trib to East Fork Chippewa River Biology
Date
Status
Only assessment result is "poor". Further monitoring recommended. AU: 5543963; Station ID: 10044550
5/1/2018
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Monitoring fish IBI 2405400
Date
Status
Monitoring fish IBI to confirm condition 2405400
7/30/2017
Proposed
Projects
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings
 
Review, Update Use Designation
Continuous Temperature Monitor
Date
Status
DNR fisheries or Water Quality staff should consider a thermal study with continuous temperature probes to evaluate the cold water potential of managed trout waters in these watersheds.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
Trout Classification Mgmt
Re-assess for Trout
Date
Status
DNR Fisheries staff should re-assess waters managed for trout within these watersheds. No trout were collected during this study.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
Trout Classification Mgmt
Manage Beaver in Trout Waters
Date
Status
Manage Beaver populations in designated trout waters with the US Forest Service and other potential partners.
1/15/2018
Proposed
 
East Fork Chippewa River WatershedWatershed History Note