Kinnickinnic River Land Trust Receives Private Land Stewardship Grant from Xcel Energy Foundation

[RIVER FALLS, WI] The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, Inc. (KRLT), received a grant of $1,000 from Xcel Energy Foundation for its Kinni Watershed Private Landowner and Preserve Stewardship program activities.

Trudy Popenhagen, Xcel Energy Community Relations Director, said “We are thrilled to support the efforts of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust to with more than a dozen private landowners in the watershed to enhance the natural resources of the Kinnickinnic River Watershed, improve water quality of the Kinnickinnic River and make an investment to protect this community asset.”

According to KRLT Executive Director Nelson French, “This wonderful donation from Xcel Energy Foundation will help us in our work with private landowner partners in efforts to improve water quality through watershed improvements in the South Fork subwatershed of the Kinnickinnic River and improve quality of native plant communities on private lands within the Lower Kinnickinnic River subwatershed.”

In addition to private landowners, KRLT is working with volunteers and local, state and federal government agencies to achieve greater protection of the river resources. Public partners include Pierce County and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Water quality and quantity measurements will be monitored by public agencies as part of the Kinnickinnic River Priority Watershed Project. KRLT will measure actual acres controlled for invasive species and restored to natural vegetation.