Wolf River, North Fork Eau Claire River Watershed (LC17)
Wolf River, North Fork Eau Claire River Watershed (LC17)
Wolf River (2146000)
6.58 Miles
0 - 6.58
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2023
Poor
 
This river is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWFF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent forage fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

The Wolf River is 24 mile long warm water tributary to the North Fork of the Eau Claire River. The headwater reaches upstream from Chapman Lake are intermittent and fully support a warm water forage fishery. The stream is classified as a warm water sport fishery from the Chapman Lake dam downstream to the confluence with the North Fork Eau Claire River.

The Wolf River from the Chapman Lake dam downstream to Worden Road is not supporting its designated use due to dissolved oxygen standards violations. Therefore, this section of river is identified as impaired on the Federal 303 d list.

Date  2010

Author  Paul Laliberte

Overview

Very little recent fishery and water quality data exists for the Wolf River. Macroinvertebrate sampling at the mouth in 1980 indicated good diversity. A sample site at Stanley, upstream of Chapman Pond, indicated less diversity, possibly due to the decreased water velocity. Monitoring of the Wolf River near Stanley documented dissolved oxygen problems under summer
conditions. Stream aeration has been limited during years when beaver significantly impound the river. This, in conjunction with low flow, contributes to the oxygen problem. Additionally, the Stanley discharge in this reach may be contributing to the problem. Data since the plant was renovated has not been evaluated.

Date  1996

Author  Karen Voss

Historical Description

Wolf River T28N, R4W, S30, Surface Acres = 8.7, Miles = 6 .O, Gradient = 8.6 feet per mile.

A clear, medium hard water stream that flows southwest into the north fork
of the Eau Claire River in Eau Claire County. The stream meanders through
portions of Clark, Taylor, Chippewa, and Eau Claire Counties. It enters
Clark County first from Taylor County and then again from Chippewa County.
Its fishery consists primarily of panfish and forage species, but there may be bass and carp present as these two species have been reported in Chippewa County. About 67 percent of the land adjacent to the stream has been cleared as has 94 percent of the land included in the watershed area. There is no public land adjoining the stream. Access is possible from six road crossings.

From: Klick, Thomas A. and C.W. Threinen, 1965. Surface Water Resources of Clark County:
Lake and Stream Classification Project. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison, WI.

Date  1965

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Wolf River, North Fork Eau Claire River Watershed (LC17) Fish and Aquatic LifeWolf River, North Fork Eau Claire River Watershed (LC17) RecreationWolf River, North Fork Eau Claire River Watershed (LC17) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Continuous monitoring indicates dissolved oxygen concentrations fluctuate substantially as a result of photosynthesis and respiration of filamentous algae. Oxygen levels can fall below the water quality standard during respiration of algae especially at times of hot temperatures and low flow periods. The growth of filamentous algae is a result of excessive nutrients, sluggish streamflow and the open canopy in this reach of stream. Downstream from Worden Road the stream corridor is mostly shaded and filamentous algae growth is minimal or absent. As a result, oxygen levels remain above the water quality standard.

Continuous dissolved oxygen monitoring completed upstream of Chapman Lake found concentrations below the water quality standard. The headwaters of the Wolf River are intermittent and flow through large wetland complexes. Low oxygen levels documented in the headwaters are a result of these natural environmental conditions. This section of river is not listed on the 303d list because these contributing factors are natural and uncontrollable.

Date  2010

Author  Paul Laliberte

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Wolf River (WBIC 2146000; Chapman Lake Dam to headwaters) showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Wolf River (WBIC 2146000; Mouth to Worden Road) showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

The 2018 assessments of the Wolf River (WBIC 2146000; Worden Road upstream to Chapman Lake Dam) showed impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. However, available biological data did not indicate impairment (i.e. no macroinvertebrate or fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scored in the "poor" condition category). Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Collect chemical, physical, and/or biological water quality data to assess the current overall stream health. The data can inform management decisions and may be used to identify impaired waters for biennial lists.
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Restore Wetlands
Where opportunities arise, wetland restoration should be promoted.
TMDL Development
A TMDL needs to be completed for the 303d listed impaired reach of the Wolf River.
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
WDNR should conduct additional continuous oxygen monitoring during summer low flow conditions on the Wolf River and evaluate and report data collected since the Stanley treatment plant was renovated (Type B).

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Wolf River is located in the North Fork Eau Claire River watershed which is 205.88 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (37.70%), agricultural (31.70%) and a mix of grassland (14.40%) and other uses (16.30%). This watershed has 411.76 stream miles, 302.30 lake acres and 18,394.61 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Wolf River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.