Water Detail - Chippewa Falls Flowage, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)

Chippewa Falls Flowage, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18)

Chippewa Falls Flowage (2152600)

Size

282 Acres

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.

Shallow Lowland

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

General Condition

Excellent

County

Chippewa, Eau Claire

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.

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.

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.

Shallow Lowland

Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

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.

Supported Aquatic Life

Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).

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

The Chlppewa Falls Flowage dam is located about 2.5 miles downstream from Lake Wissota. Thls
flowage did not stratify during the 1989 sampling season. The very short residence time of water in
the flowage (0.3 days) probably accounted for the lack of stratification and the fact that no anoxic
bottom conditions were recorded. The TSI value of 58-60 indicates poor water quality conditions
CJVDNR 1993).
Refer to the Chippewa River Main Stem section of this plan for more information about the
Chippewa River system and Chippewa Falls Flowage.

Date 1996

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Chippewa County Chippewa Falls Flowage T28N, R8W, Sections 3, 4, and 5. T28N, R8W, Section 33

A soft water, drainage impoundment on the Chippewa River at Chippewa Falls. It has a 30-foot head public utility dam (Northern States Power Co.) on its outlet. Its fishery consists mainly of walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, channel catfish and black bullheads. White suckers and redhorse are also common. Other species present include muskellunge, perch, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseeds, brown and yellow bullheads, quillback, carp, hogsuckers, and rock sturgeon. The waterfowl and other wildlife uses are restricted by nearness to a populated area. Northern States Power Co. provides an access to the flowage. It has no public lake frontage or private development except the utility dam in its immediate lake shore area,

Surface Acres = 282.0, S.D.F. = 2.81, Maximum Depth = 37 feet

Date 1963

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Chippewa Falls Flowage, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) Fish and Aquatic Life

Chippewa Falls Flowage, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) Recreation

Chippewa Falls Flowage, Duncan Creek Watershed (LC18) 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

2019 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018

2017 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2016 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2015 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2014 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2013 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

Purple Loosestrife Assessment - 2013: Dells Pond, Chippewa Falls Flowage, Lake Wissota, Old Abe Lake, Cornell Flowage, Lake Holcombe and Jim Falls Spillway Channel

2012 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2011 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2010 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2009 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2008 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2007 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2006 Holcombe, Cornell, Jim Falls, Wissota, Chippewa Falls, and Dells Hydroelectric Projects, FERC Project Nos. 1982, 2639, 2491, 2567, 2440, and 2670, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2004 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2003 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2002 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2001 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

2001 Exotics Control Plan, Appendix M of the Lower Chippewa River Settlement Agreement

2001 Lower Chippewa River Settlement Agreement, no appendices

2000 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Report

CHIPPEWA RIVER UNNAMED TRIBUTARY, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, NORTHERN WISCONSIN CENTER WWTP USE DESIGNATION

1995 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Order Modifying and Approving Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Plan

1994 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Order Approving Project Lands Management Plan and the Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Plan

1994 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Filing of License Compliance Plans (Including Purple Loosestrife Monitoring Plan and Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Plan)

1994 Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2440, Order Issuing New License (Major Project)

CHIPPEWA RIVER TRIB, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP WWTP USE DESIGNATION

Lake Bathymetry Map for Chippewa Falls Flowage

Chippewa County Surface Water Resources 1963 Part 1 of 2

Chippewa County Surface Water Resources 1963 Part 2 of 2

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
LAKE WISSOTA IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION ASSO: Wissota EWM '07	2007

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10030884	Chippewa River -- West Madison Street Boat Launch			Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	093058	Chippewa Spring Corporation 001			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	175007	Chippewa River - Downstream of Red Cedar R. Mouth	7/25/2000	7/25/2000	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10016914	Chippewa River - 9700 Feet Below Hwy 94 Bridge At Downstream End Of Large Island. 14e	6/8/1982	5/8/1985	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	183136	Chippewa River - Eau Claire			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018391	Chippewa River/Holcombe Flowage -- Access Nr 271st St	6/4/2010	7/22/2010	Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	10018601	Chippewa River -- Access Nr End Of 106th St	7/13/2007	9/12/2024	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10032089	Chippewa River Below Jim Falls Hydro Dam	9/29/2001	9/29/2001	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018409	Chippewa River/Old Abe Lake -- Access	9/16/2011	7/24/2022	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10019068	Chippewa River -- Access at Along Squaw Point Road			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10038033	Jim Falls (Chippewa Co) - Hydro Spillway Channel	7/25/2011	7/25/2011	Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	093101	Chippewa Falls Flowage - 30 ' Sm Bay	5/8/1989	11/1/1989	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	473007	Chippewa River - Below Stp R Mi 16.6			Map	Data
5535969	Unnamed	10048332	Unnamed Pond - off 109th Street	5/2/2017	5/2/2017	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10051377	Lower Chippewa River - Lake Hallie Sportsmans Club Boat Landing to Riverview Park	8/11/2017	8/11/2017	Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	10018585	Chippewa River -- Access Off River Rd	8/3/2010	7/20/2013	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10009549	Chippewa River- Confluence with Red Cedar River (Station 2b)			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	473005	Chippewa River - Durand Stp	10/3/1978	6/20/1984	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10051384	Lower Chippewa River - Main St to Lake Hallie Sportsmans Club Landing	7/27/2017	7/27/2017	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10029473	CHIPPEWA RIVER- DURAND - STH 10 (STATION 3)			Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	10029624	CHIPPEWA R OLD BADGER MILLS	6/24/2004	8/16/2012	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018338	Chippewa River -- Access	6/3/2015	11/3/2018	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	583036	Chippewa River - Radisson Distribution System			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	475002	Chippewa River - Below Tyron			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018383	Chippewa River -- Access at Holte's Landing	9/11/2009	8/21/2024	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	473025	Chippewa River at Durand WI	7/18/2001	8/23/2023	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	475003	Chippewa River - Tyrone Power - (Dunn County)			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	173001	Chippewa River - Cth H R Mi - 44.7	8/8/2001	8/2/2005	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10015859	Chippewa River - 3500 Feet Below Hwy 94 Bridge On Eastbank. 6e	6/8/1982	5/10/1985	Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	10051384	Lower Chippewa River - Main St to Lake Hallie Sportsmans Club Landing	7/27/2017	7/27/2017	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	183029	Chippewa River - 500 Yds Below At W Bank	6/8/1982	5/8/1985	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	473001	Chippewa River - Near Pepin	4/11/1961	9/7/2017	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10037335	Chippewa River 840ft Upstream from STH 35	8/2/2005	10/7/2023	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018568	Chippewa River -- Ella Boat Landing	9/4/2009	10/7/2023	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10051380	Lower Chippewa River - Shoo Fly Landing to Hwy 35	8/2/2017	8/2/2017	Map	Data
2149900	Dells Pond	10051377	Lower Chippewa River - Lake Hallie Sportsmans Club Boat Landing to Riverview Park	8/11/2017	8/11/2017	Map	Data
2152600	Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555	10018602	Chippewa River -- Access at End Of 28th Ave	8/13/2008	9/12/2024	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10017165	Chippewa River Below Arpin Dam			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10047542	Tyrone Canoe Landing			Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018049	Chippewa River -- Access at 730th St Town Of Peru	6/25/2011	6/13/2023	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10016707	Chippewa River - On East Bank On Upstream Point Ofisland. 10e	6/8/1982	5/10/1985	Map	Data
2050000	Chippewa River	10018026	Lower Chippewa River -- Landing - Durand	6/12/2015	8/21/2024	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Chippewa Falls Flowage 5555 is located in the Duncan Creek watershed which is 191.44 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (44.40%), forest (21%) and a mix of grassland (13.90%) and other uses (20.70%). This watershed has 270.37 stream miles, 185.45 lake acres and 6,971.50 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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

Chippewa Falls Flowage is considered a Shallow Lowland 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.

Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

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