St. Croix River
St. Croix River
River Description
The St. Croix River is a 169-mile ribbon of blue that forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin and offers myriad experiences to valley residents and visitors alike. There are stretches wide and deep where yachts and riverboats reign and others where the water is so shallow that you can wade from one side to the other. The St. Croix is home to 40 species of mussels, five of which are on the endangered species list, 111 species of fish, and 320 species of birds. The river also supports small towns, local tourism, and a vibrant arts community.
Visit the St. Croix River in SWWD
By boat
Upper reaches of the St. Croix from Solon Springs, Wisconsin to Stillwater are well-suited for canoeing and kayaking. Along the lower St. Croix in SWWD, the river is deep and wide and most people travel by motorized boat. This stretch of the river passes by Afton State Park (Minnesota), Kinnickinnic State Park (Wisconsin), St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park (Minnesota), and Carpenter Nature Center (Minnesota) before it reaches its confluence with the Mississippi River at Point Douglas Park (Minnesota).
There is public access for motorized boats at St. Croix Bluffs, as well as a canoe and kayak launch at Point Douglas Park. Afton State Park has three canoe-in campsites. Just north of SWWD in downtown Afton, the Afton House Inn also offers public and charter riverboat cruises from April through October, which travel south through the SWWD.
Swimming, fishing, and camping
There are public swimming beaches and pier/shore fishing at Afton State Park, St. Croix Bluffs, and Point Douglas Parks. Afton and St. Croix Bluffs also offer camping.
Carpenter Nature Center
Just north of the confluence between the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, Carpenter Nature Center’s Minnesota campus contains 425 acres of oak savanna, restored prairie, and wooded ravines along the St. Croix in Denmark Twp. SWWD partners with the nature center to provide watershed education to 6th grade students in the South Washington County Schools. The nature center is also open to the public and is a free, family-friendly destination. You can meet injured and rehabilitated raptors and reptiles, hike through the prairie and down to the river, and buy delicious apples in the fall.
Water Quality in the St. Croix River
The lower St. Croix River has been a federally protected Wild and Scenic River since 1972. The designation protects the river from shoreline development, as well as new dams, impoundments, and crossings. As a result, you can enjoy a wilderness-like experience when out on the water and the St. Croix has good water quality in comparison with the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.
Even so, the St. Croix does have water quality challenges. After 1950, the amount of phosphorus flowing downriver increased significantly, creating a ripple effect that affected diatoms (algae), macroinvertebrates (bugs), and other parts of the ecological web. As the St. Croix watershed continued to develop during the 1980s and 1990s, more natural areas were converted to agriculture and residential land, phosphorus levels continued to climb, and algae blooms became more common.
In 2004, the St. Croix Basin Team set a goal of reducing phosphorus flowing into the river by 20 percent in order to reduce algae blooms and restore the river to good health. Minnesota and Wisconsin signed an official agreement to work toward this goal in 2006, and a study and plan (TMDL—total maximum daily load) was approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2012.
More recently, in 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has listed the lower St. Croix River as impaired for PFAS (perfluorinated alkylated substances, also known as “forever chemicals”). There are currently no PFAS-related fish consumption advisories but there could be in the future. The impairment does not affect swimming safety.
Projects to protect the St. Croix River in SWWD
Trout Brook Restoration
SWWD has spent more than 15 years working with local landowners and conservation partners, including Great River Greening and the Minnesota DNR, to restore and improve water quality in Trout Brook. This small stream flows through Afton State Park to the St. Croix River. Stream improvement efforts have not only brought trout back to Trout Brook, but have also reduced the amount of phosphorus and sediment flowing downstream to the St. Croix River by 177 pounds per year and 154 tons per year, respectively. This work has been supported by funding from the Minnesota Clean Water Fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership.
Bluff and ravine stabilization projects
SWWD has also worked in close partnership with the Washington Conservation District (WCD) and local landowners to identify and repair erosion hot-spots along the river. Recent projects at Carpenter Nature Center, St. Croix Bluffs, and a privately owned property are helping to keep 271 pounds of phosphorus and 318 tons of sediment out of the river every year. The Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership has provided funding support for these projects.
Working with local farmers
In collaboration with the WCD and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership, SWWD supports local farmers in adopting best management practices, such as cover crops, rotational grazing, and reduced tillage. Available resources include a Farmer Mentor program, cost-share grants and annual payments, free site visits, and educational field days and events.
Explore more waters
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Mississippi River
The Mighty Mississippi begins its journey in northern Minnesota at Lake Itasca and flows 2350 miles to the Gulf. Along the way, the river passes through ten states and provides drinking water to fifty major cities.
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Trout Brook
Trout Brook is a small, coldwater stream that starts just east of Manning Avenue and flows through the hills of Afton Alps and Afton State Park to the St. Croix River.
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Powers Lake
Powers Lake is large, 61 acre lake in Woodbury, and the deepest lake in the watershed. The lake is popular among local anglers, and visitors to nearby Powers Lake Park.