The Upper Chippewa basin is located in west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. The mainstem Chippewa River is formed by the confluence of the West Fork Chippewa River (rising from the 14,500 acre Chippewa Lake, southeastern Bayfield County) and East Fork Chippewa River (rising from the wetlands of the town of Knight in Iron County).

Despite its proximity to Lake Superior, the Chippewa basin feeds the Mississippi and was once navigable for 50 miles upstream from the Mississippi by Durand, flowing northeast to Eau Claire.

Hydrologically, the Upper Chippewa basin is divided from the Lower Chippewa basin for management purposes, includes portions of Iron, Ashland, Sawyer, Rusk, Price, Vilas, Chippewa and Taylor counties. The area is actually managed by Upper Chippewa basin staff, however, includes additional portions of Taylor, Rusk, Barron, Sawyer and Washburn counties. Over 3,000 stream and river miles flow through the basin and with 156,200 acres of freshwater lakes, 22,711 acres of flowages and more than 150 acres of freshwater springs.

Today the river provides significant habitat, recreation, navigation and is a significant resource for northwest Wisconsin people. Over 40 lakes in the basin host confirmed stands of Wild Rice, a critical natural resource protected by state and tribal governments. Sport fisheries including musky, walleye, smallmouth bass and more are found throughout the water-rich region. Many projects and management activities have been or are planned for the region.