Marengo River Subwatershed
Marengo River Subwatershed
The Marengo River, a major tributary to the Bad River Watershed, originates in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest north of Clam Lake, Wisconsin. After flowing through the Marengo Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized area and Marengo Lake, the Morgan Creek adds to the rivers volume. Soon, the Marengo leaves the forest to the north and east through rural farmland and is joined by the Brunsweiler River just east of the Town of Marengo. A wide, winding Marengo River joins the Bad River east of Government Road on the south side of the Bad River Indian Reservation.
Although the headwaters of the Marengo River are crystal clear and cold, the lower reaches appear muddy and account for much of the sediment entering the Bad River Watershed. The watershed was hit by the 500 year storm event in 2016 which exposed more banks and furthered the sedimentation issue.
In 2011, the Bad River Watershed Association worked with partners as the Marengo River Watershed Partnership Project to produce the EPA certified Marengo River Watershed Action Plan to ensure the work and planning of different local governments, agencies, and non-profits was seen through to coordinated action. In 2023 the Superior Rivers Watershed Association published the 10-year revision of the plan.
Read more about the Marengo River from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.