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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Crowley Flowage is a soft water, drainage impoundment on the Flambeau River. Its control structure on the outlet has a 20-ft head, and the estimated flow is 851 ft(3)sec. The dam is owned and operated by the Flambeau Paper Company to produce electric power to operate the Flambeau Paper Company mill at Park Falls. The flowage is long and narrow and is confined for the most part to the original river banks. The fish population consists of northern pike, walleyes, perch, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, black bullheads, brook trout, white suckers, redhorse, rock sturgeons and golden shiners. In the past, pollution from the Flambeau Paper Company mill caused fish kills in the flowage, but recent pollution control enforcement by state agencies has forced improvements at the mill and improvement of water quality has been noted. The bottom of Crowley Flowage is mainly muck with small amounts of rubble and boulders. Firm upland makes up 95% of the shoreline and tag alder swamps make up the remainder. Aquatic vegetation is common throughout most of the flowage. Large numbers of ducks nest here each year, and other ducks, coots and geese use the flowage during their spring and fall migrations. Muskrats and beaver are also found in fair numbers. Private development consists of 10 cottages or homes and 1 boat rental. The Town of Lake provides an excellent boat landing on the south side of the flowage; this is the only public frontage.
Date 1983
Author Aquatic Biologist
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10005270 | Crowley Flowage | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10029673 | Crowley Flowage - Upstream of Crowley Dam | 4/4/2012 | 8/12/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513014 | Flambeau River at Pixley Dam Tailrac | 6/28/1975 | 6/29/2006 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513017 | Flambeau River - Above Wide Area Crowley | 8/6/1975 | 8/7/1980 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513015 | Flambeau River - 0.9 Mi Bl Pixley Dam | 8/6/1975 | 9/2/1981 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513018 | Flambeau River - A Crowley Boat Landng | 6/28/1975 | 8/31/1983 | Map | Data |
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10041192 | Flambeau River North Fork - At Pixley Dam - Walk-in | 9/18/2013 | 9/18/2013 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513016 | Flambeau River - 1.7 Mi Bl Pixley Dam | 6/28/1975 | 8/31/1983 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513013 | Flambeau River - Pixley Dam Hdrace Spooner | 2/21/1975 | 3/24/1998 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513020 | Flambeau River - Crowley Dam Hdrace Spooner | 2/21/1975 | 3/24/1998 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513218 | Crowley Flowage | | | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 513019 | Flambeau River - 1.2 Mi Bl Crwly Landg | 6/29/1975 | 8/7/1980 | Map | Data |
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10031181 | Crowley Flowage lower end | 4/20/2010 | 4/20/2010 | Map | Data |
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10031180 | Crowley Flowage middle area | 4/20/2010 | 4/20/2010 | Map | Data |
| 2287200 | Crowley Flowage 802 | 10020314 | Flambeau River -- Boat Launch (Sixmile Landing) | 9/18/2013 | 9/18/2013 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Crowley Flowage 802 is located in the Upper North Fork Flambeau River watershed which is 158.21 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (58.60%), wetland (34.40%) and a mix of grassland (2.90%) and other uses (4.00%). This watershed has 163.80 stream miles, 629.65 lake acres and 33,475.50 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.