Challenges
The Kinni is in good shape, but …To the west of the Kinni is the Twin Cities metropolitan area of 2.5 million people, just 35 minutes away. To the east is the growing city of Eau Claire. In between is the Kinni watershed and the city of River Falls, whose population is expected to increase 46% between 1990 and 2010.
“The Kinni, like so many other prized fisheries within calling distance of America’s cities, has been discovered …and discovered … and discovered.”
- Steve Born, et al, in Exploring Wisconsin Trout Streams
The biggest challenge to the Kinnickinnic watershed is continuous subdivision of rural areas for residential use and storm water pollution from River Falls. Population growth is bringing pressure to subdivide and sell small lots for homes, with accompanying development that may lead to environmental deterioration. For example, as land surface is converted to non-porous materials in the form of roads, parking lots, and roof tops, water run-off is not absorbed, filtered, and cooled. A study of urban storm water and its impact on the Kinni showed that river temperatures dramatically increased downstream from storm water outfalls. For a detailed account of these issues, see Guidance for Watershed Stewardship for the Lower St. Croix River - A Stream Protection Strategy, a paper written by Kent Johnson and refer to the Center for Watershed Protection site.
While urban development is a growing challenge to the Kinni, the resource also faces the more traditional potential of pollution from poor agricultural practices and policy. For example, during May 1998 an estimated 10,000 trout in Parker Creek and the Kinni were killed by liquid manure.
Stream bank erosion is another challenge. Ongoing efforts to remove brush and restore grasses and other plants on stream banks has proven to be helpful in preventing erosion and added the benefit of enriching the habitat for trout.
The mission of the KRLT is to address these challenges to the Kinni.
