Wild River Information Meetings

Wild River public informational meetings were held on a proposal to add the St. Croix River headwaters segment (between Upper St. Croix Lake and the Gordon Flowage) and the Totagatic River to the state’s list of “Wild Rivers.”  These sessions included a presentation followed by an open house where UW-Extension and DNR staff answered questions and provided information about the proposal.

Sessions were held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations:

•  Monday, November 7^th, Hayward City Hall, Hayward

•  Wednesday, November 9^th, Burnett County Government Center, Room 165, Highway 35, Siren

•  Tuesday, November 15^th, Solon Spring Community Center, 1123 S. Business 53, Solon Springs

•  Wednesday, November 16^th, Minong Village Hall, 123 5^th Avenue, Minong

The first and only Wild Rivers added to the state list occurred in 1979 when the Pike, Pine and Popple rivers were designated.  The designation provides additional protection to retain a rivers’ wild character and healthy habitats for river users and property owners.

The Totagatic designation proposal began as part of a local initiative with Washburn County sponsoring the request.  During the past two years the county, in partnership with the Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association and interested citizens, worked with area stakeholders and the Department of Natural Resources to investigate this opportunity. 

The Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters, a citizen-volunteer organization in the Gordon/Solon Springs area, requested state support to protect and honor the headwaters segment by designating it as a Wild River.  The proposals for both rivers gained momentum as part of Governor Jim Doyle’s recent Conserve Wisconsin environmental initiative. 

The 70-mile Totagatic River begins at Totagatic Lake (southwest of Cable) and flows through five counties in Northwest Wisconsin -- Bayfield, Sawyer, Washburn, Douglas and Burnett.  The St. Croix River Headwaters segment flows from the river’s source at Upper St. Croix Lake to the St. Croix Flowage at Gordon (Gordon Flowage).  Much of these rivers remain wild and undeveloped, with significant portions of the land along their banks in county and state public ownership.

Note:  State Senator Bob Jauch will hold a public listening session after the above informational meetings have been completed.  It has been tentatively  scheduled for early December.

For more information, contact John Haack, UW Extension, at 635-7406 or Kathy Bartilson at the Spooner DNR, at 635-4053.