For as long as anybody can remember, volunteer stewards have protected the pristine and scenic St. Croix River to ensure that it remains a crown jewel of recreation for generations to come.
Yet as the river flows along, worry has set in.
Conservationists say they're struggling to find enough younger stewards to protect the river decades into the future. The river will need plenty of them, they say, because of growing pressure to build along its fragile shores and threats to water quality.
"Generally speaking I see a tendency to shift away from environmental protection," said Dave Ferris, a Burnett County, Wis., conservation officer. "As far as the younger generation coming up I guess I don't see as much emphasis on natural resources now as in the past."
The drive to recruit an army of younger stewards is a priority at the St. Croix River Association (SCRA), a longtime guardian of the river's conservation efforts. Executive Director Deb Ryun said a confluence of development pressures on the river and cultural changes in the home make the issue more urgent.
A massive four-lane bridge under construction at Oak Park Heights will encourage further development, she said, and more homeowners are challenging setback laws with variance requests. Culturally, younger people preoccupied with electronic devices sit indoors rather than heading outside to hike, boat and camp, she said.
"It's really about making sure whoever the next generation of owners are, that they have that heart and soul, that understanding, of what makes the river special," Ryun said.
To that end, the SCRA will offer six internships this summer to put young people to work at the National Park Service headquarters in St. Croix Falls, Wis. The National Park Service and the SCRA have been strong allies in a quest to maintain the natural character of the St. Croix, one of the most popular recreational waterways in the Upper Midwest.
