Celebrate 20 Years of Real Success

Few river conservation projects in Wisconsin have been as successful as the Lower Wisconsin Riverway.  Emerging from that classic crucible of conflict of government vs. property rights, the Riverway Board has shown it is possible to manage private use of land that the public has a strong interest in protecting.  Though much of the land in the Lower Wisconsin River corridor is now public, both public and private landowners must get approval from the Riverway Board for changes made on their structures or with any land uses that would have a visual impact on the river corridor.

This, its 20th anniversary, is the “Year of the Riverway,” and an anniversary celebration is set for this Sunday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. at Victora Riverside Park in Muscoda.

A great deal of credit for the success of the Riverway must go to its first, and only, executive director, Mark Cupp. His quiet and confident leadership and keen sense of fairness pulled the early lightning rods of controversy down, and has given this and other states an example for how to balance private and public interests in river conservation. 

Watchful eyes and tuned-in ears for the Lower Wisconsin River are those of Dave Gjeston, left, and Tim Zumm, leaders of FLOW, Friends of the Lower Wisconsin.

We congratulate Mark and the many citizens who have served on the Riverway Board over its 20-year history, and thank them for keeping a river looking much like it has for hundreds of years. 

 

In Land Trusts We Trust

In so many ways, a river’s fate is tied directly to the land it courses through.  That makes the private land trusts in Wisconsin, with their commitment to land protection, some of our best allies in river conservation.

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is just such a land trust.  They have a good chance to protect an 80-acre parcel along the White River in Bayfield County, with 2,000 feet of river shoreline.  The parcel is for sale, and considered highly developable: ideal for a string of cottages or condos. Located on the property are over 50 “species of concern,” including American martens, red-shouldered hawks, and many imperiled songbirds.

If they succeed in acquiring it, the BRC will in turn sell it to the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources.  The land trust says the parcel would be used for “remote access” to the river for anglers, paddlers and river enthusiasts of all kinds.
They need to raise $150,000 to buy this piece.  Their partners in the endeavor are our steadfast river friends the Wild Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Friends of the White River. 

The White River is real gem in northern Wisconsin, and this parcel is critical piece of protecting the river’s integrity.  To find out more, or to donate, contact Ellen Kwiatkowski at the Bayfield Regional Conservancy.  

Make a Date With a River Events 

Summer is not over yet!  There is still plenty of time to join us on a river.  Just click here to download a registration form, or register online at Brown Paper Tickets: 

• Milky Moonlight in Milwaukee: Wednesday August 5th (Currently sold out. However, you can add your name to a waiting list by emailing the staff contact for the event.)
• A Piece of History on the Brunsweiler: Saturday August 22nd
• Whitewater on Foot: Waterfalls of the Pine: Saturday September 12th

Rat Scratchings

Drink your toilet water?  Find out about that and much more on The River Rat.