Clam River, Clam River Watershed (SC12)
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Clam River, Clam River Watershed (SC12)
Clam River (2654200)
8.29 Miles
50.71 - 59
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-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.
2015
Good
 
Polk
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.
Yes
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.
Yes
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.
No

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.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Historical Description

The Clam River is classified as an outstanding resource water with parts of the river being class
I and III trout water.

Date  1992

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Clam River, Clam River Watershed (SC12) Fish and Aquatic LifeClam River, Clam River Watershed (SC12) RecreationClam River, Clam River Watershed (SC12) Fish Consumption

General Condition

The Clam River (miles 43.58-47.58; 50.71-59) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

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

2020 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2019 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2018 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
2017 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
2016 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2016 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
Lower Clam River Watershed Water Quality Assessment 2014
Clam, Wood, and Yellow Rivers Load Report, Appendix A.
Clam, Wood, and Yellow River Water Quality and Nutrient and Sediment Loads to the St. Croix River
2015 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments
2014 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2014 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2013 Danbury and Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project Nos. 9184 and 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
Comprehensive 2014 TP IBI Rivers Assessment
2013 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
Clam River Hydroelectric Project FERC Project Number 9185 Flambeau Hydro LLC. Final Report 2013 Water Quality Monitoring Data
2013 Danbury and Clam River Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 9184 and 9185, Order Amending License Article 401(b)
2012 Danbury and Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project Nos. 9184 and 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2012 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2012 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Sampling Location Map
2011 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Location Map
2011 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2011 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Water Quality Monitoring Data Report
2010 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2008 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2007 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report
2006 Clam River Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 9185, Order Issuing Subsequent License
Burnett County Surface Water Resources 1966

Recommendations

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Category 3 water with a single 'Poor' fIBI. Further monitoring recommended. AU: 1518114; Station ID: 10022778

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

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
CLAM LAKE P & R DISTRICT: PI Plant Survey & Education, Phase 12009
CLAM LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Lake User Survey, Education Fair, & CLP Turion Sampling (Ph 2)2009
CLAM LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Phase 3, Shoreline Survey, Water Quality, EWM RR Plan & Fish Evaluation2009
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000
CLAM LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Phase 4, APM Plan, Education & Wild Rice Survey2009
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2654200Clam River10008102Main Stem Clam River at W And O10/21/19991/1/2015MapData
2654200Clam River10021963Clam River at 56th Ave Foot BridgeMapData
2654200Clam River10015660Clam River At End Of 60th St Foot Bridge1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
2654200Clam River10015647Clam River At County W1/1/20151/1/2015MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Clam River is located in the Clam River watershed which is 206.86 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (58.90%), wetland (20.10%) and a mix of grassland (8.80%) and other uses (12.20%). This watershed has 218.27 stream miles, 5,389.35 lake acres and 24,386.72 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.

Natural Community

Clam River is considered a 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.