Good job everyone. Our fundraising team and our donors are the best!!

“We’re really proud to have reached our current goal of $175,000 to help with a key step toward a free-flowing Kinni.” KinniCC President Judie Foster Babcock said, “We are grateful for the involvement of KRLT and TU members both on our fund-raising committee and for support from TU across the Midwest.” 

Kinni Restoration update Summer 2023

In June 2023, KinniCC reached our current fundraising goal of $175,000 for the matching funds committed to the Army Core of Engineers feasibility study. Art Kaemmer helped push us over the goal line by directing a $25,000 grant from the Art & Martha Kaemmer Fund of the HRK Foundation via Kinnickinnic River Land Trust (KRLT). Art is also member of Kiap-TU-Wish.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is currently conducting the feasibility. The ACOE completed a site visit on May 19, 2023 with City Planning Director, Amy Peterson. The ACOE feasibility study will determine the ecological restoration value and Federal interest in working with the community on a restoration project. If ACOE does proposed to take on the project, it would bring $10 million in cost share matching funds. Project budget estimates, while still rough, suggest a $13-15 million cost. WDNR has already committed a $1 million Municipal Dam Removal grant to the Powell Falls Dam removal. The city and its utilities are expected to make a significant contribution as well. KinniCC will keep funders and stakeholders updated on the project and prepare for the next fundraising phase.  We are recruiting for our fund-raising teams. 

KinniCC will continue to collaborate with the City and other stakeholders during the ACOE study process. ACOE expects to hold two public feedback sessions: one this year around the scope of the projects to evaluate; and one next year around the recommendations and considerations of environmental restoration.  KinniCC anticipates that in 12 to 18 months the study will be sufficiently complete for the River Falls City Council to consider the ACOE recommendations, project proposal and related costs. This expected 2024 City Council resolution will continue the journey for the Kinni restoration project authorized in 2019. 

Meanwhile, KinniCC, Kiap-TU-Wish, UW-RF, Freshwater Collaborative and WDNR continue to gather scientific information about the current conditions on the Kinni and its tributaries. This annual assessment of water quality, riparian non-game wildlife, fisheries, and aquatic insects will provide foundational information about the health of the Kinni and the research for the long-term benefits of ecological restoration. This season KinniCC is focused on the non-game wildlife in the riparian areas beside the Kinni. Maggie Stahley, Riparian Ecologist is leading the planning and field work in 2023, with support from community volunteers and our Stream Team Lead, Amber Rappl.  

Thank You, Suzanne Constantini, for Your Service – Then and Now

Navigator for the KinniCC Foundation’s Fundraising Animation Team

By Gary Solomonson

Suzanne’s dad was an avid angler and he introduced her to the joys of fishing at a very early age. It was no surprise that when she met her husband, Ed, in the Army, his being an avid fisherman was part of her attraction to this good-looking angler. They were married in 1973 and have spent 50 years fishing together. In 1987, after moving to Stillwater, Suzanne took a fly-casting course at Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop as she wanted to learn how to fly fish and spend time on the rivers with Ed. Early on, they fished their two favorite streams – the Kinni and the Rush. They also continue to take frequent trips to the Boundary Waters where they mainly fish for walleye and bass.

In April 2018, Suzanne joined the Board of Directors of Kiap-TU-Wish, serving as the treasurer. Over these past five years she has learned much about the conservation needs of the streams in the greater River Falls area. She has a passion for the Kinni. It is her favorite stream. She joined the KinniCC fundraising effort because she believes in their mission and goals to restore the river.

Suzanne’s resume brings a caring, servant heart along with leadership and business skills to her volunteer work. She graduated in 1969 from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and earned an MBA (healthcare concentration with a leadership focus) from the University of St. Thomas in 1993.

Suzanne spent 46 years in a varied nursing career, serving three years in the Army Nurse Corps with one year in Vietnam (1970-1971) and has held leadership positions throughout her career. She was a Head Nurse of Pediatrics for 5 years, Director of NICU for 10 years, VP of Patient Care Services for 16 years and Clinic Manager at Gillette Children’s Hospital for 12 years.

In addition to all that talented service, Suzanne has thrown her energy into a variety of successful projects:

1. Served on a team project and applied for a $2M HUD grant to construct a 30-unit senior housing in St. Croix Falls, WI., working with the City of St. Croix Falls to approve the building and meet all of the city requirements. This was a growing need in a community with an increasing number of aging residents. Full occupancy occurred within 6 months.
2. Participated in the design and construction of a remodeled OB unit at St Croix Regional Medical Center for approximately $600,000.
3. Participated in the design and construction of a new Emergency Department at St. Croix Regional Medical Center for approximately $1M. 
4. Worked with the Foundation Department at Gillette Children’s to write grants for a major remodeling of the Dental/Orthodontia department. Her team was successful in receiving $250,000 from Delta Dental for major equipment needs, an additional $10,000 from West Publishing and $30,000 from other sources. Their efforts covered 35% of the total project

Judie & David Foster Babcock : A Shared Passion for Kindness, Service, and the Kinnickinnic River

By Gary Solomonson, Fundraising Coach for the Kinni Animation Teams

Henry James once said, “Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” Every now and then in my fundraising practice I meet people whose passion inspires a wide and far-reaching community of others committed to the greater good of ecological reclamation that can bring improved physical and mental health to a community. At the root of this passion is the energy of kindness, and it is this kindness that fuels the journey of community service being led by Judie Foster-Babcock and husband, David Babcock, in bringing their spirit and love to the Kinnickinnic River. Their devotion to the River Falls area and its natural resources, which bring joy to a community, is an inspiration and a driving force as the ‘best-version-of-nature’ is reclaimed.

In addition to having served as the President of the KinniCC, Judie’s resume of community service is extensive. KinniCC volunteer, John (Duke) Welter said, “Judie, who is a ‘serial philanthropist,’ has been the mainstay of getting and keeping the KinniCC organized and before the public in River Falls, keeping us moving forward with a hundred or more administrative steps to get our nonprofit status, our corporate organization done properly, and THEN bringing her rare business skills in connecting people with other people with whom they should be working to get things done. Time after time, Judie has been able to suggest ways to move forward and stay affirmative. Her regular meetings with partners have kept them and us informed and working together. It is unquestionably a labor of love.”

Working alongside of Judie is her energetic and creative husband, David, who also wears multiple hats for KinniCC including writing, website development, technology skills, photography, encouraging community support, and he is also a drone co-pilot with Judie. His family heritage and history in River Falls has inspired his deep passion for the ecological reclamation of the Kinni. Together, David and Judie have such a rare history in this community, and they are continually keeping us informed and providing leadership as we go forward.    

Duke Welter has said on many occasions, “Remarkable persistence and good spirits are at the heart of their kindness!”

Meet the Stream Team!



The stream team are the people who are working on monitoring the Kinni this summer.

My name is Maggie Stahley. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish from the University of Minnesota Duluth. I work for the Kinni Corridor Collaborative as a Riparian Ecologist to come up with a standard protocol to monitor and survey the riparian zone and non-game species before and after the dam removal. I also do monthly water quality monitoring and outreach events. My favorite part of the job is spending time on the river and being able to meet and network with various groups like Trout Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. I spend my free time trout fishing, hunting, surfing, scuba diving or hanging out with my pug.

Hello everyone! My name is Amber Rappl (she/they). I am a student at UW-River Falls working towards a double major in Biology and Biotechnology with a Chemistry minor. I am also the president of the UWRF Bee Club. Last summer I worked with Kinni Corridor Collaborative as a Stream Monitoring Specialist primarily in community education and water quality monitoring. This summer I returned as a Stream Team Lead, and am loving every minute of it! When I'm not doing fun projects with Kinni Corridor Collaborative I also work part-time at the UW-River Falls Sustainability Office. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, caving, and overall being outdoors. My favorite hiking trip so far was backpacking the Porcupine Mountains in Northern Michigan.  

Please consider donating to support the Stream Team and their work to monitor the Kinni during this summer. The data they collect is invaluable in providing information on the health of the river.  You can send donations to KinniCC, P.O. Box 3 River Falls, Wisconsin 54022, Text “4TH” to 844.844.6844 or scan here:

May 2023 Leave No Trace Spotlight a Success!

Upcoming Events:

Stop in to chat with KinniCC at these upcoming events in River Falls, WI.

July 15 - River Falls Days - 10 am to 2 pm - City Hall Plaza

July 25 - River Falls Rotary - noon - Ezekiel Lutheran Church - Amy Peterson update on the US COE Feasibility Study

August 1 - River Falls Rotary - 7 am - Ezekiel Lutheran Church - Kinni Stream Team update on health of the Kinni

Early August - US Army Corp of Engineers - public meeting on the Feasibility Study scoping (date/time/location to be announced)

August 28 - KinniCC Quarterly Board Meeting - 5:30 pm via Zoom

Sept 15 - Pheasants Forever - 10 am to 4 pm - Youth Game Fair - River Falls Sportsman's Club

Sept 15 - Art on the Kinni - 10 am to 4 pm - Heritage Park/Kinni pathway