Kinnickinnic River Land Trust

Working with the community to conserve and protect the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed.

Community Forest Campaign

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Kinnickinnic River Land Trust (KRLT) is launching a fundraising campaign to raise the money needed to purchase a key 40-acre, old growth forested parcel of land in the lower river canyon downstream of the City of River Falls. The parcel contains 1,500 feet of river frontage and includes the mouth of Rocky Branch. The purchase will connect the River Falls School Forest, which has been landlocked for years, to Glen Park and River Hills Park.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for KRLT, the community of River Falls, and the River Falls School District. “A purchase agreement has been signed with the JoAnn Ailport-Dreistadt Estate and we are excited to move forward with raising the funds needed to make the purchase of the property a reality,” states KRLT Executive Director, Charlene Brooks. Successfully securing this 40-acre community forest will enhance public access to the Kinnickinnic River, increase angler opportunities, protect Rocky Branch, provide space for environmental education, and expand recreation.

“We would like to thank the JoAnn Ailport-Dreistadt Estate and the School District of River Falls for their collaboration and for their commitment to making this beautiful forest accessible to the people of this community for generations to come,” shares KRLT Board President, Alison Page.

The Community Forest site is located in parcel A. Parcel B is the access road that will allow foot traffic only.

Interested in learning more about how you can be involved in this legacy project?  

715-425-5738 or info@kinniriver.org

KinniRiverCleanUp 2020

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Either long-standing or new, we at the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust value our important volunteers and the continued effort to steward and protect the Kinni. Thank you so much for serving through our annual KinniRiverCleanUp over the last 26 years.

COVID-19 and the impacts its having on your communities are vast and we recognize that our collective day-to-day has changed. As a result, we are modifying this year’s event to promote our environment, while keeping each other safe.

Rather than an organized gathering this year, we encourage you this Earth Week, April 19 – 25, 2020, to get outside, explore, and pick up a little trash along the way. Take a stroll in your neighborhood or along your favorite spots on the Kinni and see how much you can pick up. We can work together during this time of seclusion to make a positive impact in our communities. Please use CDC recommended best practices for social distancing while out and about. KRLT is looking for additional ways to support volunteers this year in light of these changes and will be following up with more information. While you are out helping to keep the Earth clean, tag your photos with #kinnicleanup on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Show everyone that #natureisntcancelled

Land Trust Days 2019

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We are celebrating Land Trust Days by hosting a pioneer prairie walk from 4-5 pm on August 4th at Kelly Creek Preserve, in conjunction with the Kinnickinnic Historical Society Ice Cream Social at the Historic Kinnickinnic Church from 2-6 pm.

Wisconsin Land Trust Days is a series of over 30 outdoor events and activities, hosted by land trusts throughout Wisconsin, during the months of August and September. Events and activities include paddling, biking, monarch-tagging, trail building, hiking, walkabouts, star-gazing, annual gatherings, celebrations, picnics, and more. 
Visit HaveFunOutside.org to learn more


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News

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Special KRLT Member Party!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This meeting is for
current KRLT members.

To become a member or renew your membership, click here.

To RSVP for the meeting, click here
(you must RSVP by November 30).

For proposed KRLT bylaws, click here.

For Approved Resolution, click here.

For FAQ about the bylaw revisions,
click here.

Remember, current KRLT members only. We hope to see you there!  

 

 

Kinnickinnic River on American Rivers 2018 Most Endangered Rivers Listing

 

To read the article, please click on the image.

The timing and phasing of dam removal in the City of River Falls is the most publicized of the many challenges we face in conserving and protecting the Kinnickinnic River for future generations. Climatic change, urbanization pressure and increasing groundwater use within our watershed all factor in to the future health of the Kinni. It is important to remember that we have many people and organizations with tremendous passion, energy and expertise involved in managing these challenges. Getting national exposure like this American Rivers 2018 Most Endangered Rivers listing will hopefully bring additional funding and resources to us to help meet those challenges.

– KRLT Executive Director Dave Drewiske

 

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Regular City Council Meeting

City Council relicensing decision; click here to read the Resolution.

 

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Regular City Council Meeting

City Council receives the Feasibility Report and recommendation from the Kinni Corridor Committee.

 

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Kinni Corridor Committee Meeting

The Kinni Corridor Committee finalizes the Feasibility Report and recommendation to the City Council.

 

Kinni Corridor Project Committee Recommendation

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Kinni
Photo courtesy of
Friends of the Kinni

On January 25, the Kinni Corridor Project Committee finalized its recommendation to the River Falls City Council on relicensing the City’s hydro project. The resolution, presented to the City Council on Feb. 13, calls for relicensing the Junction Dam for the final time and the removal of the Powell dam. The City will make a final decision on relicensing on February 27.

While the recommendation to relicense is disappointing, the fact that such a diverse group can agreed with the eventual removal of both dams is encouraging. On behalf of the KRLT, our representative Dave Fodroczi signed the resolution to signify our commitment to working with the City and others in developing a means to achieve dam removal. We remain resolute in our efforts towards river protection and restoration to a free-flowing, cold and clean Kinni.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Public Hearing – City of River Falls – Utility Advisory Board

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: City Hall, 222 N Lewis St, River Falls, WI 54022

The City of River Falls Utility Advisory Board (UAB) will be hosting a Public Hearing regarding the decision of whether to relicense the  dams or surrender the license. This is the first step in the City’s 3-step group decision-making process. It is critical that they understand the public’s desire for the license to be surrendered. 

The night of the public hearing, the UAB is expected to vote on the following licensing options:

1) Relicense the hydroelectric facility (keep both dams),

2) Surrender the license (remove both dams), or

3) Relicense the hydroelectric facility but decommission the lower generator (to keep the Upper dam and remove the lower dam).

Please note that the UAB is only addressing “a relicensing scenario” – they are not making a specific recommendation about the future of the dams. The UAB will send their resolution and recommendation to the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Planning Committee. The Kinni Corridor Committee will then include this resolution and recommendation in their deliberations as they draft their recommendation to the City Council, which is expected to be finalized and delivered to the City Council in mid-February for a vote on February 27th.

Please come to this public hearing, step up to the microphone for a second, tell them who you are and that you want them to surrender the license for the hydros! This is your last chance to share your opinion in a formal public setting – don’t miss this opportunity!

Click here to read KRLT Executive Director Dave Drewiske’s Letter to the Editor about the Kinni and the dams.

 

Background

The City of River Falls filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last July to extend the current hydroelectric license for five years to allow time to conduct a Kinnickinnic River corridor planning process. The City’s request was denied by FERC on December 9, 2015.  This rejection upholds an August 31, 2016 deadline by which the City must decide whether to relicense or decommission the facilities. On January 8, 2016, the City filed a request for rehearing.  The detailed documents and all project information can be reviewed on the City’s website at Hydroelectric Relicensing.

The KRLT continues to participate as a stakeholder in the process. We were one of many groups and individuals to submit a  letter of support  for the City’s license extension request. Following the recent FERC denial of the City’s request, the KRLT submitted a  letter to the Mayor and City Council   expressing concern about the time constraints imposed by the current deadline and encouraging the Council to initiate an alternatives analysis.

On December 3, 2014, the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust (KRLT) Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting a process leading to the removal of the River Falls Dams. On January 2, 2015, the KRLT distributed a news release on our resolution. To view the release, which includes the resolution, please click on the following link: KRLT Hydroelectric Dams Documents.

“The Dam Decision”, a documentary created by UWRF student Sydney Howell, premiered December 7, 2015 at The Falls Theatre of River Falls to a standing room only crowd.  This short film presents both sides of the current community conversation concerning dam relicensing or river restoration on the Kinnickinnic River.  You can watch the 11 minute film on You Tube at The Dam Decision.