Biron Flowage, Mill Creek,Wisconsin Rapids,Fourmile and Fivemile Creek Watershed (CW08)
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Biron Flowage, Mill Creek,Wisconsin Rapids,Fourmile and Fivemile Creek Watershed (CW08)
Biron Flowage (1396900)
2186.95 Acres
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
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.
2024
Good
 
This impoundment is impaired
PFOS Contaminated Fish Tissue
PFOS
 
Portage, Wood
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.
Impounded Flowing Water
This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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

Biron Flowage is a soft water drainage impoundment located on the Wisconsin River at Biron. The upper portion of the flowage is in Portage County. Its water level is controlled by a hydroelectric power dam having a 24-foot head and it is owned by Consolidated Water Power Company. The water has a light brown color, is alkaline and has a low transparency. Northern pike, walleyes, crappies, perch, pumpkinseed, bullheads, white suckers, and carp comprise the fishery. There is public access from a town road and from a boat launching site providing minimal parking. Industrial pollution is a problem. Muskrats are present. Wood, mallard, teal, scaup, pintail, and ring-necked duck broods may be observed and migrating ducks, divers more than puddlers, use the flowage.

Source: 1967, Surface Water Resources of Wood County Biron Flowage, T23N, R6E, S25 Surface Acres = 2,126, S.D.F. = 5.82, Maximum Depth = 23 ft

Date  1967

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Biron Flowage, Mill Creek,Wisconsin Rapids,Fourmile and Fivemile Creek Watershed (CW08) Fish and Aquatic LifeBiron Flowage, Mill Creek,Wisconsin Rapids,Fourmile and Fivemile Creek Watershed (CW08) RecreationBiron Flowage, Mill Creek,Wisconsin Rapids,Fourmile and Fivemile Creek Watershed (CW08) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Biron Flowage was placed under a special fish consumption advisory for PFOS in 2020; this lake was added to the 2022 Impaired Waters List for PFOS in fish tissue.

Date  2022

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

2020/2021 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2021 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2018/2019 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
2016/2017 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2016 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2014/2015 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2014 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2012/2013 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2012 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2010/2011 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2010 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2008/2009 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2008 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
2006/2007 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2192 - Article 405, Exotic Species Biennial Monitoring Report
2005 Biron Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2192 - Article 405 Exotic Species Annual (Off-year) Monitoring Report
P-2192 2003 License
Ordinance to establish a legal water ski area in Lot 6, Section 25, T23N, R6E, on the south shoreline of the Wisconsin River, Biron Flowage [Wood County]

Recommendations

Water Quality Modeling
Data collected will be used to run EPD-RIV1 model. The model will provide a longitudinal profile of dissolved oxygen along segment BC of the Wisconsin River

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
PORTAGE COUNTY LCD: Love Creek2024
Wisconsin River BOD TMDL Pilot -CO_1_CMP162016
GOLDEN SANDS RC&D: Wisconsin River Sense of Place2005
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
1396900Biron Flowage503065Wisconsin River - 1 Mi Above Pleasure Island6/29/19777/24/1979MapData
1179900Wisconsin River10007538Biron Flowage9/8/19949/30/2017MapData
1396200Wisconsin Rapids Flowage10044472Wisconsin R - Upper Wisconsin Rapids Flowage TailwaterMapData
1396900Biron Flowage723090Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 008MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723086Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 004MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723098Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 016MapData
1396900Biron Flowage503057Wisconsin River at Rocky Run6/27/19776/27/1977MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723088Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 006MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723246Biron Flowage - 1 Mi Upstm Of Dam11/26/199611/26/1996MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723001Wisconsin River - Boat Ldg Above Biron9/18/19755/24/1979MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723084Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 002MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723092Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 010MapData
1179900Wisconsin River10044472Wisconsin R - Upper Wisconsin Rapids Flowage TailwaterMapData
1396900Biron Flowage10007538Biron Flowage9/8/19949/30/2017MapData
1396900Biron Flowage10017904Biron Flowage -- Access7/3/200810/22/2024MapData
1396900Biron Flowage503080Wisconsin River - Ore-Ida Foods Inc.MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723100Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 018MapData
1396900Biron Flowage226Wisconsin River - Above Biron DamMapData
1396900Biron Flowage723094Biron Flowage - Consol Paper Biron Div 012MapData
1396900Biron Flowage723096Biron Flowage - Consol Papers Biron Div 014MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Biron Flowage is located in the Wisconsin Rapids watershed which is 133.92 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (39.40%), agricultural (21.30%) and a mix of grassland (14.60%) and other uses (24.80%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 10,062.04 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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

Biron Flowage is considered a Impounded Flowing Water 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.

This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.