Posts by Sophia Patane

Written by Bethany Cox, Director of Development.   Getting out safely during a global pandemic to have a family adventure seems unrealistic. And yet, the Cox family needed to get out, so we used my 1st grader’s MEA break to do just that. As the book, Do Princesses and Super Heroes Hit the Trails? says,…

In the 1960s, “Save Our St. Croix” was a rallying cry for those who cherished the river that forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This cry, together with the actions of concerned residents and river lovers, led to the St. Croix becoming one of the first eight federally protected Wild and Scenic Rivers under…

In honor of the launch of the new My St. Croix Woods website, we sat down with the St. Croix River Association’s Forestry Program Coordinator Nikki Henger to learn more about the work of MSCW and how technology has helped to foster a sense of community across the watershed for woodland owners over the past…

Zebra mussels are a common aquatic invasive species (AIS) discussed around the SCRA office, but what exactly is a zebra mussel and why does it matter? Recognizable for their distinctive D-shaped bodies and stripes, zebra mussels are filter feeders that take away food from native species and colonize hard surfaces or vegetation in lakes or…

The St. Croix River Association contributed $40,000 to the city of Lakeland’s efforts in Sally Arneson’s neighborhood to stop stormwater erosion and plant native vegetation, all as part of a larger project—one that reduced over 3,000 lbs. of sediment to the Riverway.   Imagine buying a quaint cabin with a sloping bank down to the…

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘oak’? For me, the name is synonymous with a sense of security—every house I have lived in has had an oak nearby, and so I associate them with feeling at home. Each autumn, the sound of acorns plinking down the eaves is a reminder of…

The St. Croix River Association has been following the possible expansion of the old Rybak Mine, now owned by North 40 Resources in Farmington Township near Osceola, Wisconsin. We feel it is important to share this letter here, which expresses our concerns to President Buberl and the Village Board of Osceola.   July 20, 2020…

Everyone has something memorable about their commute to work. Whether it’s a landmark passed during the drive, or having to gently move a cat off an office chair when working from home, there’s something about that routine that sets up the work of the day.   For the staff of the St. Croix River Association,…

Dear River Friends, I write to you today with a heavy heart. The stress we all feel from the coronavirus was enough, but witnessing George Floyd’s death has left so many of us feeling uncertain about our future and what to do. The fear, outrage, trauma, pain, and sadness expressed in the subsequent demonstrations clearly…

Boating on the St. Croix River offers opportunities for creating great memories and enjoying the unforgettable beauty of our National Scenic Riverway. At times like these, getting out onto the water feels like a welcome escape from being inside our homes, and it is possible to enjoy this activity safely in compliance with social distancing…