Water Detail - E Br Eau Claire River, Upper Eau Claire River Watershed (CW22)

E Br Eau Claire River, Upper Eau Claire River Watershed (CW22)

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E Br Eau Claire River (1442200)

Size

12.28 Miles

Segment

0.38 - 12.66

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.

2022

General Condition

Good

County

Langlade

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.

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.

Cold (Class II Trout)

Streams 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 through natural reproduction and selective propagation. 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.

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.

Overview

A survey conducted by Fisheries Management, revealed streambank pasturing and barn ard runoff resulted in added unwanted nutrients and sediments to the river, plus destruction of fist habitat. The branch is classified as both a Class I1 and IH trout stream, and a valuable forage fishery. The river has potential for stream habitat improvement. Sand and gravel operations exist on or near this branch. It is unknown if these operations are having a detrimental impact on water quality and fish habitat.

Date 1991

Author Aquatic Biologist

E Br Eau Claire River, Upper Eau Claire River Watershed (CW22) Fish and Aquatic Life

E Br Eau Claire River, Upper Eau Claire River Watershed (CW22) Recreation

E Br Eau Claire River, Upper Eau Claire River Watershed (CW22) Fish Consumption

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

East Branch Eau Claire River, Langlade County, HWY 64 to Fire Rd, OERW Evaluation

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

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
SUMMIT LAKE ASSOC: Summit Lake Management Planning Project, Phase 2	2010
SUMMIT LAKE ASSOC: Summit Lake Management Planning Project, Phase 1	2010
LANGLADE COUNTY: Well Nitrate Project	2000
LANGLADE COUNTY: CLG - Lake Classification PHASE III	2022
LANGLADE COUNTY: LCO - Langlade County Shoreland Health Classification - PHASE II	2020
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10022653	East Branch Eau Claire River - River Rd Upstream Devices			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10020385	East Branch Eau Claire River -- Launch			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	343121	Eau Claire River East Branch - E.Branch Of Eau Claire R.	6/20/1973	1/23/1975	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10022705	E. Br. Eau Claire River-CTH I Upstream Control			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10041418	East Branch Eau Claire River Access			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10052099	EAST BRANCH EAU CLAIRE RIVER COUNTY FOREST SPRING RD UPSTREAM			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10042019	East Branch Eau Claire River - Habitat Project Below CTH C			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10053695	1988 HABITAT WORK "INCHA'S"			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10012623	East Branch Eau Claire River - Below Spring Road	4/25/2007	1/1/2015	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	343047	Eau Claire River East Branch - Highway H	5/1/1980	10/20/1980	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	343122	Eau Claire River East Branch - E.Branch Of Eau Claire R.	6/20/1973	11/7/1974	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10056042	East Branch Eau Claire River Pingle's 2000 Hab Project above CTH I			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10020426	East Branch Eau Claire River -- Access	6/1/2022	6/1/2022	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10015158	East Branch Eau Claire River-325m Below Cth I Acess At Dnr Public Hunting And Fishing			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10010130	East Branch Eau Claire River - E. Br. Eau Claire R. - 32.5m Above Culverts On Little Chicago Rd. - Top Of First Riffle	10/16/2003	10/16/2003	Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10052096	EAST BRANCH EAU CLARIE RIVER SENSEBRENNER'S HAB WORK			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10022652	East Branch Eau Claire River - River Rd Upstream Control			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10052098	EAST BRANCH EAU CLAIRE RIVER CHURCH RD TO SENSENBRENNER'S HAB WORK			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10020424	East Branch Eau Claire River -- Launch			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10022712	E.Br.Eau Claire River-Bluebell Rd Downstream Control			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10056167	EAST BRANCH EAU CLAIRE RIVER - CHURCH RD TO LITTLE CHICAGO RD			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10056253	EAST BRAUNCH EAU CLAIRE RIVER - Little Chicago Rd US			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	245	Eau Claire River East Branch - Ackley Twnshp			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10022711	E.Br.Eau Claire River-Bluebell Rd Downstream Devices			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10029854	East Branch Eau Claire River - Draegers Devices			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10020425	East Branch Eau Claire River -- Carry-In			Map	Data
1442200	East Branch Eau Claire River	10056138	East Branch Eau Claire River - STH 45 US to Church Rd			Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

East Branch Eau Claire River is located in the Upper Eau Claire River watershed which is 221.36 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (41.20%), wetland (33.40%) and a mix of agricultural (18.10%) and other uses (7.30%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 40,234.77 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High 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

E Br Eau Claire 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.

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