Back03.10.14 DNR letter provides requirements to Gogebic Taconite for potential mining project
Attachment B
Preapplication Notification Information Pursuant to s. 295.465(2), Wis. Stats.
March 10, 2014
Existing Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Information and Other Sources of Information
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The department maintains a wide variety of information in its databases that could be relevant to the potential impacts of the mining project, including information that could assist in the evaluation of the environmental impact of the project and to expedite the preparation of the EIR. Available information includes data on wetlands, surface water, fisheries, groundwater, drinking water, forestry, and wildlife. Examples of the types of information in the department’s databases are provided below.
Wetland Information and Resources
1. Wisconsin wetland inventory (WWI) maps are available on the WDNR surface water data viewer at: http://dnrmaps.wi.gov/SL/Viewer.html?Viewer=SWDV&runWorkflow=Wetland. WWI maps show graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. These maps have been prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery in conjunction with soil surveys, topographic maps, previous wetland inventories and field work. The principal focus of the WWI is to produce wetland maps that are graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. The WDNR recognizes the limitations of using remotely sensed information as the primary data source. They are to be used as a guide for planning purposes. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this inventory, to define the limits of jurisdiction of any Federal, State, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and jurisdictions that may affect such activities. The most accurate method of determining the legal extent of a wetland for federal or state regulations is a field delineation of the wetland boundary by a professional trained in wetland delineation techniques. Wetlands in Ashland and Iron Counties are currently being delineated and classified using 2013 stereo aerial photography. This part of the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory update process will be completed by June 30, 2014. Ortho rectification of the photography, vectorizing of line work and labeling of polygons will commence July 1, 2014. We anticipate completing the townships within the mine project area no later than December 31, 2014.
2. Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Mapping for Iron and Ashland County: The WDNR has created a map of the mine site using available WWI map information depicting mapped and point symbol wetlands and estimated wetland acreages. The following map and table are taken from the current Wisconsin Wetland Inventory digital GIS layer for Ashland and Iron Counties, which is based on interpretation of 1990-91 aerial photography. WWI maps wetlands that are too difficult to delineate clearly as point symbols, rather than mapping the boundaries of these wetlands as polygons. No acreage can be calculated for points, therefore we used two different assumptions to estimate point acreage: 1 acre per point or two acres per point. The total acreages reported in this table should be considered as a range.
The map shown below is a reproduction of the paper map submitted to the department by Gogebic Taconite. Stream, wetland and elevation data are from existing department sources. Possible stream and wetland monitoring stations in and near the Mine Site are shown. Stations further from the site are not shown on this map.
Mine Site Area Map Terms:
Project Area indicates the outer boundaries of the proposed mine site, (not necessarily impacted areas).
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Interior (Operations Area) indicates the area in which mining operations are planned. It includes the pits, plant area, sediment ponds/trenches, stockpile and topsoil areas. GTAC labeled this as ‘Interior” in their submittal.
Physical Plant Area indicates the area in which buildings and other facilities will be placed. Pits indicates mine pits one and two.
Stockpile Area indicates where waste rock will be placed (not including the sediment ponds or storm water drainage ways).
Topsoil Stockpile Area indicates where stripped topsoil will be placed (but not including the sediment ponds or Storm water drainage ways).
3
Mapped Wetlands Within and Near the GTAC Mine Site Based on Wisconsin Wetland Inventory_1991 (Polygons + Points)
Entire Project Area
Operations Area Plus 300m Buffer
Operations Area Plus 100m Buffer
Operation s Area
Physica l Plant Area
Pits
Waste Rock Stock Pile
Soil Stock Pile
Area (Acres)
6,707
5,117
3,811
3,051
545
526
991
195
Mapped Wetland Polygon Acreage
Count
155
111
64
43
16
8
16
1
Acres
1,638
840
413
259
117
12
96
1
Mapped Wetland Points (2 acres or less) Estimated Acre Range
Count
276
235
190
162
17
18
75
16
Acres @ 1/pt
276
235
190
162
17
18
75
16
Acres @ 2/pt
552
470
380
324
34
36
150
32
Total Estimated Wetland Acreage
@ 1 acre/pt
1,914
1,075
603
421
134
30
171
17
@ 2 acre/pt
2,190
1,310
793
583
151
48
246
33
Percent Wetland
@ 1 acre/pt
28.54%
21.01%
15.82%
13.80%
27.71%
5.70%
17.26%
8.72%
@ 2 acre/pt
32.65%
25.60%
20.81%
19.11%
24.59%
9.13%
24.82%
16.92%
3. National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) 2011: Wetlands of four freshwater and two estuarine types were randomly selected across the nation. 17 freshwater sites were located in Wisconsin. They are representative of the two study ecoregions that occur in Wisconsin, Upper Midwest and Temperate Plains (Omernik 1987, USEPA 2011). Vegetation, algae, soil and water chemistry sampling was conducted along with characterization of land cover, hydrological setting and stressors in the assessment area and in a 100m buffer area. Data analysis is on-going and results are expected to be published by December of 2014.
4. Lake Superior Basin Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) Benchmarks Survey: This is a research study of the inland (not coastal) wetland plant communities in the Lake Superior Basin, using timed meander sampling to gather comprehensive presence and abundance data at 265 assessment areas of 9 plant community types during the growing seasons of 2012 and 2013, along with land cover and an assessment of the level of anthropogenic disturbance at each assessment area. The purpose is to study the response of FQA metrics to disturbance for each wetland plant community type, in order to set benchmarks distinguishing between low, medium and high plant community condition for these metrics. Field data was gathered by UW-Superior’s Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) in accordance with a Quality Assurance Project Plan. Data analysis is on-going and results along with any proposed benchmarks are expected to be released in April 2014 by LSRI and the department’s Water Quality Bureau. The study will help guide interpretation of plant community surveys conducted in accordance with its sampling protocol.
5. NWI + Projects for Landscape Level Wetland Functional Assessment
6. ‘NWI+” is shorthand for an enhancement of the National Wetland Inventory, adding
hydrogeomorphic classifications that describe a wetland’s Landscape position, Landform, 4
Water flow path, and Waterbody type (LLWW descriptors). The US Fish and Wildlife Service have a manual for assigning these descriptors, “Dichotomous Keys and Mapping Codes for Wetland Landscape Position, Landform, Water Flow Path, and Waterbody Type Descriptors: Version 2.0” (R. Tiner 2011). This system has been used to describe wetland functional assessment at the watershed scale in several projects in Wisconsin. The closest NWI + project to the Mine Site were in the Upper St Croix Watershed (Watershed Study Report For The Headwaters of the St. Croix River Basin, WI”, US Army Corps of Engineers, 2013). Two other similar projects have been recently completed using this methodology: “A Landscape-Scale Wetland Functional Assessment and Identification of Potential Wetland Restoration Sites for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community” (J.Stark and D. Jensen, St Mary’s University Geospatial Services 2013) and “The Duck-Pensaukee Watershed Approach: Mapping Wetland Services, Meeting Watershed Needs” (N. Miller, et al., The Nature Conservancy 2012).
Surface Water Quality Information and Resources
The department has several continuing or completed monitoring projects. Because the data are collected to meet the requirements of the specific project, an understanding of the goals and objectives the projects is necessary to interpret these data.
Baseline Stream Tier 1 monitoring: This is a category for a number of baseline monitoring programs that usually consists of a single year of sampling for macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish assemblages, qualitative habitat rating and a single water chemistry grab sample using standard WDNR methods, index periods and biotic indices.
Long Term Trend Wade-able: A monitoring program that samples every year at static regionally least disturbed reference sites to track changes in wadeable streams. Monitoring consists of macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish assemblages, quantitative habitat rating and a single water chemistry grab sample using standard WDNR methods, index periods and biotic indices.
Long Term Trend River: A monitoring program that monitors monthly or quarterly (depending on site) at non-wadeable river sites associated with a USGS gauge to track changes in water quality parameters concentration and loading from grab samples collected during both base flow and runoff events. This monitoring program has the longest continuous period of record and most extensive chemical parameters.
Severely impacted streams: A monitoring program that monitors a single visit at sites predicted to be regionally most disturbed based on anthropogenic stressors. Monitoring consists of macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish assemblages, qualitative habitat rating and a single water chemistry grab sample using standard WDNR methods, index periods and biotic indices.
Tyler Forks Watershed Project 2012 and 2013: A watershed monitoring project was conducted in the Tyler Forks River watershed in 2012 and 2013. Additional waterways were monitored in portions of the Upper Bad, and Potato River watersheds. The purpose of the monitoring was to collect water quality information on area streams. The data gathered will be used for the purposes of updating waterbody assessment status (i.e. future monitoring for 303(d) or ERW/ORW status), for making management recommendations and updating water body and watershed narratives in our WATERS database, and for use in watershed planning. The monitoring included; water chemistry sampling, fish surveys, macroinvertebrate kick samples, habitat assessments, field parameters (dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, temperature, transparency tube) and continuous
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temperature monitoring. The water chemistry sampling included nutrients, trace metals, sulfate, chloride, harness, alkalinity, and total organic carbon at 13 sites on 10 waterways.
National Streams Assessment: The National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) is an EPA lead monitoring project designed to provide regional and national estimates of stream condition using a probabilistic site selection. All chemical measures should be directly comparable to WDNR collected data; however physical habitat measurements and biologic assessment protocols are different from WDNR protocols and may not be directly comparable.
Citizen Lake Monitoring: Trained citizen volunteers measure Secchi depth bimonthly, and temperature, dissolved oxygen profiles, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a during spring and fall turnover plus three times during summer. This monitoring has broad spatial coverage, with approximately 925 volunteers monitoring water quality at more than 800 monitoring stations throughout the state. This data is used to determine trophic status and assess lakes for water quality. http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/clmn/
Long Term Trend Lakes: WDNR collects samples from 65 lakes throughout the state to monitor long-term trends in water quality and provide regional reference conditions for each lake class. The following variables are measured once during spring turnover and three times during summer: Secchi depth, temperature/dissolved oxygen profile, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and optionally, conductivity and pH. Water color, nitrate, nitrite, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen are measured once each year in the middle of summer. Calcium and Magnesium are measured on a 5- year cycle. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/surfacewater/monitoring/strategy/Tier1/Ch1- Lakes_MonStrat_11-6-2008.pdf
Lake Clarity from Satellite Imagery: WDNR Science Services analyzes satellite imagery each year to estimate water clarity in more than 3000 lakes across the state.
Fish Contaminants: Tissue from a variety of fish species in lakes and rivers across the state is sampled for mercury and other metals. Priority lakes are sampled every 10-15 years, whereas other lakes have only been visited once. http://intranet.dnr.state.wi.us/int/water/fhp/pages/database-fishcontaminants.html
Trout Lake Research Station: . Long-term research on mercury cycling in lakes near the Trout Lake Long Term Ecological Research field station is available and can provide baseline data to characterize lakes prior to, during, and after mining.
National Lakes Assessment 2007 and 2012: Lakes were randomly selected (39 lakes in 2007, 50 lakes in 2012) for sampling by the US Environmental Protection Agency and therefore, should be representative of lakes throughout the state. This survey included the following indicators:
Early Detection Invasive Species Monitoring for Lakes: In 2011, the WDNR received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to develop a statewide AIS monitoring protocol to evaluate the rate of AIS spread in state and determine AIS distribution.
GLRI Lake Superior Phosphorus Study: A monitoring program at static stations that measure flow with USGS gauges and phosphorus concentrations through monthly and event based grab samples to calculate phosphorus loading to Lake Superior.
Algal
Toxins, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Chlorophyll A, Nutrients, Phytoplankton, Sediment Dating,
Sediment Diatoms, Sediment Mercury, Water Chemistry, and Zooplankton.
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National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) 2011: Wetlands of four freshwater and two estuarine types were randomly selected across the nation. 17 freshwater sites were located in Wisconsin. Vegetation, algae, soil and water chemistry sampling was conducted along with characterization of land cover, hydrological setting and stressors in the assessment area and in a 100m buffer area. Data analysis is on-going and results are expected to be published by December of 2014.
Wisconsin Wetland Inventory (WWI) Mapping for Iron and Ashland County: WWI maps show graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. These maps have been prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery in conjunction with soil surveys, topographic maps, previous wetland inventories and field work. The principal focus of the WWI is to produce wetland maps that are graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. We anticipate completing the townships within the mine project area no later than December 31, 2014.
Lake Superior Basin Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) Benchmarks Survey: This is a research study of the inland (not coastal) wetland plant communities in the Lake Superior Basin, using timed meander sampling to gather comprehensive presence and abundance data at 265 assessment areas of 9 plant community types during the growing seasons of 2012 and 2013, along with land cover and an assessment of the level of anthropogenic disturbance at each assessment area. The purpose is to study the response of FQA metrics to disturbance for each wetland plant community type, in order to set benchmarks distinguishing between low, medium and high plant community condition for these metrics. The study will help guide interpretation of plant community surveys conducted in accordance with the it’s sampling protocol.
NWI + Projects for Landscape Level Wetland Functional Assessment
‘NWI+” is shorthand for an enhancement of the National Wetland Inventory, adding hydrogeomorphic classifications that describe a wetland’s Landscape position, Landform, Water flow path, and Waterbody type (LLWW descriptors). The US Fish and Wildlife Service have a manual for assigning these descriptors, “Dichotomous Keys and Mapping Codes for Wetland Landscape Position, Landform, Water Flow Path, and Waterbody Type Descriptors: Version 2.0” (R. Tiner 2011). This system has been used to describe wetland functional assessment at the watershed scale in several projects in Wisconsin.
Trout stream classifications: Pursuant to s. NR 1.02(7), Wis. Adm. Code, the department is directed to identify and classify trout streams according to standards in that section to ensure adequate protection and proper management of this unique resource. The Fisheries Bureau uses the results from ~900 surveys of stream sites conducted annually across the state to continuously update the classification system based on the standards and procedures in the administrative code. The code requires the department to maintain a list of classified streams for public information but specifically states that the list “shall not be assumed to be exhaustive.” Trout stream classifications have formal legal standing in high capacity well and certain water regulations permit reviews, and have been the basis for making WPDES program use classifications.
The Mercer WDNR Fish Team (charged with fisheries management responsibilities in Iron and Ashland Counties) is considering the following waterbodies for classification as trout streams in the vicinity of the proposed mine. Any proposed updates will follow the classification process as outlined in NR 1.02(7). The following listing includes the WDNR’s Waterbody Identification Code (WBIC) and Stream Name:
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4000019 – Unnamed Cr. 2906450 – Unnamed Cr. 2930200 – Unnamed Cr. 2926600 – Unnamed Cr. 2930900 – Unnamed Cr.
Fisheries baseline monitoring: Fisheries Management has established baseline fish monitoring protocols for all wadeable streams, non wadeable rivers, and lakes which contain fish populations that are actively managed by the program. The protocols include standard gear deployment, number of sites to be sampled for each waterbody, and a schedule under which the frequency of sampling is related to the use and importance of the waterbody. The baseline monitoring program is intended to allow local fisheries biologists to make decisions on stocking, harvest regulation and habitat management actions for primary managed species.
Fisheries “Tier 2” Monitoring: Fisheries Management at times designs ad hoc special “Tier 2” surveys to collect information on managed species that are not adequately covered by our baseline protocol (e.g., sturgeon and catfish in some waters), or to follow up on specific management problems identified by baseline monitoring which require more detailed information.
The department has water quality data stored in several data bases. These data were collected as part of various monitoring programs or special projects each with their own specific objectives. The department can provide data from the data bases electronically upon request.
The following tables identify the streams and lakes where WDNR data are available. These data tables list survey sites in the following HUC 10 watersheds; Tyler Forks, Upper Bad, Lower Bad, Potato River, Montreal River, Marengo River, and Portions of the West Fork and East Fork of the Chippewa River and Upper North Fork Flambeau River. Data are available for lakes within a 50 mile radius of the mine site.
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Table 1 Streams in the Penokee Region with water resources data.
Waterbody
WBIC
Earliest Sample
Latest Sample
Number of Stations
WQ Unique Sample Events
Macroinvertebrate Unique Sample Events
HUC10
Tyler Forks
2923100
10/14/2009
10/17/2013
6
53
12
Tyler Forks Watershed
Scott Tyler Creek
2923300
11/02/2005
10/17/2012
2
1
2
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2923400
06/01/2012
10/29/2012
1
1
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Gehrman Creek
2923500
05/30/2012
10/29/2012
2
2
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Camp Four Creek
2923600
05/30/2012
10/18/2012
1
1
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Feldcher Creek
2923800
05/30/2012
10/29/2012
1
1
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Vogue Creek
2924100
11/02/2005
10/29/2012
2
1
2
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2924300
05/30/2012
11/08/2012
1
1
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Javorsky Creek
2924600
10/04/2011
10/15/2013
1
14
3
Tyler Forks Watershed
Erickson Creek
2924800
05/27/2011
11/08/2012
1
3
3
Tyler Forks Watershed
Rouse Creek
2925000
09/27/2006
09/24/2008
2
0
14
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2925100
05/27/2011
10/05/2012
1
3
0
Tyler Forks Watershed
Mud Creek
2926000
04/30/2008
09/28/2012
2
2
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2926200
11/03/2005
10/15/2013
2
10
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2926600
06/01/2012
10/01/2013
2
2
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Bull Gus Creek
2926700
11/03/2005
10/15/2013
2
15
2
Tyler Forks Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2927400
11/03/2005
11/03/2005
1
0
1
Tyler Forks Watershed
Bad River
2891900
07/28/2005
10/17/2013
4
14
1
Upper Bad River Watershed
Devils Creek
2929300
09/21/2000
10/15/2013
4
17
6
Upper Bad River Watershed
Montreal Creek
2929400
05/30/2012
10/18/2012
1
1
1
Upper Bad River Watershed
Opergard Creek
2929700
05/27/2011
10/05/2012
1
2
2
Upper Bad River Watershed
City Creek
2930100
05/24/2011
09/19/2012
1
2
2
Upper Bad River Watershed
Ballou Creek
2930700
05/19/2011
10/15/2013
2
18
5
Upper Bad River Watershed
Unnamed Creek
2930900
05/31/2013
11/05/2013
1
1
0
Upper Bad River Watershed
Brush Creek
2933600
04/28/1993
04/28/1993
1
0
3
Upper Bad River Watershed
Bad River
2891900
4/17/61
10/8/13
1
359
0
Bad River Watershed
Potato River
2906200
06/08/1979
10/17/2013
5
10
7
Potato River Watershed
Vaughn Creek
2906300
06/22/1979
11/28/2006
3
1
4
Potato River Watershed
Frieberg Creek
2907600
04/23/2012
09/28/2012
1
1
0
Potato River Watershed
Sixteen Creek
2908850
05/13/2013
10/15/2013
1
10
0
Potato River Watershed
Norman Creek
2910400
05/13/2013
10/15/2013
1
10
0
Potato River Watershed
Unnamed Creek
3000519
04/25/2007
09/23/2008
2
0
14
Potato River Watershed
Unnamed Creek
3000520
04/25/2007
09/15/2008
1
0
4
Potato River Watershed
Table 2. Existing lake data in and near the Penokee Range within approximately 50 miles of the mine site. “Limnology” refers to physical and chemical lake data including chlorophyll a, “Fish Hg” refers to mercury and other metals data analyzed in fish tissue, “Fish” includes abundance and size data of fish by species, and “Plant” refers to Point-Intercept aquatic plant surveys.
Lake
County
WBIC
Limnology
Fish Hg
Fish
Plant
Spillerberg Lake
Ashland
2936200
1
1
1
English Lake
Ashland
2914800
1
1
Mineral Lake
Ashland
2916900
1
1
1
1
Meder Lake
Ashland
2935300
1
1
Augustine Lake
Ashland
2410400
1
1
Lake Galilee
Ashland
2935500
1
1
1
Upper Clam Lake
Ashland
2429600
1
Spider Lake
Ashland
2918600
1
1
Moquah Lake
Ashland
2918200
1
1
Potter Lake
Ashland
2917200
1
1
Gates Lake
Ashland
1850200
1
1
Bear Lake
Ashland
2403200
1
Anderson Lake
Bayfield
2754200
1
Diamond Lake
Bayfield
2897100
1
1
1
Middle Eau Claire Lake
Bayfield
2742100
1
1
1
Eagle Lake
Bayfield
2902900
1
1
1
Buskey Bay
Bayfield
2903800
1
1
Upper Eau Claire Lake
Bayfield
2742700
1
1
1
Lake Millicent
Bayfield
2903700
1
1
1
Twin Bear Lake
Bayfield
2903100
1
1
Hart Lake
Bayfield
2903200
1
1
1
Flynn Lake
Bayfield
2902800
1
1
9
Namekagon Lake Lake Owen Garden Lake George Lake Lake Tahkodah Tomahawk Lake Half Moon Lake Ellison Lake Cranberry Lake Bony Lake Shunenberg Lake Robinson Lake Samoset Lake Lake Wilipyro Island Lake Hammil Lake Wiley Lake
Cable Lake
Long Lake
Sand Bar Lake Pickerel Lake Phantom Lake Pigeon Lake Bark Bay Slough Dells Lake Atkins Lake Chippewa Lake Lester Lake Perch Lake
Lake Delta
Drummond Lake
Cisco Lake
Star Lake
Siskiwit Lake
Little Siskiwit Lake
Twin Lakes
Sawdust Lake
Lund Lake
Long Lake
Lake Ruth
Twin Lakes
Bufo Lake
Bladder Lake
Armstrong Lake
Birch Lake
Twin Lakes
Namekagon Lake Hildebrand Lake
East Eightmile Lake Bellevue Lake
Moon Lake
Bass Lake
Lower Eau Claire Lake Gile Flowage
Turtle Flambeau Flowage Mercer Lake
Spider Lake
Pardee Lake
Trude Lake
Wilson Lake
Little Pike Lake
Little Pine Lake
Grand Portage Lake
Lake of the Falls
Long Lake
Hewitt Lake
Rice Lake
Randall Lake
Sandy Beach Lake
Cedar Lake
Owl Lake
Bayfield 2732600 1 Bayfield 2900200 1 Bayfield 2735500 1 Bayfield 2465700 1 Bayfield 2473500 1 Bayfield 2501700 1 Bayfield 2762700 1 Bayfield 2463300 1 Bayfield 2741700 1 Bayfield 2742500 1 Bayfield 2743600 1 Bayfield 2743300 1 Bayfield 2494800 1 Bayfield 2473600 1 Bayfield 2470800 1 Bayfield 2467900 1 Bayfield 2729800 1 Bayfield 2729700 1 Bayfield 2767100 1 Bayfield 2494900 1 Bayfield 2489200 1 Bayfield 2771200 1 Bayfield 2489400 1 Bayfield 2881200 1 Bayfield 1844500 1 Bayfield 2734000 1 Bayfield 2431300 1 Bayfield 2766500 1 Bayfield 2770700
Bayfield 2901700
Bayfield 2899400
Bayfield 2899200
Bayfield 2898400
Bayfield 2882300
Bayfield 2882200
Bayfield 2832200
Bayfield 2773200
Bayfield 2767800
Bayfield 2767200
Bayfield 2765900
Bayfield 2761000
Bayfield 2757000
Bayfield 2756200
Bayfield 2754600
Bayfield 2743200
Bayfield 2731800
Bayfield 2689500
Bayfield 2469300
Bayfield 2462200
Bayfield 2755800
Bayfield 2768900
Bayfield 2901100
Douglas 2741600 1 Iron 2942300 1 Iron 2294900 1 Iron 2313600 1 Iron 2306300 1 Iron 2308000 1 Iron 2295200 1 Iron 2297000 1 Iron 2313100 1 Iron 2949500 1 Iron 2314100 1 Iron 2298300 1 Iron 2303500 1 Iron 2763300 1 Iron 2300600 1 Iron 2318500 1 Iron 2316100 1 Iron 2309700 1 Iron 2307600 1
1 1
1
1
1
1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1
1
1
1
1 1
1
10
1 1
1
1 1 1
1 1 1
Deertail Lake
Shine Lake
Bearskull Lake McDermott Lake
Upper Springstead Lake North Bass Lake
Lake Six
Fox Lake
First Black Lake
Weber Lake
Pine Lake
Echo Lake
Moose Lake
Squirrel Lake*
Franklin Lake
Shishebogama Lake
Blue Lake
Fuller Lake
Squaw Lake
Kawaguesaga Lake
Diamond Lake
Willow Lake
Great Bass Lake
Booth Lake
Swamsauger Lake
Buckskin Lake
Malby Lake
Minocqua Lake
Park Falls Flowage, Lower Pixley Flowage
Musser Flowage
Solberg Lake
Elk Lake
Long Lake
Butternut Lake
Lac Sault Dore
Round Lake
Big Dardis Lake
Newman Lake
Pike Lake
Turner Lake
Blockhouse Lake
Wilson Lake
Schnur Lake
Sailor Lake
Price Lake
Cranberry Lake
Tucker Lake
Deer Lake
Riley Lake
Duroy Lake
Bass Lake
Twin Lakes
Cochran Lake
Sailor Creek Flowage
Wilson Flowage
Lake Ten
Crane and Chase Lake Grassy Lake
Spider Lake
Nelson Lake (Totagatic Flow) Tiger Cat Flowage
Teal Lake
Lower Clam Lake
Teal River Flowage
Lost Land Lake
Moose Lake
Clear Lake
Connors Lake
Lake Placid
Blueberry Lake
Iron 1844300 1
Iron 2928200 1
Iron 2265100 1 1 Iron 2296500 1
Iron 2267100 1
Iron 1868900 1 1 Iron 2294500 1 1 Iron 1849500 1
Iron 2298500 1
Iron 2909000
Iron 2949200 1 Iron 2301800 1 Iron 2299300
Oneida 1536300 1 1 Oneida 986000 1 1 Oneida 1539600 1 1 Oneida 1538600 1
Oneida 2272000 1
Oneida 2271600 1 1 Oneida 1542300 1 1 Oneida 1537100 1
Oneida 1529500 1 1 Oneida 1851600 1
Oneida 1537800 1 1 Oneida 1528700 1 1 Oneida 2272600 1 Oneida 1002900 1 Oneida 1542400 1
Price 2290100 1 1 Price 2288900 1 1 Price 2245100 1 1 Price 2242500 1 1 Price 2240000 1 1 Price 2239300 1 1 Price 2283300 1 1 Price 2236800 1 1 Price 2267800 1 1 Price 2244200 1 1 Price 1870200 1 1 Price 2268300 1 1 Price 2268500 1 1 Price 2256800 1 1 Price 2239400 1 1 Price 2284000 1
Price 2254800 1 1 Price 2234600 1
Price 2217000 1 1 Price 2269000 1 1 Price 2239100 1
Price 2263400 1 1 Price 2240100 1 Price 2279800 1 Price 2264200 1 Price 2264000 1 Price 2252200 1 Price 2246500 1 Price 1859400 1 Price 2237500
Price 2238100
Sawyer 2435700 1 1 Sawyer 2704200 1 1 Sawyer 2435000 1 1 Sawyer 2417000 1 1 Sawyer 2429300 1 1 Sawyer 2416900 1
Sawyer 2418600 1 1 Sawyer 2420600 1 1 Sawyer 1841300 1 1 Sawyer 2275100 1 1 Sawyer 2436500 1
Sawyer 1835700 1 1
1
1 1 1
1 1 1
1 1
1
1
1
1 1
1
1 1
1
1 1
1 1 1
1 1
1
1 1
11
1 1
Barber Lake Ghost Lake
Black Dan Lake Black Lake Blaisdell Lake Barker Lake Radisson Flowage Island Lake
North Lake
Fawn Lake
Clear Lake
Christner Lake
Smith Lake
Spring Lake
Winter Lake (Price Flowage) Indian School Lake
Lake of the Pines Currier Lake
Lake Helane Silverthorn Lake Pelican Lake
Mud Lake Callahan Lake Fishtrap Lake Round Lake
Little Round Lake Pacwawong Spring Pacwawong Lake Crane Lake
Lake Chippewa
Loretta Lake (U Brunet Flowage) Evergreen Lake
Mason Lake
Two Axe Lake
Osprey Lake
Lac Courte Oreilles
Trout Lake
Little Rock Lake
Dead Pike Lake
Upper Gresham Lake
Johnson Lake
Clear Lake
Diamond Lake
Amik Lake
Gunlock Lake
Towanda Lake
Rest Lake
Island Lake
Moss Lake
Spider Lake
Little Spider Lake
Arrowhead Lake
Annabelle Lake
Lower Gresham Lake Horsehead Lake
Plummer Lake
Morton Lake
Hiawatha Lake
North Turtle Lake
Papoose Lake
Pokegama Lake
Birch Lake
Harris Lake
Crab Lake
South Turtle Lake
Bills Lake
Carlin Lake
Crystal Lake
Little Crawling Stone Lake Presque Isle Lake
Bobidosh Lake
Sawyer 2382300 1 1 Sawyer 2423000 1 1 Sawyer 2381900 1 1 Sawyer 2401300 1 1 Sawyer 2402200 1 1 Sawyer 2400000 1 1 Sawyer 2397400 1
Sawyer 2381800 1 1 Sawyer 2436000 1
Sawyer 2435900 1
Sawyer 2435800 1 1 Sawyer 1840800 1 1 Sawyer 2726100 1 1 Sawyer 2724900 1 1 Sawyer 2381100 1 1 Sawyer 2726000 1 1 Sawyer 2275300 1 1 Sawyer 1842800 1
Sawyer 1859100 1 1 Sawyer 2497000 1 1 Sawyer 1873100 1
Sawyer 2434800 1
Sawyer 2434700 1 1 Sawyer 2401100 1 1 Sawyer 2395600 1 1 Sawyer 2395500 1 Sawyer 2728900 1 Sawyer 2728700 1 Sawyer 2436900 1 Sawyer 2399700 1 Sawyer 2382700 1 Sawyer 2277600 1 Sawyer 2277200 1 Sawyer 1887200 1 Sawyer 2395100
Sawyer 2390800 1 1 Vilas 2331600 1 1 Vilas 1862100 1
Vilas 2316600 1 1 Vilas 2330800 1 1 Vilas 1541100 1
Vilas 2329000 1 1 Vilas 1844700 1
Vilas 2268600 1
Vilas 1539700 1 1 Vilas 1022900 1 1 Vilas 2327500 1 1 Vilas 2334400 1 1 Vilas 2322500 1
Vilas 2329300 1 1 Vilas 1540400 1 1 Vilas 1541500 1 1 Vilas 2953800 1 1 Vilas 2330300 1
Vilas 2953100 1 1 Vilas 1875100 1
Vilas 2960300 1
Vilas 2328400 1
Vilas 2310400 1 1 Vilas 2328700 1 1 Vilas 2320800 1
Vilas 2311100 1 1 Vilas 2958500 1 1 Vilas 2953500 1 1 Vilas 2310200 1 1 Vilas 1835500 1
Vilas 2757900 1
Vilas 1842400 1
Vilas 2324000 1
Vilas 2956500 1 1 Vilas 1836100 1
1
12
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
1
1
1
Ike Walton Lake Ross Allen Lake Van Vliet Lake Little Crooked Lake Stearns Lake White Sand Lake High Lake
Jag Lake
Middle Gresham Lake Wildcat Lake
Crawling Stone Lake Circle Lily Lake
Big Muskellunge Lake Armour Lake
Alder Lake
Nichols Lake
Oxbow Lake
Fishtrap Lake
Rock Lake
Sparkling Lake
Beaver Lake
Edith Lake
Mermaid Lake
Lower Sugarbush
Little John Lake
Placid Twin Lake, Geneveive Lake
Snake Lake
Little Star Lake
Fence Lake
Tenderfoot Lake Sanborn Lake
Wishow Lake Tippecanoe Lake
Nixon Lake Vandercook Lake Cochran Lake Allequash Lake
Lost Canoe Lake
White Sand Lake Boulder Lake
Big Lake
Mann Lake
Apeekwa Lake
Brandy Lake
Round Lake
Little Crab Lake
Big Crooked Lake McCullough Lake
Twin Island Lake
Lower Aimer Lake Knife Lake
Little Trout Lake
Favil Lake
Grassy Lake Manitowish Lake
Wild Rice Lake
Day Lake
Lynx Lake
Escanaba Lake
Little Sand Lake
Middle Sugarbush Lake Wabasso Lake
Signal Lake
Sherman Lake
Pallette Lake
Oswego Lake
Little Gibson Lake Camp Lake
Broken Bow Lake
Big Gibson Lake
Vilas 2321800 1 1 Vilas 1878100 1
Vilas 2956800 1 1 Vilas 2335500 1 1 Vilas 2323600 1 1 Vilas 2321100 1
Vilas 2344000 1 1
Vilas 1855900 1 1
Vilas 2330700 1 1 Vilas 2336800 1 1
Vilas 2322800 1
Vilas 2326700 1 1
Vilas 1835300 1 1
Vilas 2953200 1
Vilas 2329600 1 1
Vilas 1870400 1
Vilas 2954800 1 1
Vilas 2343200 1 1
Vilas 2311700 1 1
Vilas 1881900 1 1
Vilas 2960600 1
Vilas 1846900 1
Vilas 2768100 1
Vilas 2317600 1
Vilas 2332300 1 1
Vilas 2323800 1
Vilas 1850500 1
Vilas 1541700 1
Vilas 2334300 1 1
Vilas 2323000 1 1
Vilas 2962400 1 1
Vilas 2960200 1
Vilas 2046800 1
Vilas 1886000 1
Vilas 2341200 1 1 Vilas 1176400 1 1
Vilas 2963500 1
Lake North
Vilas 2332400 Vilas 2339800 Vilas 2339100 Vilas 2338300 Vilas 2334700 Vilas 2332000 Vilas 2269400 Vilas 1541300 Vilas 2334900 Vilas 2955900 Vilas 2321400 Vilas 2960400 Vilas 2959300 Vilas 2955000 Vilas 2954000 Vilas 2321600 Vilas 2269900 Vilas 2343900 Vilas 2329400 Vilas 2329800 Vilas 1843500 Vilas 2954500 Vilas 2339900 Vilas 2322200 Vilas 2317700 Vilas 2045000 Vilas 1880900 Vilas 1880700 Vilas 1872100 Vilas 1871800 Vilas 1861500 Vilas 1839100 Vilas 1837300 Vilas 1835200
1 1 1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1 1
1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1
1
1
1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1
1 1 1 1 1
1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
13
Benedict Lake Vilas 971200 1
Stateline Lake
Vilas
2952100
1
Table 3. Existing lake data in and near the Penokee Range within approximately 15 miles of the mine site. “Limnology” refers to physical and chemical lake data including chlorophyll a, “Fish Hg” refers to mercury and other metals data analyzed in fish tissue, “Fish” includes abundance and size data of fish by species, and “Plant” refers to Point-Intercept aquatic plant surveys.
Lake
County
WBIC
Limnology
Fish Hg
Fish
Plant
Spillerberg Lake
Ashland
2936200
1
1
1
English Lake
Ashland
2914800
1
1
Mineral Lake
Ashland
2916900
1
1
1
1
Meder Lake
Ashland
2935300
1
1
Augustine Lake
Ashland
2410400
1
1
Lake Galilee
Ashland
2935500
1
1
1
Potter Lake
Ashland
2917200
1
1
Gile Flowage
Iron
2942300
1
1
1
Shine Lake
Iron
2928200
1
Lake Six
Iron
2294500
1
1
1
Weber Lake
Iron
2909000
1
1
Spillerberg Lake
Ashland
2936200
1
1
1
Table 4. Streams in Middle Tyler Forks Watershed (HUC 12 #040103020202) identified by stream name and waterbody identification code (WBIC) along with the respective length of the stream, number of access points surveyed, the number of fisheries surveys conducted, and respective trout classification.
HUC12 NAME
STREAM NAME
WBIC
LENGTH (MILES)
# of Access Points Surveyed
# of Surveys
Trout Classification
Middle Tyler Forks
Tyler Forks
2923100
9.8
Iron 7 Ashland 8
18 101
1&2 1&2
Middle Tyler Forks
Javorsky Creek
2924600
3.0
1
4
1
Middle Tyler Forks
Dunn Creek
2924700
1.7
1
1
3
Middle Tyler Forks
Erickson Creek
2924800
5.1
5
5
2
Middle Tyler Forks
Rouse Creek
2925000
2.3
3
8
3
Middle Tyler Forks
Unnamed
2925100
0.7
1
1
No Classification
Middle Tyler Forks
Mud Creek
2926000
3.7
4
4
2
Middle Tyler Forks
Unnamed
2926200
1.7
2
2
No Classification
Middle Tyler Forks
Unnamed
2926600
1.4
2
2
Pending
Middle Tyler Forks
Bull Gus Creek
2926700
2.5
1
3
3
Middle Tyler Forks
Unnamed
4000019
Pending
1
2
Pending
Table 5: Streams in Devils Creeks-Bad River Watershed (HUC12 #040103020304) identified by stream name and waterbody identification code (WBIC) along with the respective length of the stream, number of access points surveyed, the number of fisheries surveys conducted, and respective trout classification.
HUC12 NAME
STREAM NAME
WBIC
LENGTH (MILES)
# of Access Points Surveyed
# of Surveys
Trout Classification
14
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Devils Creek
2929300
6.9
8
21
1
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Montreal Creek
2929400
7.6
6
7
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unnamed
2929600
1.7
1
2
No Classification
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Opergard Creek
2929700
3.8
1
1
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
City Creek
2930100
3.1
5
9
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unnamed
2930200
1.1
1
2
Pending
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Ballou Creek
2930700
3.6
3
9
1
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unnamed
2930900
1.5
3
3
Pending
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unnamed
5002727
0.2
2
2
No Classification
Table 6. The following table shows the trout stream classification status of streams and rivers in the two hydrologic units expected to be directly impacted by the proposed mine. Each waterbody is specifically identified by its water body identification code (WRIC).
15
HUC12 NAME
STREAM NAME
WBIC
LENGTH (MI LES)
# of Access Points Surveyed
# of Surveys
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Devils Creek
2929300
6.9
8
21
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Montreal Creek
2929400
7.6
6
7
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2929500
1.0
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2929600
1.7
1
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Opergard Creek
2929700
3.8
1
1
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2929900
1.3
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930000
0.6
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
City Creek
2930100
3.1
5
9
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930200
1.1
1
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930300
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930500
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930600
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Ballou Creek
2930700
3.6
3
9
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930800
2.0
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2930900
1.5
3
3
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
2931200
0.2
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002496
0.8
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002507
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002548
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002566
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002610
0.2
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002612
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002653
0.4
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002661
0.8
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002664
0.9
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002669
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002672
0.0
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002676
0.6
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002682
0.4
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002684
0.1
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002695
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002698
0.1
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002711
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002713
0.6
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002727
0.2
2
2
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002739
0.0
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002747
0.1
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002749
0.5
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002757
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002761
0.8
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002762
0.9
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002765
1.0
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002767
0.3
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002768
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002771
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002774
0.7
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002783
0.3
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002785
0.6
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002798
0.1
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002799
0.2
No data
No data
Devils Creeks-Bad River
Unna med
5002802
0.3
No data
No data
Trout Classification
1
2
No Classification No Classification 2
No Classification No Classification 2 Pending
No Classification No Classification No Classification 1
No Classification Pending
No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification No Classification
16
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
Dunn Creek
Erickson Creek
Unna med
Rouse Creek
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Mead Creek
Mud Creek
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Bull Gus Creek
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
Unna med
2924700
2924800
2924900
2925000
2925100
2925200
2925300
2925400
2925500
2925600
2925700
2925800
2925900
2926000
2926100
2926200
2926300
2926500
2926600
2926700
2926800
2926900
2927000
4000019
5002426
5002442
5002444
5002491
5002514
5002560
5002571
5002574
5002587
5002590
5002596
5002602
5002607
5002609
5002617
5002618
5002631
5002634
5002657
5002666
5002678
5002725
5002740
5002769
5002782
5002793
5002823
* Some surveys are from historical downloads that are incomplete or do not contain fisheries data.
LENGTH (MI LES)
1.7
5.1
0.6
2.3
0.7
1.1
1.4
1.1
1.1
0.7
2.2
0.9
3.1
3.7
0.6
1.7
0.7
0.9
1.4
2.5
1.1
1.5
0.0
Pending
0.8
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.1
1.7
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.5
0.2
0.6
0.6
0.3
0.2
0.9
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.6
1.0
17
0.7
0.2
0.4
1.4
5
No data
3
1
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
4
No data
2
No data
No data
2
1
No data
No data
No data
1
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
# of Surveys
5
No data
8
1
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
4
No data
2
No data
No data
2
3
No data
No data
No data
2
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
Trout Classification
HUC12 NAME
Middle Tyler Forks
Middle Tyler Forks
STREAM NAME
Tyler Forks
Javorsky Creek
WBIC
2924600
9.8
3.0
# of Access Points Surveyed
2923100
Iron 7 Ashland 8
1
1
18 101*
4
1
1&2 1&2
1
3
2
No Classification
3
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
2
2
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
Pending
3
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
Pending
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
No Classification
Groundwater and Drinking Water Information and Resources
1. Water Supply Well Construction Reports [available on CD from Dept. upon request]
2. Groundwater quality sampling results from Groundwater Retrieval Network (GRN)
System [available on spreadsheet from Dept. upon request]
3. Pre-1988 Water Supply Well Construction Reports [available on web at DATCP
website http://datcpgis.wi.gov/WellLogs/ ]
4. Groundwater quality sampling results from UW-Stevens Point database system
[available on web at UW-Stevens Point website https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-
ap/watershed/Pages/wellwaterviewer.aspx ]
5. USGS 2004 Wisconsin Bedrock Map [available on the web at:
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/state.php?state=WI ]
6. USGS National Water Quality Information System - Wisconsin groundwater level
monitoring and groundwater quality sampling results [available on the web at:
http://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/index.html ]
7. USGS National Water Quality Information System – Iron County, WI groundwater
level monitoring and groundwater quality sampling results [available on the web at: http://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/nwisquery.html?URL=http://nwis.waterdata. usgs.gov/wi/nwis/gwlevels?county_cd=55051&format=sitefile_output&sitefile_outp ut_format=xml&column_name=agency_cd&column_name=site_no&column_name= station_nm&date_format=YYYY-MM- DD&rdb_compression=file&list_of_search_criteria=county_cd&column_name=site_ tp_cd&column_name=dec_lat_va&column_name=dec_long_va&column_name=age ncy_use_cd
8. WGNHS publications related to geology/hydrogeology of Northern WI [listed on web at: http://wisconsingeologicalsurvey.org/pdfs/loppdf/lop08.pdf ]
9. USGS 2008 Professional Paper #1730 The Gogebic Iron Range – A Sample of the Northern Margin of the Penokean Fold and Thrust Belt [available on the web at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1730/pdf/PP1730.pdf ]
10. Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources 2008 paper titled Sources and Fate of Sulfate in Minnesota Watersheds - A Minerals Coordinating Committee Progress Report [available on the web at: http://www.miningminnesota.com/uploads/SO4paperProgReport_7_2008__3_.pdf ]
11. USGS 2002 Water-Resources Investigation Report 02-4198 titled Characterization of Ground-Water Flow Between the Canisteo Mine Pit and Surrounding Aquifers, Mesabi Iron Range, Minnesota [available on the web at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri024198/pdf/wri024198.pdf ]
Forestry
The department maintains a variety of information concerning the nature of County Forest lands in the state. Some of this information may be used to evaluate the environmental impact of the project and to expedite the preparation of County Forest Withdrawal documents and the environmental impact report and the environmental impact statement.
The department maintains a forest reconnaissance database that contains forest attributes at a stand level in conjunction with a spatial GIS representation of those stands, for the lands enrolled as Iron County Forest. This forest reconnaissance data has been collected by Iron County and department forestry staff and is of varying ages and has varying levels of detail by stand. The attributes that are included for all stands are: stand number, exam date, primary forest type, acres,
18
invasive level, soil type, and management objective. The database also has some conditionally required and optional fields that include: primary size class (forested types), primary density (forested types), year of origin (even-aged forest types), total height (even-aged forest types), mean stand diameter (forested types), site index (even-aged forest types), total basal area (forested types if poles or saw-timber), total volume cords & board feet (forested types if poles or saw-timber), primary tree species information (forested types, listing the first major tree species and its associated basal area and volume), planned management prescription (forested types), invasive species and density, and potentially a management treatment if scheduled (type, treatment purpose, and forester year of treatment).
Managed Forest Land Information and Resources
The department has maps of the lands that were submitted by the landowner at the time of enrollment in the MFL program. The maps show landscape features, such as roads, lakes, streams, timber types, and other vegetation types. The actual forest reconnaissance data is owed and maintained by the landowner and/or the landowner’s agents.
Wildlife
The Gogebic-Penokee Range is considered an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) for wildlife species of greatest conservation need. This is because it features large blocks of forest containing a majority of older forest. These forests provide an opportunity to manage for the mature to older age classes. Areas feature a continuum of an extensive matrix of older northern hardwood forest with imbedded lakes, wetlands, and bedrock including Northern Mesic Forest, Northern Dry-Mesic Forest, Northern Wet-Mesic Forest, Northern Wet Forest, Open Bog, Muskeg, Northern Hardwood Swamp, Northern Sedge Meadow, and Bedrock Glades.
The Gogebic-Penokee Range COA can support several species of greatest conservation need including Boreal Chorus Frog, Four-toed Salamander, Mink Frog, Pickerel Frog, Wood Turtle, American Bittern, Black-backed Woodpecker, Black Tern, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Bobolink, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler (bog edges and stream corridors), Least Flycatcher, Northern Goshawk, Northern Harrier, Olive- sided Flycatcher, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rusty Blackbird, Solitary Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Marten, Eastern Red Bat, Gray Wolf, Hoary Bat, Moose, Northern Long-eared Bat, Northern Flying Squirrel, Silver-haired Bat, Water Shrew, Woodland Jumping Mouse, Bog Fritillary, Frigga Fritillary, Freija Fritillary, Harris Checkerspot, Red-disked Alpine, Jutta Arctic, Brown Elfin, West Virginia White, and Laurentian Skipper.
Not all of the species of greatest conservation need are found within the proposed mining site and not the entire site is located within the COA. However the Gogebic-Penokee Range has the potential to host these species as well as many other common species. Following is a list of what the department considers high-profile wildlife species that are known to be found in or near the proposed mining site.
Deer (Odocoileus virginanus)
The proposed mining site is located within deer management unit 28. The department does not have specific data for the proposed site but as a whole unit 28 can only support a moderate deer population based on habitat. Hunting pressure is low with an opening day density of about 6 hunters per square mile. Buck harvest ranges from 1 to 2 harvested per square mile. It is expected
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that harvest numbers and opening day pressure would be even lower in the proposed mining site location.
There are no known deer yards within the boundary of the proposed mining site however there are 2 deer yards within a mile of the site and 3 additional deer yards within 3 miles of the site. There are travel corridors within the proposed mining site boundary in which deer use to move to these deer yards as part of their winter range. The map below contains approximate locations. Please note that boundary lines are estimated and do not represent exact boundary lines.
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Black Bear (Ursus americanas)
There is good bear range located within the proposed mining site as well as a healthy and stable bear population in the area. This area is hunted with both hound dogs and bait hunters. It is possible that hound dogs will run through the closed area if released on county land nearby creating potential conflict.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
There are bobcats throughout the proposed mining site however they are more common in other areas of the county. Because the bobcat does not depend exclusively on the deep forest it is more typically found in lowland areas, agricultural areas, or swamps near forested tracts outside the proposed mining site.
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
There is one wolf pack that’s territory is located within the proposed mining site. There are three additional packs within the nearby area. Mining could impact the wolves’ territory and they may be forced to create a new home range. The most likely area where they would move to would be to the west near the city of Mellen potentially increasing wolf-human conflict.
American Marten (Martes americana)
The American marten is Wisconsin’s only endangered mammal. Its range encompasses the proposed mining site.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Eagle nests have been found within the area nearby the proposed mining site.
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Northern goshawk is a species of special concern and has been found in Iron and Ashland counties.
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)
The wood turtle is a state threatened species and has been observed within the nearby area of the proposed mining site.
Available Bird Survey Data
The department collects and maintains a variety of data from internal and public sources regarding avian species composition and distribution that may be valuable. In particular, there was a bird survey completed in 2006 for an area just east of the proposed project area close to the town of Iron Belt. Data from that survey describes avian habitats available, species observed, and protection recommendations for the area.
Other Sources of Information
• United States Geological Survey maintains stream flow data and lake level data
• North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research site (University of Wisconsin
Madison) monitors lakes in Vilas County
• Bad River Watershed Association
• Northland College
• Bad River Tribe
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• Iron County Land Conservation Department
• Ashland County Land Conservation Department
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