A National Scenic Riverway and one of the Midwest’s premier natural landscapes
The St. Croix River Valley: A Place To Call Home
Historically the St. Croix River served as a natural passage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Valley. For centuries, the river facilitated exploration and commerce, migration and conflict. The valley’s natural resource wealth has drawn numerous cultures — Native American, European, and Euro-American — to use, and often exploit, the landscape for furs, timber, and water power. Even now the St. Croix’s water quality, recreational potential, and near-wilderness solitude draws thousands of visitors.
The St. Croix River valley extends from just north of Wild River State Park in Chisago County south to the confluence with the Mississippi River at Point Douglas in Dakota County. The St. Croix River passes through various landscapes from a deep, narrow gorge with basalt cliffs to expansive views of a wide river valley. The riverway’s scenery, plentiful fish and wildlife, largely unpolluted waters, six state parks, more than 50 public and privately owned parks and preserves, and close proximity to the Twin Cities with a population of over 2.5 million, make this valley a favorite, year-round destination for many people.
A National Riverway
In 1968 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the United States Congress established the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which includes its major tributary the Namekagon as one of the original eight rivers to be part of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The lower 52 miles were added to the system in 1972 for its outstanding natural, scenic, geographic, historic, cultural, and recreational values. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act allowed for a small corridor of land on either side of the river to be managed in order to preserve the outstanding values for which the riverway was designated. The upper portion of the riverway is managed by the National Park Service, while the lower riverway is jointly managed by the NPS and the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources.
The Congressional Record of October 1972, which led to the designation of the Lower St. Croix, provides more insight into the purposes for establishing the Lower St. Croix. Senator Henry Jackson said:
“I should point out that this is one of the last remaining major rivers in the United States which lies within a major metropolitan area and is still relatively unspoiled. The river borders the eastern boundary of the Minneapolis-St. Paul urban area and is within easy access of over 2 million people. Ironically, it is this accessibility which places in jeopardy the features which make this river an outstanding natural resource, and which makes it imperative that the river quickly receive protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. . . .Final action on the St. Croix bill is urgently needed. If comprehensive protection is not extended to the riverway, the St. Croix will eventually become one more city river, its waters poisoned with pollution, its shorelines gutted with indiscriminate development.”
Senator Henry Jackson was a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington and served in Congress from 1940 to 1983 when he died at the age of 71. He authored the National Environmental Policy Act and sponsored legislation to preserve vast park lands and wilderness areas throughout the United States.
The National Wild & Scenic Rivers System Site
Threatened Assets
The five-county region bordering the riverway is comprised of Chisago and Washington counties in Minnesota, and Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin. Its proximity to the Twin Cities brings tremendous development pressures. The whole river valley is exploding with growth, and it is this very growth with all of its far-reaching effects that threatens this regional and national treasure. All the homes rapidly sprouting up in farm fields bring more infrastructure—roads, schools, cell towers—as well as more air and water pollution, erosion, sedimentation, and scenic intrusions to the valley. Land once zoned for agriculture is now being zoned for 2.5 acre lots, forever putting an end to farming as a way of life and destroying habitats and wildlife corridors. Homes are being built and rebuilt along the sensitive bluffland areas, further bisecting wildlife corridors and natural communities, and degrading the scenic vistas for which the St. Croix was designated a national treasure and has attracted so many to its beautiful valley.
Natural Communities
The river valley is home to a diverse variety of flora and fauna, including several threatened and endangered species. A mosaic of biological communities occurs along the riverway, including southern hardwood forests, oak savannahs, and lowland forests. Several special habitats are rare or unique in this region: bedrock outcrops, oak savannahs, and floodplain islands harbor their own special plant associations and wildlife populations.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified four endangered and one threatened species that are federally protected in the riverway. Two mussel species, the winged mapleleaf and Higgins’ eye, are listed as federally endangered species. The only known population of the winged mapleleaf mussel is found in the St. Croix River, just downstream of Interstate Park. The Higgins’ eye is found in the St. Croix from Interstate Park to the confluence with the Mississippi River; a significant concentration exists at the Hudson Narrows. The federally endangered American peregrine falcon nests on the smokestack at the Allen S. King power plant in Bayport. They have been nesting there since at least 1990. The riverway also serves as important bald eagle habitat. The federally threatened bald eagle commonly nests in the tall trees scattered along the lower St. Croix River.
Local Tourism
Tourism is a huge economic engine in the valley. The recreational resources of the valley serve as the basis of a local tourism industry. The valley offers a wide range of recreational activities, including motorboating, sailing, canoeing, camping, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting. The panoramic views, the rugged bluffs, and many recreational opportunities bring thousands of visitors every year. Studies have shown that when viewsheds are damaged or compromised by even 25 percent, the dollars raised from tourism will be cut in half. This dramatic economic impact is just beginning to be understood. Protecting the St. Croix Valley is not only good for the environment; it makes good fiscal sense as well.
The historic character of many of the valley’s communities has also been an attraction for many people who visit downtown Stillwater, Hudson, Prescott,
Marine on St. Croix, Osceola, and Taylors Falls/St. Croix Falls. All have their own unique character and historical significance in the St. Croix River Valley. Many summer visitors also arrive by boat from the Mississippi River; vacationing boaters from places like La Crosse and even such distant places as the Quad Cities and St. Louis are attracted to the river valley’s amenities.
St. Croix River Valley Communities
Public Choices
Along its route, the river valley touches land belonging to 65 different units of local government, all making land use decisions that affect its future health. With the rapid growth rates and development pressures in the valley, this makes consistent and coordinated decision-making between the local governments very difficult. If this relatively unspoiled landscape is to be preserved, local leaders must find a way to balance growth with land protection, and local citizens must actively participate in planning and land use decisions in their communities. Groups like 1000 Friends of Minnesota, Minnesota Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land, and the St. Croix Scenic Coalition are working to help make that happen.
Designation as a National Scenic Riverway is only a starting point for protecting this precious resource. Grassroots efforts by citizens are critical to the future of the river valley. Citizens concerned about the future of the St. Croix River Valley should get involved with their local public decision making processes. Land use decisions are made every day. Seek information about issues important to you and find ways of influencing and informing people you know about them. Contact groups such as the partners in the Embrace Open Space campaign and those listed below for assistance. Every effort can make a difference, if not for you directly, for future generations to come.
These Partners are Working Together to Protect the St. Croix River Valley
1000 Friends of Minnesota is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the important connections between our development patterns and the health of our communities and the environment. The mission of 1000 Friends of Minnesota is to encourage development patterns that promote healthy, livable communities and conserve farmland, forests and natural areas.
Great River Greening restores valuable and endangered natural areas and open spaces in the greater Twin Cities by engaging individuals and communities in stewardship of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix river valleys and their watersheds.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The DNR mission is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state's natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.
Minnesota Land Trust is a private nonprofit organization working with landowners and communities to permanently protect the lands and waters that define our communities and enrich our quality of life.
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is one of the original 8 rivers designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Lower St. Croix was added in 1972. This Act hopes to ensure the continued presence of healthy and picturesque rivers.
The Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota exists to acquire, protect and enhance critical lands for the public’s enjoyment now and in the future.
St. Croix Scenic Coalition Mission: To promote awareness of the scenic, natural, and cultural values of the riverway through active participation of organizations, citizens and government in order to protect the scenic resources of the St. Croix River Valley. Email: malickcw@pressenter.com
Land conservation is central to TPL's mission. Founded in 1972, the Trust for Public Land is the only national nonprofit working exclusively to protect land for human enjoyment and well-being. TPL helps conserve land for recreation and spiritual nourishment and to improve the health and quality of life of American communities.
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page was last updated on February 6, 2008 |
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