Lower St. Croix River Workshops
2008 - 2009
The St. Croix River Partnership Team and Lower Saint Croix Management Commission, with planning assistance from the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, co-sponsored a series of workshops from October 2008 - June 2009 to inspire and educate local officials, property owners, and the general public about issues affecting the Lower St. Croix River.
Descriptions of each workshop and workshop materials are provided below.
Workshop IV:
A View from the River
Held June 17, 2009, Hudson Cruise Lines, Hudson, WI
This workshop wrapped up the series and featured a boat trip down the river from Hudson, Wisconsin to the confluence with the Kinnickinnic River and back. Over 100 people participated, including appointed and elected officials and staff from municipalities along both sides of the river and numerous other agencies and interest groups. This on-the-water experience provided participants with an opportunity to see first-hand how land use practices have affected the Lower St. Croix River and learn more about the river ecosystem at a variety of learning stations.
Materials related to each learning station can be downloaded by clicking on the items below. Materials are not available for all stations. Caution: Large files.
- Guided View of the River Presenters: Dave Fodroczi, Clarence (Buck) Malick, Molly Shodeen, and Jenny Shillcox
Map & Selected Case Studies
- Fisheries, Mussels & Bugs - Aquatic Indicators of Water Quality
Presenters: Mike Davis, Jerry Johnson, Marty Engel, and Brenda LaFrancois
- The Watershed Game & State of the St. Croix Basin
Facilitators: John Bilotta, Julie Westerlund, Michele Hanson, and Angie Hong
Presenters: Buzz Sorge and Jay Michaels - Other workshop handouts and related links:
- Workshop Agenda

- Contact Information for Workshop Presenters and Resource Specialists

- The St. Croix River: A National Treasure Brochure

- Minnesota's Wild & Scenic River Scenic Easement Program

- St. Croix River Resource Guide for Local Officials

- Native Plant List for the Lower St. Croix River Valley

- Handbook for Minnesota Cities - League of Minnesota Cities Website
- Handbooks for Wisconsin Local Officials - Center for Land Use Education Website
- St. Croix Basin Information - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Website
- Natural Treasures of the St. Croix River Valley - UW-Extension Website

- Workshop Agenda
Workshop III:
A NEMO Workshop for the St. Croix Minnesota Watershed Basin:
Linking Land Use to Water Resource Management
Held April 25, 2009 at the Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
This Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) workshop expanded on the topics presented at Workshop II to further build the knowledge and skills of local decision makers, elected and appointed officials, and community leaders in the area of water and natural resources management. The unique workshop capitalized on the new WATER exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Funding for this workshop was provided by the McKnight Foundation.
Presentation materials are not available from this workshop.
Workshop II:
Linking Land Use with Water Quality
Held March 31, 2009 at the Stillwater Library, Stillwater, MN
This workshop focused on how land use activities can contribute to declining water quality in the Lower St. Croix River, and provided local governments and landowners with tools and resources to protect it. Presentation materials can be downloaded by clicking on the agenda items below. Materials are not available for all presentations. Caution: Large PowerPoint files. Caution: Large PowerPoint files.
- Linking Land Use and Water Quality - NEMO 101
- Julie Westerlund, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Minnesota - Land Use Regulations - Their role in protecting water quality and other resources
- Dan Baumann, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Regulations & Variances - Ask the tough questions! Getting enough information to make good land use decisions
- Lynn Markham, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Center for Land Use Education - Beyond Land Use Regulation - What else can communities do to protect the resource?
- Karen Kill, Browns Creek Watershed District, Minnesota
For additional information on topics and programs mentioned at the workshop, visit the following Web sites:
- Nonpoint Source Pollution
- Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water
- Rain Gardens - A How to Manual
- Conserving Blufflands
Workshop I:
Building Partnerships in Resource Protection & Development
Held October 29, 2008 at the Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
This workshop served as the kick-off for the series and was designed to celebrate the unique history and resources of the river, and provide an overview of its management and challenges. The workshop covered a variety of topics ranging from the history and health of the river to examples of local regulations and resource protection programs within the river basin. Sixty five people attended the workshop, including public officials and staff from 22 municipalities on both sides of the river; the National Park Service and other agencies; and representatives from a wide array of interest groups.
A DVD of this workshop will soon be available for purchase. Check this Web site for future information on how to place an order. Presentation materials can also be downloaded by clicking on the agenda items below. Materials are not available for all presentations. Caution: Large PowerPoint files.
- Changes Over Time: A Look at the River over the Last 15 Years
- Molly Shodeen, Minnesota DNR - Historic Perspective of River Designation and Health
- Steve Johnson, NPS & President, The River Management Society - Well, it looks clean, but looks can be deceiving: The St. Croix Impairment
- Buzz Sorge, Wisconsin DNR & Chairman, St. Croix River Basin Team - The Value of a Natural Resource Inventory and a New Environmentally Sensitive Area Ordinance for the City of Sartell
- Mark Hauck, Minnesota DNR - Helping Communities Adopt New Riverway Rules
- Jim Kleinhans, Pierce County, Wisconsin - The Transfer of Development Credits Program and the Green Corridor
- Patrick Hollister, Chisago County, Minnesota
Additional Planning Partners
Special thanks to the following partners for their expertise and contributions to the workshops:
- University of Minnesota Extension
- Northland NEMO Program
- St. Croix River Minnesota Watershed Basin Team
- Washington Conservation District
- East Metro Water Resource Education Program
- Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization
- National Park Service
Workshop Contact Information
To obtain additional information, please contact Michele Hanson at (651) 259-5785, e-mail: Michele.Hanson@state.mn.us
