Welcome to our Spring 2023 newsletter

Sharing the Kinni Story

This Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article by Paul A Smith highlights the opportunity with the US COE involvement and the Kinni's future as a free-flowing stream again. Congratulations to Gary Horvath, Simms Conservationist of the Year 2022

Leave No Trace Spotlight

Kinni Corridor Collaborative and Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, as co-grantees, are excited to announce that the Community Forest in River Falls, Wisconsin has been chosen as a 2023 Leave No Trace Spotlight!

May 18-20, 2023 we will be joined by a Subaru/Leave No Trace team in order to bring attention to the challenges the Community Forest and the Kinnickinnic River are facing and to shine a spotlight on how our community is rising to meet those challenges. The multi-day event will include Leave No Trace education, outreach, and stewardship with the goal to build momentum and inspire community involvement for the future. The Spotlight is a national program focused on sustainable recreation and daily living practices.

The Spotlight location in Pierce County, River Falls, WI is the Community Forest and adjoining School Forest properties. These two properties encompass over 110 acres of protected lands on the south bank of the Kinnickinnic River, a Class I trout stream that flows through the heart of River Falls.

Join us May 18

5 to 8 pm - Rush River Brewery - Social with Farmers Market, Food Trucks
May 20 from 10 am to 2 pm - We will be out to greet folks as they take a self-guided hike on The Community Forest and Lower Kinni Trails and #LEAVENOTRACE.

Get out and enjoy this beautiful natural resource in River Falls.

We think Partners are the Stars of the KinniCC Universe

The size and number of collaborative partners, individual donors, funders, businesses, organizations, and community groups supporting the ecological restoration of the Kinni River in and around River Falls, WI is vast and diverse. These partners help us build capacity, find volunteers, research solutions and raise funding! Meet two of our newer partners.

GOATS on THE GO

A new River Falls based landscape and brush management company using herds of hungry goats to knock invasives plants back and create room for native plants and animals.

Visit Their Facebook Page

River Network

We connected with them in 2022 to find resources on working with federal funders involved in river ecological restoration and research. As a member of their national network we plug into educational resources and experts and keep us informed about government grant programs.

Visit Their Website

KinniCC fundraising team delivers!

2/28/2023 KinniCC Fundraising team delivered $50,000 grant to support COE Feasibility study cost share. We met 2/3 of our overall goal in support of ecological restoration and only have $30,000 left to raise. Text "4TK" to 844-844-6844 to help us reach the goal by June 30, 2023.

L-R: Gary Solomonson, Suzanne Constantini, Gary Horvath, Judie Babcock, Steve Goff, Scott Eickschen

Spring in The Air,

Summer Around the Corner!

By Gary Solomonson, A New Friend of the Kinni

Soon, winter’s slumber will awaken along the Kinni and we humans – whether out walking, in waders or in a kayak – will be able to fill all our senses and spirits with the emerging spring. The tinkling of melting ice and sounds of rushing water, the leaves budding out, aromas of spring flora, fauna scurrying about, and trout ready to enjoy their banquet of insects and other morsels. Unknown to the river’s new life are many people who are working diligently behind the scenes to protect and preserve the health of this Eden which blesses River Falls. Among the many diverse supporters are four fundraising animation teams.

An animation team is a group of 3 or more people who identify a potential source of funds to support a fundraising initiative. They create a plan and animate it as the three leaders bring it to life. Team Roles are the:

Navigator who organizes the team and facilitates regular meetings;
Storyteller who identifies the synergies between the fundraiser’s mission and a donor’s values; and
Prospector who helps identify potential donors and funders;
Helpers are other members of the team bring creative and innovative ideas and connections to the collaboration.

For KinniCC’s fundraising initiatives there are four animation teams: the Foundation Grants Team, the Government Relations and Grants Team (Federal, State, Local and Tribal), a Trout Unlimited Clan (chapters, members and affiliated businesses), and the River Falls Local Team (individuals, service groups, and businesses).

These four teams want to welcome additional members to join us in 2023 to help develop creative and innovative ways to raise the funds and resources to preserve the Kinni experience. As we look ahead to when the dams are removed we’ll all enjoy a revitalized River Falls’ Eden. If you are interested, please call or text me at (612) 810-1683 or email me at Gary@TheRedBottomBoat.com

Person of Interest

Missie (Michelle) Hanson:

A Heartfelt Passion for the Environment

A Person of Interest has joined the KinniCC’s Foundation’s Animation Team, Missie Hanson. As a University of Minnesota student, she earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Landscape Architecture. Armed with a great education and passion for the health of the environment, she began her career at the Rice Creek Watershed District as Environmental Education and Permit Coordinator.

This led to six years of service as the Community Assistance Coordinator at the MN DNR – Central Region Metro Trout Stream Watershed Protection Initiative. Her career continued to morph as a planner, and director of conservation programs all under the umbrella of MN DNR.

Now partially retired, she continues to volunteer bringing her planning gifts to KinniCC helping Foundation’s Team make connections with potential donors and funders creating a healthy and vibrant Kinni River. As a team Navigator, she says, “I’m happy to make a small contribution to the work already being done by a great group of people.”

Join Us at Upcoming Events

April 17 to 23 – Water Week - Conferences and events during Earth Month Hope4Creaion Events Page

April 18 – Rivers of Poetry, River Falls Public Library 6:30 pm

April 22 – Earth Fest 2023 – Glen Park, River Falls, WI - Noon to 4 pm

April 26 – Virtual Event 6:00 pm - Kyle Whyte presenting the "Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Importance of Freshwater Access and Protection from a Traditional Ecological Knowledge Perspective." - Sustainability Series

April 30 – 1-4:30 pm Join us for the volunteer training for the 2023 Kinni Stream Team Season (register online at the WDNR website)

te) Water Action Volunteers (WAV) training

May 1 – Pheasants Forever Kinnikinnic Chapter meeting 7-9 pm – River Falls Sportman’s Club – KinniCC update on the Kinni restoration and monitoring

May 2 – Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter Meeting 6-9 pm Rush River Brewery

May 13 –Second annual STREAM Girls – Trout Unlimited, Orvis and Girl Scouts day of learning 9 am to 5 pm – KinniCC providing lunch and supporting the river monitoring activities of the day. (Registration required – Girl Scouts council site)

May 15 – KinniCC Quarterly Board Meeting – Virtual Event 5:30 to 7:00 pm (open to the public)

Leave Not Trace Spotlight Initiative - 3 day series

May 18 -- 8 to 10 am Country Inn, River Falls, WI - Open House - meet the 2 person Leave No Trace Traveling Team
May 18 - 5 to 8 pm Rush River Brewery - Farmers' Market and Leave No Trace outreach event. Come out and visit with us
May 19 - 5 to 7 pm The Garage, River Falls - Meet the Leave No Trace Traveling Team and the Kinni Stream Team - social event
May 20 -- 10 am to 2 pm Hike the Community Forest and Lower Kinni Trails - self-guided hike to enjoy the natural environment, pick up trash if you see it and see your friends and neighbors #LeaveNoTrace.

June 1 - Business After Hours - 3 to 5 pm - Junior's Restaurant - Join us for a social time to network with local business leaders, community members and visitors.

Connect with Us!