Government Shutdown Update: Standing Together for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Government Shutdown Update: Standing Together for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Matt Poppleton | Executive Director
Dear Friends of the Riverway,
As the federal government shutdown continues, it is directly affecting the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the work we do together to protect and enjoy this extraordinary place.
Wild Rivers Conservancy and the National Park Service are deeply interconnected, two parts of one shared vision. Our partnership protects, restores, and celebrates the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers. When the Park Service faces uncertainty, the Conservancy continues to carry that shared mission forward, ensuring the Riverway remains cared for and connected to the people who love it.
Impacts to the Riverway
National Park Service staff, our trusted partners and friends, are currently furloughed. These are the people we work beside every day to protect the Riverway’s cultural and natural treasures. Our thoughts are with them as they navigate this difficult time.
While many areas of the Riverway remain open, Park capacity is extremely limited. Visitor centers are closed, maintenance and volunteer programs are paused, and interpretive and education programs are suspended.
All volunteer activities within the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway are paused until the Park reopens and staff return to duty.
Law enforcement staff remain on duty, and emergencies can still be reported at 1-800-PARK-TIP.
Impacts to Wild Rivers Conservancy
Because our work is so closely tied to the National Park Service, the shutdown directly impacts many of our programs.
Our Rivers Are Alive K-12 education programs continue within our capacity to deliver high-quality experiences, though some have been canceled or rescheduled due to reduced federal support.
Collaborative planning, habitat restoration, and long-term stewardship projects, many of which depend on Park coordination, are temporarily on hold.
Still, our commitment remains unchanged. Wild Rivers Conservancy serves as the backbone and bridge for the Riverway in moments like this-sustaining education, stewardship, and community engagement even when federal resources are unavailable.
How You Can Help
Support Our Mission.
Your gifts help us sustain education, stewardship, and advocacy work that keep the Riverway cared for-today and always.
Be A Good Steward.
If you visit, recreate responsibly. Pack out all trash, respect closed facilities, and minimize your impact on the land and water you love.
Share Your Voice.
Tell your friends, family, and community why protecting the St. Croix and Namekagon matters. Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to support our national parks and the people who care for them.
Moments like this remind us how deeply connected we are to the Riverway, to one another, and to the shared responsibility of caring for this national treasure. We remain hopeful for a swift resolution that allows our National Park partners to return to their vital work. Until then, Wild Rivers Conservancy will continue to share updates and ways you can help protect the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers.
Thank you for standing with us, and for your enduring commitment to ensuring the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers remain forever accessible, scenic, and wild.
Matt Poppleton | Executive Director
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Government Shutdown Update: Impacts on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
October 2, 2025
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