Water Detail - Bois Brule River, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04)

Bois Brule River, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04)

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Bois Brule River (2861800)

Size

43.92 Miles

Segment

0 - 43.92

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-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Large River, Coldwater

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

Good

County

Douglas

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 I Trout)

Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. 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.

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

The Bois Brule River has a renowned fishery. The original fishery contained stream-resident and migratory (coaster) strains of brook trout. The migratory strain of brook trout was extirpated by the early 1900s. The river now supports, in addition to resident brook trout, both resident and migratory strains of brown trout and migratory strains of rainbow trout, coho and chinook salmon (Pratt 1996). Migratory rainbow trout spawning runs occur in spring and fall, while other species migrate from the lake in summer and fall.

Historically, the Bois Brule, along with the Bad River, produced about 85 percent of the sea lamprey captured at lamprey weirs. The influence of this exotic species is blamed in part for the crash of the Lake Superior trout fishery in the 1950s and 1960s. The lamprey are estimated to account for 375,000 pounds of the estimated 600,000 lake trout taken from Lake Superior annually (Fisheries Management). In 1985, a combination sea lamprey barrier/fishway was installed about six miles upstream from the mouth, effectively eliminating lamprey spawning above that point and preventing the need for electrical or chemical controls. The barrier has a sub-surface observation window that has helped managers collect a great deal of data. More than 7,000 lamprey were trapped and removed during the 1986 spawning season. By 1995, lamprey catches at the Brule barrier had steeply declined.

Under the Lake Superior Binational Program, the Brule River became a demonstration site for best-management practices to control runoff. WDNR and the Douglas County Land Conservation Department received grants that allowed the demonstration of construction and soil stabilization techniques to reduce roadside ditch erosion and protect stream habitat. Natural drainage patterns were restored to reduce dramatic erosion and highway maintenance problems that had plagued the County Highway FF crossing for years. The project expanded a pond managed for wildlife habitat and protected valuable aquatic habitat in the Brule.

An accelerated soils survey for the Brule River State Forest has assisted forest managers in the development of a state forest master plan and is a tool being used as part of the National Hierarchy of Ecological Units for determining the potential natural vegetation that could be supported if the forest was allowed to progress through natural succession to maturity.

High levels of bacteria in the river near the community of Brule from failing septic systems led to the formation of the Brule Sanitary District No. 1, which discharges to groundwater in the watershed.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, no rare species of macroinvertebrate were found and the overall taxa richness was moderate (5-24 species) (Epstein 1997). The survey noted some turbidity and filamentous algae at the survey site.

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

Date 1999

Author Aquatic Biologist

Bois Brule River, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) Fish and Aquatic Life

Bois Brule River, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) Recreation

Bois Brule River, Bois Brule River Watershed (LS04) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Bois Brule River was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chloride 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 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments

Comprehensive 2016 Rivers Stream Assessments

AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Bois Brule Co Rd B]

AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Bois Brule River - Co Rd S]

AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Bois Brule River - Copper Ridge Campground]

AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Canoe Landing - Co Rd B]

AIS Bridge Snapshot Day 2014 Data Form [Ranger Station]

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
TOWN OF BARNES: Eau Claire Lakes-Barnes Area AIS Education, Prevention, & Planning Project 2007-2008	2007
DOUGLAS COUNTY: Brule River Yellow Flag Iris EDRR Project	2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY: Brule River Aquatic Plant Management Planning Grant	2022
Fish Propagation Actions	2001

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10047724	Brule River Nonwadeable IBI 1.2 Mi US of mouth			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	150	Brule River - Brule R-T49n R10w S10	7/21/1970	7/21/1970	Map	Data
2868600	Big Lake	10053714	Bois Brule River DS Lucius Lake	7/2/2019	7/2/2019	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163214	Bois Brule River - Boat Landing Site 3	6/28/1990	6/15/2021	Map	Data
2868300	Spring Lake	10036198	Bois Brule River - Area of Open Water	6/29/2010	8/30/2012	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10013275	Bois Brule River- 609 Meters Downstream Hwy S- Station #2			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10050690	Brule River Range Rd to Nebagamon Cr	6/16/2016	10/13/2022	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10019662	Bois Brule River -- Stone Chimney Canoe Launch	7/29/2023	7/29/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10042846	Bois Brule River at Ranger Station	9/13/2014	6/28/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10050693	Brule River Hwy B to Spring Lake	6/16/2016	6/16/2016	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163056	Brule River at Sth 2			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163058	Brule River at Cth Ff	7/29/2019	7/14/2020	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163216	Bois Brule River - Boat Landing			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163002	Bois Brule River at STH 13	6/27/1973	10/8/2024	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163213	Bois Brule River - Above Mouth Site 2	6/28/1990	6/28/1990	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10047341	Bois Brule River - Cedar Island	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163062	Brule River at Cth S	9/23/2009	8/17/2019	Map	Data
2868300	Spring Lake	10019066	Bois Brule River -- Highway 13 Canoe Landing	8/20/2005	7/31/2020	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163212	Bois Brule River - State Park Hq Site 1	6/28/1990	7/20/2016	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163304	Bois Brule River at Riverview Dr	9/26/2011	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10020184	Bois Brule River -- Pine Tree Canoe Landing	6/30/2007	10/17/2013	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10018753	Boise Brule River -- Winneboujou Canoe Launch	5/31/2008	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10049153	Brule River US 1.25M of mouth	1/1/2015	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163409	Bois Brule River at Brule WI	8/15/1991	11/17/2003	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10042844	Bois Brule River at Copper Range Campground	9/13/2014	7/11/2019	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	105	Lake Superior - Mouth Brule River	7/17/1974	8/10/1993	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10019061	Boise Brule River -- Highway 2 Canoe Landing	6/28/2009	5/24/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10019724	Bois Brule River -- Canoe Landing	6/4/2011	11/7/2013	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10050735	Brule River-Trask Creek to Saari's lot	6/14/2016	6/14/2016	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10047924	Bois Brule River - HWY FF	11/7/2013	11/7/2013	Map	Data
2868600	Big Lake	10052618	Bois Brule River at Lucius Lake			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163222	Bois Brule River - Stones Bridge	5/14/1991	6/27/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10052618	Bois Brule River at Lucius Lake			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10052620	Bois Brule River South of Cedar Island	7/2/2019	7/2/2019	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10020185	Bois Brule River -- Copper Range Campground	8/28/2010	7/11/2019	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10036169	Bois Brule River - Area of Open Water			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10031262	Bois Brule Winneboujou Club Bridge to Cutler Creek mouth	1/1/2015	8/10/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10047926	Bois Brule River - Town Park Rd Landing	11/7/2013	11/7/2013	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10019062	Bois Brule River -- Stone Bridge Canoe Access	11/7/2013	11/7/2013	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10050692	Brule River Nebagamon Cr to Hwy B	6/6/2016	6/6/2016	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	163055	Brule River at Cth B	6/9/1979	1/1/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	165044	Bois Brule River - Downstream Of Highway 2	4/17/2001	4/17/2001	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10052621	Bois Brule River US confluence Unnamed (2868200)			Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10050695	Brule River Utilities ROW (east)	6/26/2015	6/26/2015	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10053714	Bois Brule River DS Lucius Lake	7/2/2019	7/2/2019	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10036198	Bois Brule River - Area of Open Water	6/29/2010	8/30/2012	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10013273	Bois Brule River- Upstream At Pine Tree Canoe Landing- Station #1	6/28/2022	7/17/2023	Map	Data
2861800	Bois Brule River	10042842	Bois Brule River at Co Rd B	9/13/2014	6/15/2022	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Bois Brule River is located in the Bois Brule River watershed which is 199.64 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (72.30%), wetland (22.10%) and a mix of grassland (3.40%) and other uses (2.30%). This watershed has 220.94 stream miles, 3,539.94 lake acres and 18,373.66 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Bois Brule River is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem, Large River, Coldwater 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.