Montreal River Targeted Watershed Assessment, Iron County, 2017-2018-2019
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Purpose

The Montreal River HUC 10 is a forested watershed in north eastern Iron County. It originates at the outlet of Pine Lake and flows northerly to Lake Superior. The Montreal River forms the border of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about 5 miles North of the outlet of Pine Lake. The Cities of Hurly and Ironwood Michigan are within the watershed. The watershed contains an iron formation that has been mined historically. The reason this watershed was selected for a TWA is because Iron County and LaPointe Minerals are interested in obtaining background water chemistry data in the watershed. and Department staff have an opportunity to work in conjunction with Iron County to obtain baseline data. LaPointe Minerals through their consultant, Global Minerals, has drafted a monitoring plan that includes collection some nutrient, anion and cation data at 4 sites and has offered funding to Iron County to collect these data for 5 years. Department staff would like to collect low level metal water sample data and flows at these same sites in conjunction with their project. The Montreal Rivers HUC 10 is comprised of 7 HUC 12 watersheds. This area is too large to monitor in a single year and the 4 water chemistry sites are in different HUC 12 watersheds. There is limited fisheries and aquatic macroinvertetbrate data available for the watershed. A map review suggests there are about 40 or more sites that should be sampled to thoroughly assess the biological communities in the Montreal River and its tributaries. This project will likely extend for 2 years or more depending on staff availablility. A general description of the who, what, when, where, and how for the project.

Objective

The project objective is to characterize biological community and habitat of the Montreal River Watershed and its tributaries. A second objective is to collect low level metal, nutrient, cation and anion data in conjunction with an Iron County monitoring project. This project is located in HUC10 0401030201.

Outcome

Data will be entered into SWIMS and the FHDB by Spring of 2018 by Jeff Jackson or Joe Cunningham. A final watershed report will be written and entered into SWIMS this may be completed as a watershed planning report. If this project continues for more than 1 year the report writing will occur during the winter after the last year o fthe project. The water chemistry sampling will provide a comparison to Provide a summary sentence describing the project outcome. Identify project deliverables.

Study Design

There will be 4 water chemistry sample sites with water samples collected 6 times May through October. for a total of 24 sampling events, There will be 10 surveys for Fish and Qualitative Habitat, and 10 Macroinvertetbrates samples collected using standard WDNR sampling protocols, these will include the water chemistry sites but those surveys may not be completed in the sample calendar year. Additional fish surveys may be completed as time allows. We will concentrate on one or two HUC 12 areas in a calendar year. 2017 field season, streams in the headwaters of the WF Montreal Watershed were surveyed. 2018 field season, streams in the headwaters of the Montreal watershed will be surveyed. Anticipate 10 sites for fish surveys and macroinvertetbrate samples. Change in water sampling to one site monthly May-October for Nutrients, Cations, Anions, LL metals. DOC and flow. 2019 field season, streams in the DS reaches of the WF Montreal and Montreal River Watershed will be surveyed. Anticipate 10 sites for fish surveys and macroinvertetvrate samples. Change in water chemistry sampling to a small clear-water tributary to the WF of the Montreal River just North of Hurley and small "stained water" tributary to the WF Montreal River with similar watershed sizes. Monthly sampling May-October for Nutrients, Cations, Anions, LL metals. DOC and flow. Fish and Macroinvertebrate Sites TBD

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The project objective is to characterize biological community and habitat of the Montreal River Watershed and its tributaries. A second objective is to collect low level metal, nutrient, cation and anion data in conjunction with an Iron County monitoring project.
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