Saint Croix

https://www.nps.gov/sacn/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_National_Scenic_Riverway The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It protects 252 miles (406 km) of river, including the St. Croix River (on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border), and the Namekagon River (in Wisconsin), as well as adjacent land along the rivers. The largest scenic riverway east of the Mississippi River, it lies within parts of eight counties in Wisconsin: Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn; and three in Minnesota: Chisago, Pine, and Washington. Grab your paddle and your longing for adventure and head to the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers! Together they form the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, offering over 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape. Paddle, boat, fish, and camp among this wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns also beckon. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway stretches for over 200 miles in northwest Wisconsin and east-central Minnesota. The Namekagon River flows entirely in Wisconsin while the St. Croix River serves as a border between the two states for much of its length. With many different access points there are numerous opportunities for day trips as well as multi-day paddling adventures. Visitor centers are located on the Namekagon River in Trego, Wisconsin, and on the St. Croix River in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Namekagon River Visitor Center This facility is OPEN. Hours of operation are Thursdays through Mondays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm through Labor Day. When open, visitors can view exhibits, pick up park publications, Junior Ranger booklets, and maps, and watch the park movie. Park rangers staff an information counter and offer trip planning assistance for the Namekagon and upper St. Croix rivers. The visitor center is located near the Namekagon River off Highway 63 in Trego, Wisconsin. From U.S. Highway 53, take the U.S. Highway 63 Trego exit. Drive approximately one-half mile to the visitor center which is on the right. Follow the signs for the Namekagon River Visitor Center. From U.S. Highway 63 coming west, drive approximately 4 miles past Earl, Wisconsin. The Namekagon River Visitor Center is on the left. Follow the signs for the Namekagon River Visitor Center. St. Croix River Visitor Center The St. Croix River Visitor Center is OPEN. Hours of operation are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily including all federal holidays. When open, visitors can view exhibits, pick up park publications, Junior Ranger booklets, and maps, and view the park film. Park rangers offer trip planning assistance for the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. The park headquarters offices are also located in this building along the St. Croix River. From U.S. Highway 8, turn north on Wisconsin Highway 87 (Washington Street). Drive through downtown St. Croix Falls to Massachusetts Street. Turn west (left) to the corner of Massachusetts and Hamilton Streets. From Wisconsin Highway 87, drive south past Lion's Park. Turn west (right) on Massachusetts Street to the corner of Massachusetts and Hamilton Streets. Lower St. Croix District 19, primitive, Leave No Trace campsites are located on this reach from below Highway 8 down to the Boom Site Landing near Stillwater, Minnesota. An annual camping permit is required to camp. The District also consists of Minnesota and Wisconsin state park properties with campgrounds. Campsite Fees 0.00 No fees but an annual camping permit is required. Eagles Nest Campsite A picnic table and a fire ring in an open grass space surrounded by trees and shrubs. An annual camping permit is required in this District. Middle St. Croix 57, primitive, Leave No Trace campsites are located on the St. Croix River from Riverside Landing to Highway 8 at St. Croix Falls - Taylors Falls. All sites are free. No permit required. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping sign and metal fire ring. Sites are available first-come, first-served. Campsite Fees 0.00 No fees. Campsites are first come, first served. Riverside Campground A picnic table and a fire ring in an open grass space surrounded by trees and shrubs. Campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, and a pit toilet. Namekagon District 67, primitive, Leave No Trace camp sites are located on the Namekagon River from Namekagon Dam to the confluence of the St Croix River and on the St. Croix River from Gordon Dam to Riverside Landing. All sites are free. No permit required. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping sign and metal fire ring. Sites are available first-come, first-served. Campsite Fees 0.00 Camping is first come, first serve and free. Campsite N82.3 A picnic table and fire ring sit under the shade of pine trees next to a river. Campsite N82.3 near Pacqawong. Campsite N63 A shallow river winds through a narrow channel of green vegetation. Campsite N63 offers quiet views of the Namekagon River. Kayaking on the St. Croix River A woman paddles a kayak past cliffs on a forested river. Paddling is an excellent way to experience the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The St. Croix Dalles Kayakers pass impressive cliffs. The scenic Dalles of the St. Croix River provide dramatic backdrops for paddlers. Fast Water on the St. Croix River. A fast river flows over large rocks in a forested landscape. There are opportunities to paddle stretches of fast and slow water on the Riverway. Fishing the St. Croix River A man holds a large fish while sitting in a boat near a forested shore. The fishing is spectacular on the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. Evening on the St. Croix River. A man stands next to a river watching a sunset. Watch scenic sunsets from shoreline campsites. Lead Contamination in Bald Eagle Nestlings Bald eagles can tell us a lot about contamination in aquatic systems because they are on top of the food web and fish are their primary prey—a food source they share with humans. From 2006 through 2015, the Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network collected blood and feather samples from bald eagle nestlings to monitor contaminants in three upper Midwest national park units. This resource brief describes the results for just one of those contaminants: lead. Two eaglets in a nest with the remains of a fish. A Legacy of Contamination Production of DDT and PCBs was banned in the United States in the 1970s, but they continue to be found in the blood and feathers of bald eagles. What does our monitoring of eagles in three Great Lakes Network parks tell us about these "legacy contaminants"? A bald eagle nestling stands on sand with sun at his back. People can be seen in the background. Vets On The River Public lands bring opportunities for healing and reflection, physical and mental challenges, and rest and recuperation to millions of veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Veterans from all branches of the military have participated in river trips. The Vets on the River program continues to evolve and include more types of experiences like these. Veterans prepare to launch boats on river. Crystal Clear: Occurrence and Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the St. Croix River The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 includes protection of the “outstandingly remarkable values” of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers, which are included in the first eight designated wild and scenic rivers. The National Park Service (NPS) supports efforts to ensure these high-quality waters are not degraded by endocrine-disrupting or pharmaceutically active chemicals. motor boat riding down a rippling river Invasive Rusty Crayfish Rusty crayfish are invasive in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They are aggressiveness and resilience to more extreme conditions tend to be the key traits that give the rusty crayfish an advantage in its non-native range. Prevention is the best method of control. At the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway the use of crayfish as live bait is prohibited. Microplastics Are Everywhere! Plastics are used to make everything from children’s toys to car parts and athletic wear to exfoliants. Plastics are lightweight and inexpensive to produce, qualities that can also make plastics a throw-away item. That disposability could present a threat to aquatic life in Midwestern lakes and streams. First page of resource brief Metamorphosis in the Midwest Region: the pollinator pledge takes flight #FindYourWay down a Wild and Scenic Riverway like St. Croix and you’ll find the park’s pollinator corridor, what Chris Stein hopes will be just the beginning of a national movement for pollinators! A employee of Motorcities NHA speaking to children about pollinators Paleontology of St. Croix National Scenic Riverway St. Croix National Scenic Riverway contains some of the most notable Cambrian fossil localities in the National Park System. Geological explorations beginning in the 1840s have revealed a fauna of brachiopods, snails and snail-like mollusks, trilobites, graptolites, burrowing animals, and others. These organisms populated the region between approximately 500 and 490 million years ago, when it was a shallow tropical sea. small piece of brown rock peppered with small round red shells. Migrating Birds Bring Two Parks Together Migratory birds have brought together parks in Costa Rica and the upper Midwest. Spearheaded by Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, the collaborative efforts focus on researching and protecting migratory bird species. A Cerulean Warbler, found in both Costa Rica and the northern Midwest region of the United States. Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: Crystal Clear: A Call to Action In 2016, the nation celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of special places that represent our natural and cultural heritage. Many national parks were founded on the beauty and value of water. Since the preservation of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the National Park System has grown to include significant examples within majestic rivers, the Great Lakes, oceans and coasts, and other spectacular water resources. bright blue lake green islands in between Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 2018 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology News</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> a piece of rock with small reddish shells embedded in it with black and white rule in foreground Cambrian Period—541 to 485.4 MYA The flat layers of rock exposed in Grand Canyon National Park encompass much of the Paleozoic, beginning in the Cambrian where they record an ancient shoreline. rock with fossil burrow tracks Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Wisconsin and Minnesota Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. [Site Under Development] Photo of river with boulders Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in Minnesota Find things to do and trip ideas in Minnesota. Pink cliffs in the background with yellow and green bushes in the foreground. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Songbird Monitoring on the St. Croix Riverway A summary of songbird monitoring data collected at St. Croix NSR from 2014 through 2018. A man holding binoculars stands in a river in front of a canoe. Protecting Historic Structures from Wildfire in the Midwest Wildland Fire Success Story about hazard fuels reduction work to protect historic structures at parks in the Great Lakes Fire Managenmt Zone. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Harmful Algal Blooms: Science to Support Solutions from Shore to Shore The 11th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae, held October 23-28, in Albany, New York, gathered scientists from a range of disciplines and natural resource managers to discuss Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey scientists presented on HAB science and management in national parks. six panelists stand in front of a projection screen My Park Story: Jayne Ann Valley’s National Trails Day Experience Meet Jayne Ann Valley, a volunteer who joined a National Trails Day event at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway on June 3, 2023 with the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program. Working with their partners, Wild Rivers Conservancy, the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway co-managed the volunteer program called Riverway Volunteers. Things to Do in Wisconsin Find things to do in Wisconsin. A sailboat on calm water near the edge of sandstone sea caves with trees growing on top. The Current: Spring 2023 The Spring 2023 issue of the Great Lakes Newsletter contains articles on the changing ways we produce and look at data, staff changes, the field season schedule, an overview of a project to look at songbird data from all three Midwest networks, and a listing of new publications. A white page with a black border at the top and the words The Current: Fall 2023 The Fall 2023 issue of the Great Lakes newsletter contains articles on planning for the future of the Inventory and Monitoring Division, retirement and departure of staff members, a summary of the Western Great Lakes Research Conference, a field season summary from each of our monitoring programs, and a list of new reports and publications. The front page of a newsletter, with a photo of a dragonfly perched on hiking boot. Bat Monitoring in Great Lakes Network Parks, 2024 A summary of acoustic bat monitoring in Great Lakes Network parks from 2015 through 2019. A bat with large, round ears hangs from a rock. Bat Monitoring Along the St. Croix Riverway, 2016–2018 A summary of bat monitoring data collected at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin/Minnesota) from 2016 through 2018. A bat held by a black-gloved hand looks over its right shoulder at the camera. Submerged Bug Hotels Tell a Story about Clean Water Sampling and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates on the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers helps us calculate an Index of Biotic Integrity, an indication of overall health in the river system. Three stacks of small, square boards (left) and aquatic insects in a tray (right). The Current: Spring 2024 Spring 2024 issue of the Great Lakes Network newsletter, "The Current," featuring science stories, a farewell, the 2024 field season schedule, and recent publications. Woman wearing a backpack and carrying a GPS unit and a compass wades through water and shrubs. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower.