Riparian Property Partnerships

Riparian Property Riparian Property PartnershipsPartnerships

www.fotsch.orgwww.fotsch.org

StewardshipStewardship

Local property owners are the best Local property owners are the best long-term stewards of the long-term stewards of the river, and it is important that they river, and it is important that they understand and take ownership of understand and take ownership of initiatives to protect and preserve initiatives to protect and preserve their river and watershed.their river and watershed.

www.fotsch.orgFriends of the St. Croix Headwaters

ResponsibilityResponsibility

Over the years, for a variety of Over the years, for a variety of reasons, waterbody stewardship reasons, waterbody stewardship has gotten passed from local has gotten passed from local citizens to state agencies and local citizens to state agencies and local governmental units. governmental units.


Core MissionCore Mission

It is essential that river, lake, and It is essential that river, lake, and watershed associations have as watershed associations have as part of their core mission -- part of their core mission -- facilitation and empowerment of facilitation and empowerment of the stewardship efforts of local the stewardship efforts of local residents, particularly riparian residents, particularly riparian property owners.property owners.


Background – FOTSCHBackground – FOTSCH

The Friends of the The Friends of the St. Croix St. Croix Headwaters Headwaters (FOTSCH) is a (FOTSCH) is a citizen-volunteer, citizen-volunteer, non-profit non-profit organization focused organization focused on maintaining the on maintaining the overall health of the overall health of the upper St. Croix upper St. Croix River.River.


““Perennials, Not Perennials, Not Annuals”Annuals”

Currently, Currently, seventeen seventeen citizen-volunteers citizen-volunteers (almost all (almost all riparian property riparian property owners) are owners) are monitoring eight monitoring eight sites using WAV sites using WAV program.program.


Organization Serves Organization Serves VolunteersVolunteers


Volunteers

Members

Organization as Resource Center

Grants

Technology

Experts

Recognition

Citizen OwnershipCitizen Ownership

Residents are inherently proud of Residents are inherently proud of their rivertheir river

Residents want clean water, an Residents want clean water, an improved fishery & wildlife habitat, improved fishery & wildlife habitat, and a better recreational experienceand a better recreational experience

Awareness Awareness Understanding Understanding Appreciation Appreciation Ownership & Ownership & AdvocacyAdvocacy


Schoolhouse for Pride & Schoolhouse for Pride & PassionPassion

Pre-European timesPre-European times History since European settlementHistory since European settlement Native vs. Invasive species Native vs. Invasive species Current health of riverCurrent health of river What should our “protect and What should our “protect and

preserve” goals & objectives be?preserve” goals & objectives be?


Background – St. Croix Background – St. Croix RiverRiver

The 8-mile St. The 8-mile St. Croix River Croix River headwaters headwaters segment flows segment flows from the river’s from the river’s source at Upper source at Upper St. Croix lake to St. Croix lake to the St. Croix the St. Croix Flowage at Flowage at Gordon.Gordon.


Historic SignificanceHistoric Significance

The St. Croix River The St. Croix River headwaters has headwaters has great significance great significance as it is part of the as it is part of the historic Boise Brule historic Boise Brule – St. Croix – St. Croix Waterway Waterway connecting Lake connecting Lake Superior and the Superior and the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.


No Protective No Protective DesignationsDesignations

Not part of the St. Not part of the St. Croix National Croix National Scenic RiverwayScenic Riverway

Not protected by Not protected by Wisconsin’s Wisconsin’s highest water highest water quality standard quality standard called Outstanding called Outstanding Resource WatersResource Waters


Current StatusCurrent Status

Headwaters Headwaters segment rated segment rated 5th in 5th in importance importance among 1,494 among 1,494 stream segments stream segments in 20 northern in 20 northern Wisconsin Wisconsin countiescounties


(Northern Rivers Initiative)(Northern Rivers Initiative)

SummarySummary

““Grassroots” river support essentialGrassroots” river support essential Property owners as primary stewardsProperty owners as primary stewards Friends group approach to organizationFriends group approach to organization FOTSCH mission is to empower stewardsFOTSCH mission is to empower stewards Make it easy & fun to participateMake it easy & fun to participate Knowledge and involvement are key to Knowledge and involvement are key to

resultsresults Year-around volunteer connectionYear-around volunteer connection


Thank You!Thank You! FOTSCH VolunteersFOTSCH Volunteers Natural Resources Foundation C.D. Besadny Natural Resources Foundation C.D. Besadny

Conservation Grant Program Conservation Grant Program Citizen-based Monitoring Partnership Grant Citizen-based Monitoring Partnership Grant

ProgramProgram Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources -

River Protection Planning GrantRiver Protection Planning Grant UW-Extension Water Action Volunteers (WAV)UW-Extension Water Action Volunteers (WAV) UWSP Center for Watershed Science and UWSP Center for Watershed Science and

EducationEducation


Comments & Comments & QuestionsQuestions

www.fotsch.orgwww.fotsch.org

““I think you should be more I think you should be more explicit”explicit”


Here’s A Specific:Here’s A Specific:

Here’s what’s happened with our Here’s what’s happened with our group this year…………group this year…………


More Specifics:More Specifics:


Connecting for SuccessConnecting for Success

Douglas County Assoc. of Lakes & Douglas County Assoc. of Lakes & StreamsStreams

Local lake associations (watershed Local lake associations (watershed perspective)perspective)

UW-Stevens PointUW-Stevens Point Douglas County ConservationistDouglas County Conservationist Douglas County Forestry/ZoningDouglas County Forestry/Zoning Wisconsin Department of AgricultureWisconsin Department of Agriculture


Operating for SuccessOperating for Success

Social Events (meet the river meet the Social Events (meet the river meet the people)people)

CommunicationsCommunications Web siteWeb site Listen to local issues & concernsListen to local issues & concerns

Accomplishment generatorAccomplishment generator Water-quality monitoringWater-quality monitoring Scientific studiesScientific studies Invasive species identification & controlInvasive species identification & control


Organizing for SuccessOrganizing for Success

Key initial partners:Key initial partners: Wisconsin DNRWisconsin DNR River Alliance of WisconsinRiver Alliance of Wisconsin UW-ExtensionUW-Extension

Basin EducatorBasin Educator WAVWAV

““Friends type” organizationFriends type” organization Pride & passionPride & passion


Riparian Property Partnerships

Documents

Transcript of Riparian Property Partnerships