Northern Rivers Initiative (NRI)
NRI is a DNR-funded initiative that provides protection options for northern Wisconsin streams and rivers that have high ecological significance, outstanding natural scenic beauty, or special recreational values. It identifies streams and rivers with the greatest risk of over-development or other threats and prioritizes this list for implementing protection options.
The 8-mile St. Croix River segment from Upper St. Croix Lake to the St. Croix Flowage at Gordon is ranked 5th among 1,494 stream segments in 20 northern Wisconsin counties.
Criterion
Best Possible Score
St. Croix Rating
Natural Resource Values
Natural condition
3
3
Roads-crossings
3
2
Road density
3
1
Dam score
3
1
Point sources-discharge impacts
3
3
Rare species
15
15
Scenic quality
4
3
Fish-community
8
6
Fish-habitat
7
5
Wildlife-habitat
3
3
Wildlife-deer yard
2
1
Wildlife-corridor
3
3
Recreational Values
Hunt/Trap-furbearer habitat
2
2
Hunt/Trap-waterfowl
2
2
Hunt/Trap-waterfowl adjacent
1
0
Wildlife View-published sites
3
3
Wildlife View-recommended sites
2
0
Fishing-abundance
4
3
Fishing-quality
4
3
Fishing-unique
1
0
Canoe/Kayak-trail
2
2
Kayak-whitewater
1
0
Cultural Values
Subsistence-treaty designation
3
0
Subsistence-wild rice
3
3
Subsistence-harvest potential
3
3
Historical-archeological sites
3
3