Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 102.10

Current through October 28, 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 1/4 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 NW%SW% S6
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 1/4 of SW 1/4
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 Chequame-
gon-Nicolet
National Forest
(T45N R4W S22
1/4 NW) to the Bad
River Indian Reservation Boundary
1h.	Ashland	Marengo River	SEG 1: Origin to
& Bay-	Inlet of Marengo
field	Lake
SEG 2: Outlet of
Marengo Lake to
Bad River Indian
Reservation
Boundary
1p.	Ashland	E. Fork Chippewa	SEG1: T42N R1E
& Sawyer	River	S17/18 Line to
Ashland County
Highway "N" 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	Class I & II Portions
Hickey Creek	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
1/4 mile semi-circular 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
V mile semi-circular arc centered at the middle
of the river mouth.
East Fork Iron	All-Class I Portion
River & Tribs.
East Fork White	All-Class I Portion
River
Eighteen Mile Cr.	All-Class I Portion
& Tribs.
Fish Creek (Main)	All including the
waters of Lake
Superior within a
1/4 mile semi-circular arc centered
at the middle of
the river mouth.
Long Lake Branch	From below
& Tribs.	Drummond Lake
to White River
All-Class I Portions
No. Fork Fish	All-Class I & II
Creek & Tribs.	Portions
Onion River & Tribs.	All-Class I Portions including the
waters of Lake
Superior within a
1/4 mile semi-circular arc centered
at the middle of
the river mouth.
Pikes Creek &	All-Class I Portion
Tribs.	including the
waters of Lake
Superior within a
1/4 mile semi-circular arc centered
at the middle of
the river mouth.
Sioux River &	All-Class I & II
Tribs.	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	All-Class I Portion
River
Thompson Creek	All-Class I Portion
Twenty Mile	All-Class I & II
Creek	Portions
White River	All-Class I Portion
Whittlesey Creek & Tribs.	All-Class I Portions including the
waters of Lake
Superior within a
1/4 mile semi-circular arc centered
at the middle of
the river mouth.
2d.	Bayfield	Beartrap Creek	SEG 1: Origin to
& Ash-	Bad River Indian
land	Reservation
Boundary
2h.	Bayfield,	West Fork Chip pewa River	SEG 1: Origin
Ashland	(Outlet of Chip-
& Sawyer	pewa 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 "B"
2p.	Bayfield,	Totagatic River	SEG 1: All
Sawyer,	portions included
Wash-	as Wild River
burn,	under SEG 1 of
Douglas	par. (b) 5.
&
Burnett
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
Douglas/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	County Highway
River	"H" to Confluence
with Clam River
Tributaries to the	All-Class I & II
N. & S. Forks of	Portions
the Clam River
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
1/4 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	All
(T37N R14E S23,
North Otter Creek)
6m.	Forest &	Swamp Creek	SEG 1: Outlet of
Langlade	Lake Lucerne to
Mole Lake Indian
Reservation
Boundary
SEG 3: All below
Mole Lake Indian
Reservation
Boundary to Con-
fluence of Wolf
River
7.	Grant	Little Green River	All
7m.	Iron &	Tyler Forks	SEG 1: Origin in
Ashland	Iron County to
Bad River Indian
Reservation East-
ern 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 Evergreen Creek Mayking Creek Michelson Creek Mid Branch Embarrass River	Class I Portion All All All Class I Portion
10m.	Lincoln	New Wood River	Origin (T33N R4E S14) to Confluence with Wisconsin River
11.	Marathon	Falstad Creek So. Branch Embarrass River	Class II Portion Class I Portion
12.	Marinette	No. Branch Beaver Creek	Entire River & tributaries
13.	Oneida	Noisy Creek Squirrel River Tomahawk River	Class II Portion Outlet of Squirrel Lake to Confluence with 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 Flow-age 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 Flow- age
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 "F"
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 Creek & Tribs	All-Class I & II Portions
McDermott Brook	All
Mosquito Brook	All-Class I Portion
Teal River	Outlet of Teal Lake to Confluence with West Fork Chippewa River
20m.	Sawyer & Rusk	Thornapple River	SEG 1: Origin to Rusk County Highway "J"
Chippewa River	SEG 1: Dam at Chippewa Flowage to Inlet of Radis-son Flowage (T38N R7W S13)
21.	Shawano	Middle Br. Embarrass R.	Origin to but not
including Homme
Pond
No. Br. Embarrass	Origin to CTH J
R.
So. Br. Embarrass	Origin to but not
R.	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 &	Silver Creek	SEG 1: Origin to
Price	Westboro Sanitary
District Outfall
22.	Vilas	Allequash Creek & Springs	Class I & II Portions
Brule Creek	All
East Br. Blackjack	All
Cr.
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	Class I Portion
Creek
Tamarack Creek	All
Trout River	SEG 1: Outlet of
Trout Lake to Lac
Du Flambeau
Indian Reservation
Eastern Boundary
22m.	Vilas &	Wisconsin River	SEG 1: Origin
Oneida	(Outlet of Lac
Vieux Desert) to
Inlet of Water-
smeet Lake
23.	Wash-	Beaver Brook	All-Class I Portion
burn
Sawyer Creek	All-Class I & II
Portions
So. Fork Bean Brook	All-Class I Portion
Stuntz Brook	Origin to Confluence with Name-
kagon River
23m.	Wash-	Bear Creek	SEG 1: Outlet of
burn &	Kekegama Lake to
Barron	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 V mile of the shore-
line 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 V mile of the shore-
line 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 OcontoCounty)
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 sub. (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.