St. Croix
The St. Croix basin is located in Northwestern Wisconsin. It encompasses five different ecological landscapes starting in the Northwest Lowlands and North Central Lowlands. It moves through the Northwest Sands and Farm Forest Transition and ends in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape. The St. Croix Basin includes Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Washburn Counties. Some of the watershed located in this basin are the Totagatic River, Trego Lake, and the St. Croix and Eau Claire Rivers. This basin faces threats from streambank erosion and manure management. Streambank erosion is different from natural erosion, known as ‘scour.’ Streambank erosion is destruction that occurs above a natural rate. There are many causes for streambank erosion including vegetation removal and stream bed mining. St. Croix basin faces particular threats from increasing runoff and habitat loss also threaten the basin.
For more information about the St. Croix Basin, visit the DNR website.
Visit these sites to learn more about how you can get involved and Protect the St. Croix Basin with these partner organizations:
Photography by Danny Balister