Mission & History
Our Mission: Inspire stewardship to forever ensure the rare ecological integrity of the St. Croix and Namekagon Riverway.
Our Vision: A thriving watershed, forever accessible, scenic and wild.
Stewardship in Partnership
In 2011, Wild Rivers Conservancy became the official nonprofit partner of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, comprising the St. Croix and the Namekagon Rivers. We work in direct collaboration with the National Park Service to conserve and protect the wild & scenic values of the Riverway.
Our work spans the entire St. Croix Watershed.
The Wild & Scenic Rivers Act gives a slim ribbon of protection to 250 miles of the St. Croix & Namekagon Rivers. To be effective partners to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, we expand our scope of work to the entire 7,800 square mile watershed. This area of land and many tributaries, is diverse and requires uniting many agencies, communities and partners to ensure a thriving watershed, forever accessible, scenic and wild.
This wild & scenic place didn’t happen by accident.
In the 1960s, “Save Our St. Croix” was a rallying cry for those who cherished the river that forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This cry, together with the actions of concerned residents and river lovers, led to the St. Croix becoming one of the first eight federally protected Wild and Scenic Rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.
History
Founding president George H. Hazzard focused his efforts on improving the waterway for commercial interests, such as fish stocking, and a concept of connecting the St. Croix River to Lake Superior by way of a man made canal.
After a heavy period of industry and logging, including many large log jams which blocked the flow of the river, the final logs floated down river. This marked a Riverway turning point from industry to recreation.
October 2, 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act into Law. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota were instrumental of moving this legislation forward and ensuring the St. Croix was among the 8 rivers protected at the time of signing.
On October 25, 1972, President Nixon signed Public Law 92-560, officially designating the Lower St. Croix River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This Act protected a 52-mile stretch from Taylors Falls to Prescott, managing it as a scenic recreational resource.
As a result of this unique designation, Minnesota and Wisconsin adopted zoning standards for a strip of land along the St. Croix River’s shores. This Riverway overlay zone consists of building restrictions designed to protect water quality, provide habitat for birds, fish, and wildlife, and maintain a relatively unspoiled view for the millions of visitors drawn to the Riverway.
The transition is made from being volunteer run, to being a professionally staffed organization. The first Executive Director, Deb Ryun (2009 -2024) was hired to lead Wild Rivers Conservancy.
In 2011, we became the official partner of the National Park Service for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. This partnership would become a strong basis for the future of the organization.
We went through a rebrand from the St. Croix River Association (SCRA), to Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon to better reflect our role in protecting both the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers and to distinguish our work with a fresh, modern identity.
100 more years
Join us in our vision of a thriving watershed, forever accessible, scenic and wild.
