Watershed - Upper Bad River (LS14)
Upper Bad River Watershed

Details

The management boundaries for this watershed were slightly altered from past plans to better manage the river based on the underlying geology of the watershed. The boundaries for this watershed include the Bad River from its confluence with Tyler Forks to its headwaters. The community of Mellen is the largest municipality in the watershed. Discharge permits exist for Louisiana Pacific Corp. Northern Division, the city of Mellen and Copper Falls State Park.

Date  1999

Ecological Landscapes for Upper Bad River Watershed

Ecological Landscapes

The North Central Forest Ecological Landscape occupies much of the northern third of Wisconsin. Its landforms are characterized by end and ground moraines with some pitted outwash and bedrock controlled areas. Kettle depressions and steep ridges are found in the northern portion. Two prominent areas in this Ecological Landscape are the Penokee-Gogebic Iron Range in the north extending into Michigan, and Timm's Hill, the highest point in Wisconsin (1,951 feet) in the south. Soils consist of sandy loam, sand, and silts. The vegetation is mainly forest, with many wetlands and some agriculture, though the growing season is not as favorable as it is in southern Wisconsin. Lake Superior greatly influences the northern portion of the Ecological Landscape especially during the winter season, producing greater snowfall than in most areas in Wisconsin. The historic vegetation was primarily hemlock-hardwood forest dominated by hemlock, sugar maple, and yellow birch. There were some smaller areas of white and red pine forest scattered throughout the Ecological Landscape, and individual white pines trees were a component of the hemlock-hardwood forest. Harvesting hemlock to support the tanneries was common at the turn of the century, and the species soon became a minor component of forests due to over-harvesting and lack of regeneration. Currently, forests cover approximately 80% of this Ecological Landscape. The northern hardwood forest is dominant, made up of sugar maple, basswood, and red maple, and also including some scattered hemlock and white pine pockets within stands. The aspen-birch forest type group is also relatively abundant, followed by spruce-fir. A variety of wetland community types also are present, both forested and non-forested.

Date  2010

Recreational Opportunities

Copper Falls State Park protects the confluence of the Bad and Tyler Forks rivers. The park has three major waterfalls, a deep granite gorge, older growth pine, hemlock and hardwood forest.

Date  1999

Wildlife and Habitat

Extirpation of the wolf, combined with logging, led to a boom of white-tailed deer, which in turn has led to overgrazing of several species of tree and shrub: Canada yew, eastern hemlock and eastern white cedar (Spotts 1994). Wolves have begun to reestablish themselves in this watershed. WDNR's Natural Heritage Inventory Database indicates that the following water-dependent endangered, threatened or special concern species and/or communities have been sighted in this watershed within the last 20 years. In addition, a coastal wetlands evaluation conducted in 1995 and 1996 identified a number of species and habitats described in a comprehensive report, Wisconsin's Lake Superior Coastal Wetlands Evaluation / Including Other Selected Natural Features of the Lake Superior Basin (Epstein 1997). Note: The lack of rare elements listed here does not signify a lack of rare elements in the watershed. They have merely gone unreported in the Natural Heritage Inventory Database. BIRDS Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus Caroline Lake Wetlands Blue-Winged Teal - Anas discors Caroline Lake Wetlands Common Loon - Gavia immer Caroline Lake Wetlands Gray Jay - Perisoreus canadensis Caroline Lake Wetlands Nashville Warbler - Vermivora ruficapilla Caroline Lake Wetlands Osprey - Pandion haliaetus Caroline Lake Wetlands Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher - Empidonax flaviventris Caroline Lake Wetlands BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Dorcas Copper - Lycaena dorcas Caroline Lake Wetlands Freija Fritillar - Boloria freija Caroline Lake Wetlands Jutta arctic - Oeneis jutta ascerta Caroline Lake Wetlands RARE MACROINVERTEBRATES Epehemeroptera; Family Ephemerellidae - Drunella cornutella City Creek, Tafelski Creek Odonata; Family Cordulegastridae - Cordulegaster obliqua Tafelski Creek Odonata; Family Gomphidae - Ophiogomphus carolus Bad River, Minnie Creek (Ashland County), Montreal Creek Trichoptera; Family Lepidostomatidae - Lepidostoma libum Tafelski Creek Trichoptera; Family Limnephilida - Onocosmoecus unicolor City Creek Trichoptera; Family Philopotamidae - Dolophilodes distinctus Tafelski Creek

Date  1999

Watershed Documents
Watershed Grants
Grant Details
Lake Protection Grant
Date
9/1/1997
Waters Involved
Lake of the Falls
Status
Complete

Lake Of The Falls Association: Lmi-Walleye Spawning Habitat Project: Lake of the Falls Association proposes to establish a Walleye Spawning Habitat Project on Lake of the Falls. The project activities will include six approved spawning beds made of approved materials. Other activities that are included besides the actual construction of the rock spawning beds are site preparation and clean-up as called for in the application.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Bad River
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning For Caroline Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Caroline Lake. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Actities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Caroline Lake
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning For Caroline Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Caroline Lake. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Actities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Eureka Lake
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning Project For Eureka Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Eureka Lake and East and West Twin Lakes. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Activities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2018
Waters Involved
Long Lake
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Plan For Long Lake:
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Long Lake. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2018
Waters Involved
Meder Lake
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Plan For Meder Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Meder Lake.

Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Minnow Creek
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning Project For Eureka Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Eureka Lake and East and West Twin Lakes. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Activities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Twin Lakes
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning Project For Eureka Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Eureka Lake and East and West Twin Lakes. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Activities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Twin Lakes, East
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning Project For Eureka Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Eureka Lake and East and West Twin Lakes. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Activities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Large Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Unnamed
Status
Complete

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute: Comprehensive Management Planning For Caroline Lake: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is sponsoring a comprehensive lake monitoring and management planning project on Caroline Lake. Activities include: aquatic plant, shoreland, water quality and quantity, and tributary loading monitoring; watershed mapping and modeling; sociological surveying; and planning with local stakeholders. The project includes regular public participation/engagement and education and outreach. All data collected, including lab results, must be entered into SWIMS. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive lake management plan.

Water quality samples collected as part of this project will have analysis completed by the Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory at Northland College. The Department releases the project sponsor from condition #6 under Project Actities of the standard grant contract.

The specific objectives, metrics, and deliverables for the listed activities are included in the application and supporting materials, and this scope is not intended to replace or supersede those documents.


Grant Details
Small Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Lake Galilee
Status
Complete

Ashland Galilee Lake Association 15: Lake Galilee Water Quality & Plant Montiroign: Galilee Lake Association is initiating an expanded water quality, habitat, and education & outreach project in partnership with Ashland County. Volunteers will collect expanded water quality data via the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. This grant project will fund water quality data collection beyond CLMN, including pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature profiling with a meter, and continuous temperature monitoring. Other activities include purple loosestrife and aquatic plant monitoring and education & outreach with lakeshore property owners and local partners. Deliverables include: all water quality data entered into SWIMS, a summary of the grant project activities and results, and examples of education & outreach materials.

Special condition: technical assistance and field testing donated services must be for water quality monitoring and other activities that are beyond the scope of WDNR\2019s Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.


Grant Details
Small Scale Lake Planning
Date
2/15/2015
Waters Involved
Minnow Creek
Status
Complete

Ashland Galilee Lake Association 15: Lake Galilee Water Quality & Plant Montiroign: Galilee Lake Association is initiating an expanded water quality, habitat, and education & outreach project in partnership with Ashland County. Volunteers will collect expanded water quality data via the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. This grant project will fund water quality data collection beyond CLMN, including pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature profiling with a meter, and continuous temperature monitoring. Other activities include purple loosestrife and aquatic plant monitoring and education & outreach with lakeshore property owners and local partners. Deliverables include: all water quality data entered into SWIMS, a summary of the grant project activities and results, and examples of education & outreach materials.

Special condition: technical assistance and field testing donated services must be for water quality monitoring and other activities that are beyond the scope of WDNR\2019s Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.


Monitoring & Projects

Projects including grants, restoration work and studies shown below have occurred in this watershed. Click the links below to read through the text. While these are not an exhaustive list of activities, they provide insight into the management activities happening in this watershed.

Grants and Management Projects
Upper Bad River Watershed
Watershed Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Ashwaubenon - Coronis Pond
Date
Status
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin�s waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the municipality will construct/install a wet detention pond to remedy discharges of total suspended solids in urban runoff entering waters of the state.
1/1/2017
In Progress
Projects
 
Educate and engage residents
Landowner & Partner Outreach in the Southern Service Area
Date
Status
Bayfield Regional Conservancy is sponsoring a project to help finalize a Strategic Conservation Plan by increasing protection and stewardship awareness among private landowners in Sawyer County and southern Ashalnd County. Deliverables include a comprehensive report including: 1) A summary of accomplishments/progress of the project including descriptions of research on successful conservation efforts, outreach activities, and resulting conservation collaborations with landowners and partners; 2) Report on activities paid under this grant for salaries and match hours; 3) Report on public outreach to Landowners and Partners with copies of newsletters, educational materials, etc.; 4) Verification of meetings, workshops, and/or training such as agendas and attendance lists; 5) Copies of related materials generated or paid for by this grant.
2/15/2016
In Progress
Projects
 
Monitor Baseline Survey
 
Date
Status
Obtain pre-project conditions
6/1/2011
In Progress
Projects
 
Monitor Fish Tissue
Confirm FCA: IW pre-2000 data
Date
Status
11/15/2011
Proposed
Projects
 
Upper Bad River WatershedWatershed History Note

The City of Mellen is located within the Upper Bad River watershed in Ashland County. This small city of under one thousand citizens has two very unusual claims to fame. In 1905, a wood veneer plant was built in west Mellen. In 1947, this mill supplied the veneer, primarily birch, for the plane known as the Spruce Goose. This plane, known as the Hercules, or H-4 was built by Howard Hughes and, at the time, was the largest plane every built. It had a wingspan of 320 feet, weighed 300,000 pounds and was made of wood. Howard Hughes flew the Spruce Goose, only once. The story is depicted in the 2004 Hollywood film, The Aviator. Another Hollywood film, Ernest Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man, starring Paul Newman and Jessica Tandy, was filmed in Mellen in 1962.

Date  2010