Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the History of the Upper St. Croix Watershed Alliance?

On May 15, 2006 representatives from the following organizations attended a meeting hosted by UW-Extension to initiate an Upper St. Croix Watershed-level planning and action effort:

• Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters

• Gordon/St. Croix Flowage Association

• River Alliance of Wisconsin

• Upper St. Croix Lake Association

• UW-Stevens Point Center for Watershed Science and Education

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

At the August 24, 2006 meeting, a decision was made to name the group Upper St. Croix Watershed Alliance (USCWA) to better communicate that USCWA is an alliance of organizations and individuals rather than a formal association.

 

When the DNR Lake (Watershed) Protection Grant application was being prepared, it was recommended that the true hydrological watershed boundary should be used, rather than just the (political) priority watershed boundary.  That is, rather than artificially limiting the watershed boundary to the portion within Douglas County, the eastern portion of the true watershed, which is located in Bayfield County, has now been included.  In March 2007, we welcomed another organization within the watershed:

• Property Owners Association, Inc. Barnes/Eau Claire Lakes Area

2. What is the Mission of the Upper St. Croix Watershed Alliance?

• Citizens working together to protect and improve water quality and habitat in the Upper St. Croix - Eau Claire Rivers watershed.

3. Is the Upper St. Croix Watershed Alliance work based on past plans such as the Priority Watershed Plan and the Douglas County Land and Water Resources Management Plan?

Yes.  The goals and objectives of these plans have been considered as the current watershed issues and priorities are being documented:

• Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Upper St. Croix–Eau Claire River Priority Watershed Project PL-94-2 (1997) approved by the Douglas County Board as Resolution #70-97.

• Land and Water Resource Management Plan for Douglas County, Wisconsin January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2009 (2005) approved by the Douglas County Board as Resolution #18-05.

4. What is the geographical scope of St. Croix Watershed Alliance activities?

The Upper St. Croix - Eau Claire Rivers watershed hydrologic boundary is being used as defined by this watershed map.

5. What is the current plan of action?

To implement a multi-year, grant-based watershed information gathering and assessment project.  The project is named "Creating regional watershed based groundwater, hydraulic, and nutrient models for local-scale use in the Upper St Croix – Eau Claire Rivers Watershed."

6. What are the overall Watershed Alliance goals?

• To evaluate aquatic and associated terrestrial ecosystems to develop a model for watershed management.

• To establish measurable goals and objectives based on the watershed model and other available data and public input.

• To implement the goals and objectives identified in planning process.

7. Why a Watershed-level Focus? (from the River Network)

   Rivers are far more than the waters within their banks. They are the hearts of flowing, living freshwater systems that include groundwater, springs, wetlands, ponds, streams, lakes and estuaries. These systems reflect the natural characteristics of their basins and the effects of all human activities within them.

   Every one of us lives in a watershed. Everything we do can affect water, people and natural systems downslope and downstream. One simple, popular definition of the term "watershed" is "communities connected by water."

   Because of the intricate connections between waters, lands and people, river conservation work encourages whole-system, long-term thinking, organizing and action. In fact, successful river conservation work requires it.

   There is power and magic in this fact. Perhaps no other human endeavor forces us to apply so many disciplines; look at issues from so many perspectives; or connect so many economic, social and environmental concerns. In an age when our society desperately needs something to counter the forces that tend to separate us daily, river conservation provides it. Watersheds are literally common ground.

   A watershed-oriented approach to analysis, planning and action provides a superior framework for addressing not only water issues, but many social and other environmental issues as well. In recent years, this approach has been embraced by thousands of individuals, communities, businesses, organizations and agencies as the principal tool for environmental protection and resource management.

    

8. How do individuals work with the Upper St. Croix Watershed Alliance?

• Join one or more of the citizen-based organizations participating in the Alliance (see contact information on Stakeholder page):

   

  • Douglas County Association of Lakes and Streams

  • Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters

  • Gordon/St. Croix Flowage Association

  • Property Owners Association, Inc. Barnes/Eau Claire Lakes Area

  • Upper St. Croix Lake Association