SCRA Newsletter

The St. Croix River and its watershed are national treasures and vital community assets, offering clean water, high quality natural ecosystems, beautiful scenery, unique cultural resources, abundant recreation opportunities and striking geologic features. Unfortunately, the St. Croix is also a threatened resource. Across the St. Croix’s 8,000 square mile watershed, natural areas are being transformed into roads, parking lots and housing developments — and polluted storm water, forest fragmentation and other changes are taking their toll. The health of the St. Croix is at a tipping point and if we do not act now, it will be too late.

 

River Awareness Week 2010 Slideshow

Our Mission

To protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed.

In spring 2008, The McKnight Foundation and St. Croix Valley Community Foundation convened more than 50 St. Croix conservation leaders to discuss how to expand protection of the river and its watershed at this important juncture. Walter Mondale, who with the late Senator Gaylord Nelson passed the federal legislation that has helped protect the St. Croix as a “Wild and Scenic River,” addressed the group with a passionate call for action. Conferees identified three key issues as top priorities: water quality, land protection, citizen education. They also voiced the need for a new strong watershed-wide advocacy organization. The St. Croix River Association made the decision to rise to this challenge and transform itself from a volunteer based effort into a staffed, watershed-wide advocacy organization.

With strong engagement and support from leaders across the watershed, the St. Croix River Association developed a three year strategic framework. The new St Croix River Association is committed to taking action now so that future generations can enjoy a St. Croix River and its entire watershed where water is clean, scenic vistas remain and open space for habitat, sustainable farmlands and healthy tributaries co-exist with thriving communities.