The State of the Lower Chippewa River Basin 2001 PUBL-WT-554 2000 Long Red Lake Cedar Lake WASHBURN CO # Birchwood SAWYER CO RUSK CO Haugen# Y e l # l o Cumberland w R Rice# i v e Lake r Cameron Turtle Lake Barron # # H # a y R i Lake v e r Chetek Chetek# Chequamegon S Waters o isher River u F POLK CO t BARRON CO # Flowage h New Auburn Holcombe F # o r r DUNN CO Gilman k iv e # H R r # e Cornell a r v i y a d Bloomer R e a r # e C w Gl enwoo d C it y v e i # d p e R ip R h C w TAYLOR CO o l Colfax# el Y Tainter Baldwin Lake CLARKe CO # ir Lake a Chippewa Wissota Cadott Stanley l Thorp # # C # Falls u r a e E Lake v i k r R ST CROIX CO George Menomonie o Lake e Spring F r # CHIPPEWA CO i . E R Menomin PIERCE CO la a Lake N R e Valley u C u d Eau Eau C EAU CLAIRE CO s G Altoona u r h l a C a e i a R l Claire r v l e R e e E i i iv ve d R r R Lake k # Prescott e a Fall Creek ive or e Ellsworth r r r F l S. l # Eau e # b iver Claire R m a i w Augusta r e # T p ip PEPIN CO h C Durand # Bay# C it y Fairchild # BUFFALO CO Mississip JACKSON CO pi R iv er Pepin # # Nelson A report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Lower Chippewa Basin Partnership Team and stakeholders GOVERNOR Scott McCallum NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD Trygve A. Solberg, Chair James E. Tiefenthaler, Jr., Vice-Chair Gerald M. O'Brien, Secretary Herbert F. Behnke Howard D. Poulson Catherine L. Stepp Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Darrell Bazzell, Secretary Franc Fennessy, Executive Assistant Steve Miller, Administrator Division of Land Susan L. Sylvester, Administrator Division of Water Scott Humrickhouse, Director West Central Regional Office Art Bernhardt, Water Leader Craig Thompson, Land Leader John Paddock, Lower Chippewa Basin Water Team Leader Bob Michelson, Lower Chippewa Basin Land Team Leader ii West Central Region Headquarters Scott McCallum, Governor 1300 W. Clairemont Avenue Darrell Bazzell, Secretary PO Box 4001 Scott A. Humrickhouse, Regional Director Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702-4001 Telephone 715-839-3700 FAX 715-839-6076 TTY 715-839-2786 Subject: Lower Chippewa River State of the Basin Report Dear Reader: This "State of the Basin" report for the Lower Chippewa River will provide you information about the historical and existing natural resources of what we believe to be one of the most special areas in Wisconsin. It is a starting point in our work to find out more about the rich land and water resources and provide some management strategies in the area drained by the Lower Chippewa River and tributaries. The Lower Chippewa Basin is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Wisconsin. It will only be through careful, cooperative planning and management that these gifts will remain for the future. This report doesn't diminish other work that has been done and will be done. It needs to be read together with the Lower Chippewa River Basin Water Quality Management Plan, the Fish & Wildlife Habitat Plan 2001-2006, priority watershed plans, sewer service area plans, and county Land and Water Plans. This report will help you understand how our natural resources interact with one another and what issues need to receive more attention. It will help provide direction for all of us who work and recreate here in the basin and what issues need public policy decisions in the near future. We, at the Department of Natural Resources are working to fill information gaps. Waters Program staff are focusing on collection of data where surface waters are largely unknown. Some data will continue to be collected on previously inventoried waters to track trends. Updated and more comprehensive databases will help develop management strategies in the future. We will help restore native brook trout habitats, encourage restoring natural patterns in streams with removal of dams or fish passages. We have an opportunity to improve water quality by reducing excess nutrients to our streams, lakes and groundwater. Our Lands Program staff is working on two major projects, one the Lower Chippewa Natural Area, primarily in Dunn, Pepin and Buffalo counties and the other the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area, primarily in Pierce, St. Croix and Polk counties. In each case, native grasslands will be protected along with the species that need that shrinking resource to survive. Recreational lands will be developed, linking the Red Cedar Trail to a Chippewa Valley trail system connecting Cornell, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Menomonie. To accomplish this we will be streamlining existing tasks or eliminating tasks to have resources available to proceed. We will be looking to cooperate with others to share information about the resources and opportunities to leverage dollars for habitat improvement and providing recreational opportunities to you. Today the State of the Basin is one of opportunity. It is an opportunity for the people of the area and the Department of Natural Resources to work together to protect and enhance our lands and waters, so the Basin that has made the Chippewa Valley what it is will be stable to enhance our economy, benefit our fish and wildlife, and provide for our recreation. Quality Natural Resources Management www.dnr.state.wi.us iii www.wisconsin.gov Printed on Through Excellent Customer Service Recycled Paper We're proud of the work our staffs have put into this report, and especially so because much of it has involved the people of the Basin. If we envision a tomorrow with clean water, restored grasslands, and a safe environment for all our citizens then together we can make it happen. Sincerely, John Paddock Robert Michelson Waters Leader Lands Leader Equal Opportunity Employer The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. iv This publication can be made available in alternative formats (large print, Braille, audio-tape, etc.) upon request. Please call Lisa Helmuth, 608-266-7768, for more information. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Preparation of the Lower Chippewa River Basin plan has been an effort of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lower Chippewa Basin with support from its partnership group and DNR field and central office staff in the Divisions of Land and Water. Many individuals contributed information, data analysis or review. Their help is much appreciated. Primary Authors: Karen Voss, Sarah Beaster Contributors: Heath Benike, Laurie Boehlke, Jim Boettcher, Rick Cornelius, Larry Damman, Marty Engel, Jim Friedrich, Judy Hayducsko, Brad Johnson, Dan Koich, Deb Konkel, Mark Kubler, Joe Kurz, Paul LaLiberte, Jim Lealos, Gary Lepak, Darren Lochner, Al Middendorp, Pat Oldenburg, Duane Popple, Frank Pratt, Craig Roesler, Eunice Post, Larry Schaefer, Randy Schott, Ken Schreiber, Pete Skorseth, Dan Simonson, Buzz Sorge, Steve Thon, Mary Van Fossen, Dave Weitz Assistance: Lisa Helmuth, Janel Pike, Laura Chern, Tom Bernthal, Kevin Willis, Ralph Weible Review: Lower Chippewa Land & Water Teams, Lower Chippewa Partnership Team, central office staff, public Editors: Sarah Beaster, Karen Voss Mapping: Sarah Beaster Tables: Pat Oldenburg Partnership Team Members: Jane Anklam, Sarah Beaster, Richard Bell, Bob Brunkow, Candy Chambers, Bev Chartier, Jerry Chasteen, Bob Cropp, John Egli, Jim Forster, Rick Gauger, Brian Guthman, Tex Hawkins, Pam Herdrich, Dick Johnson, Mike Kinney, Jeff Knowles, Dan Langlois, Mark LeFeber, Darren Lochner, John Lowe, Rick Wayne, Bob Michelson, Jim Olson, Rob Olson, John Paddock, Kevin Pietz, Gary Prissel, Tom Quinn, Pam Rasmussen, Bob Sather, Ralph Schommer, Jerry Smith, Bob Wachsmuth v This publication was partially funded by a 604(b) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. vi Table of Contents Table of Contents.................................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures...........................................................................................................................................ix List of Maps ..............................................................................................................................................ix List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................................ix List of Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................x Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................xi Executive Summary......................................................................1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................1 Basin Characteristics..................................................................................................................................1 Lower Chippewa Basin Past and Present...................................................................................................1