Fish (Oulu) Creek, Iron River Watershed (LS05)
Fish (Oulu) Creek, Iron River Watershed (LS05)
Fish (Oulu) Creek (2871500)
9.03 Miles
0 - 9.03
Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
2021
Good
 

Overview

Fish Creek in Orienta Township forms a small estuary with coastal wetlands where it meets Lake Superior. The Lake Superior shoreline adjacent to the river mouth consists of eroding scarps in unconsolidated sediments. The Lake Superior Binational Program identified this stream as important to the integrity of the Lake Superior ecosystem for coastal wetlands. The stream flows through a deep ravine and drains the red clay and nearly level pink sands region of northwest Bayfield County. Because the upper end drains a marshy area, water temperatures are high and water quality poor. Feeder streams improve temperatures in the middle stretch (T48N R10W S13), enabling the stream to support a small, native brook trout population. This favorable stretch extends about two and a half miles downstream before deteriorating. In dry weather, stream flows in this stretch fluctuate widely. The reach is inhabited only by minnows, with mudminnows, white suckers, longnose dace, northern creek chubs and sculpins predominating. Much of the upper reach is bordered by pastured upland and erosion problems have been serious. Water in the lower portions of the stream is usually quite turbid as a result.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, two rare species were found and overall taxa richness was moderate (5-24 species) (Epstein 1997). The survey noted that barnyards, cropland, streambank pasturing, failing septic systems and streambank erosion are potential pollutant sources.

From: Turville-Heitz, Meg. 1999. Lake Superior Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI.

Date  1999

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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