Black And Upper Nemadji Rivers Watershed (LS02)

Only birds were recorded in the survey. A number of habitat specialists occur here, among them the palm warbler and Lincoln's sparrow. The LeConte's sparrow has been noted in open areas with high sedge cover. Other characteristic birds of the site include common yellowthroat, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, Nashville warbler, sedge wren and purple finch. The yellow-bellied flycatcher and yellow-rumped warbler occur where the cover of the spruce trees is high. Mammals observed on or adjacent to the site in recent years include the timber wolf and moose.

Black Lake Bog occupies portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ownership is primarily public, with Douglas County and the state of Minnesota the major landowners. The site is managed by cooperative agreement as an interstate natural area.

Mud Lake Bog

See the Amnicon and Middle Rivers Watershed (LS03) for a description of the wetlands and resources of concern of peatlands that drain to the Black River in this watershed.

Recommendations

1. WDNR fish contaminant monitoring staff should collect and analyze fish from the upstream reaches of the Black and Upper Nemadji rivers to determine background levels of mercury (Type B).
2. Regional watershed and resource management staff should work with the Douglas County Land Conservation Department to determine if cattle are still degrading water quality and habitat in Balsam and Empire Creeks (Type B).

Balsam Creek (Big Balsam)

This stream originates in wetlands on the state border and flows about 18 miles to where it meets the Nemadji River. From the headwaters to falls at T46N R15W S29 NENE the river is classified as supporting a reproducing trout fishery and has been listed as an exceptional resource water in NR102 for its numerous brook trout. The 15-foot falls are a migratory barrier for trout, thus all brook trout upstream of the falls are thought to be from native populations. From the falls downstream about 12 miles until a town road crossing, the stream is classified a Class II brook and brown trout fishery, becoming a Class III trout fishery from that road crossing to where the creek empties into the Nemadji.

The upper part of the creek flows through swampy areas and has a stream bed composed mainly of clay and silt. Downstream, the stream flows through deep ravines and can be flashy. The bottom types become predominantly sand, gravel, clay and boulders. Historically, cattle have had access to the stream in upper parts of the watershed and compounded in-stream pollution and erosion problems. Principal tributaries to this creek are Little Balsam Creek, Empire Creek and two unnamed Class I trout streams.

Unnamed Tributary to Balsam Creek T46N R15W S7

This extremely high gradient stream flows northwest about a mile over a sand, gravel and boulder bed until it empties into Balsam Creek, descending about 150 feet in its course. It supports a reproducing brook trout population and has been classified as an exceptional resource water.

Unnamed Tributary to Balsam Creek T47N R15W S23

This stream has steep gradient and drops about 77 feet per mile in its roughly four-mile course until it meets Balsam Creek. This stream supports a reproducing population of brook trout and has been classified as an exceptional resource water. This creek experiences flow extremes, marked by in-stream debris. A small tributary to this stream supports a forage fishery. Stream bottom types are mostly unstable sand and gravel, though south of Highway B, the stream bottom becomes muck.

Black River

The 20-mile upper reach from just north of its headwaters in Black Lake on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border down to Interfalls Lake in Pattison State Park is classified as a Class III trout stream with numerous brook trout and a brown trout presence. The upper reaches of the river flow through relatively flat plain of clay and glacial stream deposits with numerous wetlands that stain the river dark before it passes over Little Manitou Falls, a 30-foot escarpment to Interfalls Lake. Downstream of the lake, the river plunges over the Superior Escarpment at Big Manitou Falls. At 165 feet, this is the highest waterfall in the state and ends the trout portion of the river. Downstream of the falls, a few game fish are found as the river continues until it empties into the Nemadji. Burbot run up the river in winter to spawn. Stream bottom types range from sand and muck in the upper reaches, gravel and boulders in the middle reaches and silt and clay below the falls.

Pattison State Park discharges treated wastewater from an outfall at T47N R14W S21 NESE, which then flows to the Black River. This tributary has been proposed for classification as supporting limited aquatic life, to be listed in the update of NR104.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, two rare species of macroinvertebrate were found in the river and the overall taxa richness was high (25 or more species). The survey identified impoundment and low flows as factors potentially affecting water quality. Significant filamentous algae, and to a lesser extent slime and aquatic plants were present. (Epstein 1997).

Empire Creek

This high quality trout stream drops an average of 102 feet-per-mile in its four-mile run north to Balsam Creek. The stream supports a brook trout fishery and has been classified as an exceptional resource water. The stream's upper reaches have a stable gravel and boulder bottom, but as it nears Balsam Creek it gives way to unstable sand and gravel. The stream experiences damaging flow extremes. Land use in the area may be contributing to in-stream sedimentation.

Little Balsam Creek

This high-quality trout stream is classified as an exceptional resource water. It supports a reproducing brook and brown trout fishery its five-mile length until it empties into Balsam Creek. Historically, some rainbow trout occurred, likely from Lake Superior. Most of the stream flows through steep ravines and it experiences annual damaging floods. The majority of the streambed is sand, gravel and boulders. Historically, the major in-stream spawning areas have been south of the town road bridge west of the village of Patzau.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, two rare species of macroinvertebrate were found in the river and the overall taxa richness was moderate (5 to 24 species) (Epstein 1997).

Little Black River

This stream has sluggish origins in a willow and tag alder swamp. Downstream the gradient increases. Historically, brook and brown trout were stocked in the stream. In recent years it has been managed as a warm water forage fishery. This stream is tributary to the Black River.

During survey work conducted as part of the coastal wetlands evaluation, one rare species of macroinvertebrate was found in the river and the overall taxa richness was moderate (5 to 24 species) (Epstein 1997). The survey noted the water was turbid and the presence of point source pollution, pollution from septic systems and streambank erosion. At the survey site, the streambed was composed primarily of gravel, sand and rock.

Mud Creek

This severely eroded warm water drainage stream originates in Minnesota and flows easterly until its confluence with the Nemadji. Steep, raw clay banks border both sides of the stream and the water is typically turbid due to the heavy load of red clay. Historic surveys indicate the presence of white sucker, redhorse, longnose dace, northern creek chub, redside dace and common shiners.

Nemadji River (Upper)

This portion of the river originates in Minnesota and supports warm water forage and sport fisheries comprised of muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, carp, white sucker, longnose sucker, redhorse, burbot and numerous minnow species. Only the Balsam Creek watershed supports trout among the river's tributaries in Wisconsin, though the river does provide for migratory trout from Lake Superior. The deep valley the Nemadji flows through carves unstable red clay soils. The river carries a tremendous sediment load. Please see the discussion under the St. Louis River Watershed for more information about water quality issues and projects involving the Nemadji River.

Rock Creek

This small, clear-water stream with a steep gradient of 124 feet-per-mile drops from the Superior escarpment to join the Black River about two miles below Big Manitou Falls. From the town road crossing in the middle of Section 20 (T47 R14W) to the headwaters, this stream supports a reproducing brook trout population and the waterbody has been designated an exceptional resource water. Downstream from the town road to the mouth, the stream is considered a Class III trout fishery. In addition to brook trout, historic assessments have shown sculpin, creek chub and longnose dace to be present in the creek. The stream is subject to seasonal flow extremes that can cause damage. The streambed is primarily sand gravel, clay and boulders in its headwaters area, becoming mostly sand and gravel in the lower stretches.