Low-flow Characteristics of Eau Claire River Basin near Antigo, Wisconsin

Abstract

This report presents low-flow characteristics at six sites on streams in the Eau Claire River basin near Antigo, Wis., where applications for irrigation permits were made. The low-flow characteristics presented are the annual minimum 7-day mean flows at the 2-year recurrence interval and 10-year recurrence interval. A seepage run made October 10, 1974, showed a substantial gain in discharge from site 2 (3.75 ft3/s [cubic feet per second] or 0.11 m3/s (cubic metres per second) to site 6 (30.6 ft3/s or 0.87 m3/s) on the East Branch Eau Claire River and from site 12 (3.98 ft3/s or 0.11 m3/s) to site 16 (18.1 ft3/s or 0.51 m3/s) on the West Branch Eau Claire River; a fairly constant discharge between sites 6 (30.6 ft3/s or 0.87 m3/s) and 11 (32.3 ft3/s or 0.91 m3/s) on the East Branch and sites 16 (18.1 ft3/s or 0.51 m3/s) and 20 (18.8 ft3/s or 0.53 m3/s) on the West Branch; and a substantial gain in discharge from site 23 (57.3 ft3/s or 1.62 m3/s) to site 24 (63.4 ft3/s or 1.80 m3/s) on the Eau Claire River. A gaging station was established at the downstream potential irrigation site to collect continuous stage and discharge data on streamflow to assist the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the regulation of irrigation withdrawals.