KinnicKinnic (WI)

The Kinnickinnic River was degraded by many years of poor land use practices, two hydro-electrical impoundments, as well as harmful wastewater releases into the river from a treatment plant until the 1960s. A spring creek in western Wisconsin, today it has regained good water quality and supports naturally reproducing brook trout. The Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter has been focusing their efforts on this river for at least six years in cooperation with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource efforts. Their devotion to stewardship is assisted by the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, a group active in preserving the lower stretch of river. The city of River Falls, population 10,800, is situated along side the river. Because the counties where the river lies are some of the fastest growing in the state, thermal pollution and urban nonpoint pollution, as well as urban development pressure have become major concerns. An Embrace-A-Stream grant was used for production of a video about development and thermal pollution's effect on the Kinnickinnic.