Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.10

Current through December 30, 2024

Section NR 102.10 - Outstanding resource waters

(1) The following surface waters are designated as outstanding resource waters:

(a)National wild and scenic rivers. All rivers designated under the national wild and scenic rivers act, as amended, 16 USC 1271 to 1287, except those portions flowing through Indian reservations, including:

1. St. Croix river between the northern boundary of the Hudson city limits and the St. Croix flowage dam in Douglas county except that the portion of the St. Croix river from the northern boundary of the St. Croix Falls city limits to a distance one mile below the STH 243 bridge at Osceola shall be classified exceptional resource waters under s. NR 102.11.

2. Namekagon river between its confluence with the St. Croix river and the outlet of Lake Namekagon in Bayfield county.

(b)State wild and scenic rivers. All state wild and scenic rivers designated under s. 30.26, Stats., including:

1. Pike river and its headwater branches in Marinette county.

2. Pine river and its headwater branches in Florence and Forest counties.

3. Popple River and its headwater branches in Florence and Forest counties.

4. The portion of the Brunsweiler River (Martin Hanson Wild River) from the point in Ashland County at which it leaves T44N R4W S22 QSW QQSW downstream to the point at which it crosses the boundary of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest at T45N R4W S22 QNW.

5. Portions of the Totagatic River in Bayfield, Sawyer, Washburn, Douglas, and Burnett Counties as described in the following table:

SEG 1: From the outlet of Totogatic Lake located in Bayfield County to the upstream end of Nelson Lake at the southern edge of the walleye spawning refuge located in Sawyer County.

SEG 2: From a point 500 feet below the dam in the Totogatic Wildlife Area located in Washburn County to the upstream end of the Colton Flowage located in Washburn County.

SEG 3: From a point 500 feet below the dam that forms the Colton Flowage located in Washburn County to the point where the river crosses the Washburn-Douglas County line immediately above the upstream end of the Minong Flowage.

SEG 4: From the bridge on CTH "I" that crosses the river located in Washburn County to the confluence of the river with the Namekagon River located in Burnett County.

Note: Section NR 302.02 (1) contains a detailed description of the extent of the Pike, Pine, and Popple river systems designated as Wild Rivers.

(c) Wolf river upstream of the northern Menominee county line.

(d) The following Class I trout waters:

1. Adams county - Big Roche-a-Cri creek

2. Barron county - Yellow river

3. Bayfield county - Flag river, Sioux river

4. Burnett county - North Fork Clam river, South Fork Clam river

5. Chippewa county - Duncan creek, Elk creek, McCann creek

6. Dane county - Black Earth creek above the easternmost CTY KP crossing

7. Door county - Logan creek

8. Douglas county - Bois Brule river and its tributaries including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth

9. Dunn county - Elk creek

10. Florence county - Brule river including Montagne creek and Riley creek tributaries; tributaries to the Pine-Popple rivers including Chipmunk, Cody, Haley, Haymarsh, Lamon Tangue, Lepage, Lunds, Martin, Olson, Patten, Pine, Riley, Rock, Simpson, Seven Mile, Wakefield and Woods creeks; Little Popple river (T38N R19E S3)

11. Forest county - Brule river

13. Kewaunee county - Little Scarboro creek

14. Langlade county - Clearwater creek, Drew creek, Evergreen river, South Branch Oconto river

15. Lincoln county - Center fork New Wood creek, Little Pine creek, Prairie river

16. Marathon county - Holt creek, Spranger creek, Plover river

17. Marinette county - Cedarville creek, Otter creek, Holmes creek, East Thunder creek, North fork Thunder river, Eagle creek, Little Eagle creek, Plumadore creek, Meadow brook, Upper Middle Inlet creek, Middle Inlet creek, Wausaukee river, Little Wausaukee creek, Coldwater brook, Medicine brook, South Branch Miscauno creek, Miscauno creek, Swede John creek, South Branch Pemebonwon river, Spikehorn creek, Silver creek, Little Silver creek, Sullivan creek; tributaries to the Pike river including Little South Branch Pike river, Camp D creek, Camp F creek, Camp 9 creek, Cole creek, Glen creek, Harvey creek, North Branch Harvey creek, South Branch Harvey creek, Hemlock creek, Holloway creek, K.C. creek, Little Harvey creek, Lost creek, MacIntire creek, Phillips creek, Sackerson creek, Shinns branch, Sidney creek, Smeesters creek, Springdale brook, Whiskey creek

18. Marquette county - Chaffee creek, Lawrence creek, Tagatz creek

19. Monroe county - Rullands Coulee creek

20. Oconto county - First South Branch Oconto river, Second South Branch Oconto river, South Branch Oconto river, Hills Pond creek

21. Polk county - Clam river, McKenzie creek

22. Portage county - Emmons creek, Radley creek, Sannes creek, Tomorrow river, Nace (Trout) creek

23. Richland county - Camp creek

24. Sheboygan county - Nichols creek

25. St. Croix county - Kinnickinnic river above STH "35"

26. Vernon county - Rullands Coulee creek, Spring Coulee creek, Timber Coulee creek

27. Vilas county - Deerskin river, Plum creek

28. Walworth county - Bluff creek, Potawatomi creek, Van Slyke creek

29. Waupaca county - Emmons creek, Griffin creek, Jackson creek, Leers creek, Peterson creek, Radley creek, Sannes creek, Spaulding creek, Trout creek, Whitcomb creek, Little Wolf river (North Branch Little Wolf river)

30. Waushara county - Chaffee creek, Willow creek north of Redgranite, Mecan river north of Richford, Little Pine creek, West Branch White river

(e) The following Class II trout waters:

1. Barron county - Yellow river

2. Burnett county - North Fork Clam river

3. Forest county - Brule river, Peshtigo river

4. Grant county - Big Green river, Castle Rock creek

5. Marinette county - Peshtigo river

6. Polk county - McKenzie creek

7. Vilas county - Plum creek

(f) The following cold or warm water streams and rivers or portions thereof:

1d.	Ashland	Bad River	SEG 1: Origin to Outfall in Mellen at NW¼SW¼S6 T44N R2W
		Brunsweiler River	SEG 1: Origin to Inlet of Spider Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Moquah Lake to origin of Wild River designation under par. (b) 4. at T44N R4W S22 SW ¼ of SW ¼
			SEG 3: All portions included as Wild River under par. (b) 4.
			SEG 4: End of Wild River segment under par. (b) 4. at the boundary of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (T45N R4W S22 ¼ NW) to the Bad River Indian Reservation Boundary
1h.	Ashland & Bayfield	Marengo River	SEG 1: Origin to Inlet of Marengo Lake
			SEG 2: Outlet of Marengo Lake to Bad River Indian Reservation Boundary
1p.	Ashland & Sawyer	E. Fork Chippewa River	SEG1: T42N R1E S17/18 Line to Ashland County Highway XNY in Glidden SEG 6: Outlet of Barker Lake to Confluence with Chippewa Flowage SEG 3: Outlet of Pelican Lake to Inlet of Blaisdell Lake SEG 4: Outlet of Blaisdell Lake to Inlet of Hunter Lake SEG 5: Outlet of Hunter Lake to Inlet of Barker Lake
1t.	Barron	Engle Creek Hickey Creek	Class I &II Portions Class I &II Portions
		Red Cedar River	SEG 1: Outlet of Red Cedar Lake to Inlet of Rice Lake
		Rock Creek	SEG 2: All within Barron County
		Upper Pine Creek	Above Dallas Flowage
2.	Bayfield	Bark River	All-Class I Portions including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semicircular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth
		Big Brook	All
		Cranberry River & Tribs.	All-Class I Portion including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		East Fork Iron River & Tribs.	All-Class I Portion
		East Fork White River	All-Class I Portion
		Eighteen Mile Cr. & Tribs.	All-Class I Portion
		Fish Creek (Main)	All including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		Long Lake Branch & Tribs.	From below Drummond Lake to White River All-Class I Portions
		No. Fork Fish Creek & Tribs.	All-Class I &II Portions
		Onion River & Tribs.	All-Class I Portions including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		Pikes Creek & Tribs.	All-Class I Portion including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		Sioux River & Tribs.	All-Class I &II Portions including the waters of Lake Superior within a 1/4 mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		So. Fork White River	All-Class I Portion
		Thompson Creek	All-Class I Portion
		Twenty Mile Creek	All-Class I &II Portions
		White River	All-Class I Portion
		Whittlesey Creek & Tribs.	All-Class I Portions including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
2d.	Bayfield & Ashland	Beartrap Creek	SEG 1: Origin to Bad River Indian Reservation Boundary
2h.	Bayfield, Ashland & Sawyer	West Fork Chippewa River	SEG 1: Origin (Outlet of Chippewa Lake) to Inlet of Day Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Day Lake to Inlet of Upper Clam Lake SEG 3: Outlet of Upper Clam Lake to Inlet of Lower Clam Lake SEG 4: Outlet of Lower Clam Lake to Inlet of Cattail Lake SEG 5: Outlet of Cattail Lake to Inlet of Meadow Lake SEG 6: Outlet of Meadow Lake to Inlet of Partridge Crop Lake SEG 7: Outlet of Partridge Crop Lake to Inlet of Moose Lake SEG 8: Outlet of Moose Lake to Sawyer County Highway XBY
2p.	Bayfield, Sawyer, Washburn, Douglas & Burnett	Totagatic River	SEG 1: All portions included as Wild River under SEG 1 of par. (b) 5. SEG 2: All portions included as Wild River under SEG 2 of par. (b) 5., and the 500 feet immediately downstream of the dam in the Totagatic Wildlife Area in Washburn County SEG 3: All portions included as Wild River under SEG 3 of par. (b) 5., the 500 feet immediately downstream of the dam that forms the Colton Flowage, and from the end of the Wild River designation at the Dou-glas/Washburn County line to the inlet of Minong Flowage SEG 4: All portions included as Wild River under SEG 4 of par. (b) 5.
3.	Burnett	North Fork Clam River	County Highway XHY to Confluence with Clam River
		Tributaries to the N. & S. Forks of the Clam River	All-Class I &II Portions
4.	Dane	Mt. Vernon Creek	All-Class I Portion
5.	Door	Mink River	All
5m.	Douglas	Amnicon River	SEG 1: Origin (Outlet of Amnicon Lake) to Inlet of Lyman Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Lyman Lake to mouth at Lake Superior, including the waters of Lake Superior within a ¼ mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle of the river mouth.
		Moose River	All
		Spruce River	All
		St. Croix River	SEG 1: Outlet of Upper St. Croix Lake to Inlet of St. Croix Flowage
6.	Forest	Allen Creek	All
		Brule Creek	All
		Elvoy Creek	All
		Jones Creek	Class I &II portions
		Otter Creek (T37N R14E S23, North Otter Creek)	All
6m.	Forest & Langlade	Swamp Creek	SEG 1: Outlet of Lake Lucerne to Mole Lake Indian Reservation Boundary SEG 3: All below Mole Lake Indian Reservation Boundary to Confluence of Wolf River
7. 7m.	Grant Iron & Ashland	Little Green River Tyler Forks	All SEG 1: Origin in Iron County to Bad River Indian Reservation Eastern Boundary in Ashland County SEG 3: From Bad River Indian Reservation Southern Boundary to Confluence with Bad River
		Potato River	SEG 1: Origin to Bad River Indian Reservation Boundary
8.	Iron, Ashland & Price	Flambeau River	SEG 1: Turtle-Flambeau Flowage (Outlet @ Turtle-Flambeau Dam) to Inlet of Upper Park Falls Flowage
9.	LaCrosse	Berge Coulee Creek	All
10.	Langlade	Elton Creek	Class I Portion
		Evergreen Creek	All
		Mayking Creek	All
		Michelson Creek	All
		Mid Branch Embarrass River	Class I Portion
10m.	Lincoln	New Wood River	Origin (T33N R4E S14) to Confluence with Wisconsin River
11.	Marathon	Falstad Creek	Class II Portion
		So. Branch Embarrass River	Class I Portion
12.	Marinette	No. Branch Beaver Creek	Entire River &tributaries
13.	Oneida	Noisy Creek	Class II Portion
		Squirrel River	Outlet of Squirrel Lake to Confluence with Tomahawk River
		Tomahawk River	SEG 2: Outlet of Willow Flowage Dam to Inlet of Lake Nokomis
14.	Pierce	Kinnickinnic River	From Powell Dam to St. Croix River
15.	Polk	Sand Creek & Tribs	All-Class I &II Portions
15e.	Polk & Burnett	Clam River	SEG 1: Outlet of Clam Falls Flowage to Inlet of Clam Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Lower Clam Lake to Section Line @ T39N R16W S21/22
15m.	Price	Elk River	SEG 1: Headwaters to Inlet of Musser Lake
	Price & Lincoln	Spirit River	Outlet of Spirit Lake to Inlet of Spirit River Flowage
16.	Price,Rusk & Sawyer	So. Fork Flambeau River	All-Round L. Dam downstream to Jxn with No. Fork Flambeau R.
17.	Richland	Elk Creek	All
18.	Rusk	Devils Creek	All-Class I &II Portions
		Soft Maple Creek	SEG 1: Origin to Rusk County Highway XFY
		So. Fork Main Creek	Class I &II Portions (T35N R3W S28 downstream to T34N R4W S11)
		Swift Creek	Outlet of Island Lake to Inlet of Fireside Lake
19.	Sauk	Otter Creek	From headwaters to southern section line of T11N R6E S33
		Parfrey's Glen	From headwaters to CTH DL
20.	Sawyer	Benson Creek	All-Class I Portion
		Couderay River	SEG 1: Origin at Outlet of Billy Boy Flowage to Inlet of Grimh Flowage (Including Waters within Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation)
		Eddy Creek	All-Class I Portion
		Grindstone Creek	All-Class I Portion
		Knuteson Creek	SEG 1: Outlet of Wise Lake to Inlet of Knuteson Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Knuteson Lake to Inlet of Lake Chetek
		Little Weirgor	All-Class I &II
		Creek &Tribs	Portions
		McDermott Brook	All
		Mosquito Brook Teal River	All-Class I Portion Outlet of Teal Lake to Confluence with West Fork Chippewa River
20m.	Sawyer & Rusk	Thornapple River	SEG 1: Origin to Rusk County Highway way "J"
		Chippewa River	SEG 1: Dam at Chippewa Flowage to Inlet of Radisson Flowage (T38N R7W S13)
21.	Shawano	Middle Br. Embarrass R.	Origin to but not including Homme Pond
		No. Br. Embarrass R.	Origin to CTH J
		So. Br. Embarrass R.	Origin to but not including Tigerton Pond
21g.	Taylor & Chippewa	Yellow River	SEG 1: Confluence with South Fork Yellow River to Inlet of Chequamegon Waters Flowage SEG 2: Outlet of Chequamegon Waters Flowage (at Miller Dam) to State Highway 64/73
21r.	Taylor & Price	Silver Creek	SEG 1: Origin to Westboro Sanitary District Outfall
22.	Vilas	Allequash Creek & Springs	Class I &II Portions
		Brule Creek	All
		East Br. Blackjack Cr.	All
		Elvoy Creek & Springs	Class I &II Portions
		Manitowish River	SEG 1: Adjacent to Dam Road Downstream to Inlet of Boulder Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Boulder Lake to Inlet of Island Lake
		Mishonagon Creek	Class I &II Portions
		Siphon Creek	All
		Spring Meadow Creek	Class I Portion
		Tamarack Creek	All
		Trout River	SEG 1: Outlet of Trout Lake to Lac Du Flambeau Indian Reservation Eastern Boundary
22m.	Vilas & Oneida	Wisconsin River	SEG 1: Origin (Outlet of Lac Vieux Desert) to Inlet of Watersmeet Lake
23.	Washburn	Beaver Brook	All-Class I Portion
		Sawyer Creek	All-Class I &II Portions
		So. Fork Bean Brook	All-Class I Portion
		Stuntz Brook	Origin to Confluence with Namek-agon River
23m.	Washburn & Barron	Bear Creek	SEG 1: Outlet of Kekegama Lake to Inlet of Bear Lake SEG 2: Outlet of Bear Lake to Inlet at Stump Lake

(1m)

(a) The following lakes are designated as outstanding resource waters:

1.	Ashland	Bad River Slough Kakagon Slough
		Lake Superior within ¼ mile of the shoreline of the islands within the Apostle Island National Lakeshore
2.	Barron	Bear Lake (T36N R12W S2; also in Washburn County) Red Cedar Lake (also in Washburn County) Sand Lake Silver Lake
3.	Bayfield	Bark Bay Slough Diamond Lake Lake Owen Lake Superior within ¼ mile of the shoreline of the islands within the Apostle Island National Lakeshore Lower Eau Claire Lake (also in Douglas County) Middle Eau Claire Lake Namekagon Lake Pike Chain of Lakes (Pike, Millicent, Buskey Bay, Hart, Twin Bear, Eagle, Flynn and Hildur Lakes) Star Lake Upper Eau Claire Lake
4.	Burnett	Big Sand Lake McKenzie Lake (also in Washburn County) Middle McKenzie Lake (also in Washburn County) Sand Lake (T40N R15W S25)
4m.	Chippewa	Chain Lake (also in Rusk County)
5.	Columbia	Crystal Lake (T12N R10E S1)
6.	Douglas	Bardon Lake (Whitefish Lake) Bond Lake Lake Nebagamon Lower Eau Claire Lake (also in Bayfield County) St. Croix (Gordon) Flowage Upper St. Croix Lake
7.	Florence	Edith Lake Keyes Lake Lost Lake Perch Lake Riley Lake, South
8.	Forest	Butternut Lake Franklin Lake Lucerne Lake (Stone) Metonga Lake
9.	Iron	Catherine Lake Cedar Lake Gile Flowage Hewitt Lake Owl Lake Trude Lake Turtle-Flambeau Flowage
9m.	Marinette	Caldron Falls Flowage (also in Oconto County)
10.	Oconto	Archibald Lake Bass Lake (T32N R15E S9) Bear Paw Lake Boot Lake Caldron Falls Flowage (also in Marinette County) Chain Lake
11.	Oneida	Big Carr Lake Clear Lake (T39N R7E S16) Little Tomahawk Lake Tomahawk Lake Two Sisters Lake Willow Flowage
12.	Polk	Pipe Lake
13.	Price	Cochran Lake Tucker Lake
14.	Rusk	Bass Lake (T34N R9W S16) Fish Lake
		Island Chains of Lakes (Chain {also in Chippewa County}, Clear, McCann, and Island Lakes) Three Lakes No. 1 (T36N R9W S25)
15.	St. Croix	Bass Lake (T30N R19W S23) Perch Lake
16.	Sauk	Devils Lake
17.	Sawyer	Barker Lake Blaisdell Lake Evergreen Lake Grindstone Lake Lac Court Oreilles Lake Chippewa (Chippewa Flowage) Nelson Lake Osgood Lake Perch Lake (T42N R6W S25) Round Lake (Big Round) Sand Lake Smith Lake Spider Lake Teal Lake Whitefish Lake
18.	Vilas	Black Oak Lake Crab Lake Crystal Lake (T41N R7E S27) Lac Vieux Desert North Twin Lake Pallette Lake (Clear) Partridge Lake Plum Lake South Twin Lake Star Lake Stormy Lake Trout Lake White Sand Lake (T42N R7E S26)
19.	Walworth	Lulu Lake
20.	Washburn	Bass Lake (T40N R10W S17) Bear Lake (T36N R12W S2; also in Barron County) Long Lake McKenzie Lake (also in Burnett County) Middle McKenzie Lake (also in Burnett County) Red Cedar Lake (also in Barron County) Shell Lake Stone Lake (T39N R10W S24)
21.	Waukesha	Spring Lake (T5N R18E S9)
22.	Waupaca	Graham Lake (Nelson) North Lake
23.	Waushara	Gilbert Lake Lucerne Lake (Egans) Norwegian Lake Pine Lake (Springwater)

(2) The waters in subs. (1) and (1m) may not be lowered in quality.

(3) Surface waters, or portions thereof, may be added to, or deleted from, the outstanding resource waters designation through the rule making process under the provisions of ch. 227, Stats., and s. NR 2.03.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.10

Cr. Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; am. (1) (d), cr. (1) (e), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; cr. (1) (f) and (1m), am. (2), Register, May, 1993, No. 449, eff. 6-1-93; am. (1m) 6., 9. and 11., cr. (1m) 9m., Register, February, 1998, No. 506, eff. 3-1-98; CR 05-089: am. (1) (d) 8., (f) 2., (1m) 1. and 3. Register July 2006 No. 607, eff. 8-1-06; CR 05-105: renum. (1) (f) 1. to be 1t. and am., cr. (1) (f) 1d., 1h., 1p., 2d., 2h., 2p., 5m., 6m.,. 7m., 10m., 15e., 15m., 15s., 20m., 21g., 21r., 22m., and 23m., am. (1) (f) 3., 8. 13., 18., 20., 22., and 23., Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06; reprinted to correct error in (1) (d) 6. Register March 2008 No. 627; CR 09-123: am. (1) (b) 1., 2., (d) 10., 17., 22., 29., 30., (f) 1d., 2p., 6., 8., 10., 20., 22., 22m., (1m) (a) 2. to 6., 9m., 10., 13., 14., 17., 18., 20., cr. (1) (b) 3. to 5. and (1m) (a) 4m. Register July 2010 No. 655, eff. 8-1-10; renumber of (1m) to (1m) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 1, Stats., Register July 2010 No. 655.

Amended by, correction in (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register December 2024 No. 828, eff. 12/1/2024