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Winter Landscape: January Phenology
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As winter advances, the landscape around the Kinni watershed remains quiet and still. January is full of subtle life and natural phenomena that reveal the resilience of the season. In a world of whites and muted browns, the bright red berries of highbush cranberry shrubs stand out like tiny jewels. While many were eaten by birds earlier in the season, a few clusters remain, softened by the freeze-thaw cycles of winter. These berries are a critical food source for overwintering birds such as cedar waxwings and robins, who rely on their tart nourishment to survive until spring. If you come across these shrubs, pause to appreciate their contribution to the ecosystem— highbush cranberries can be found by the shores of the Kinnickinnic River.
Overwintering birds like chickadees, cardinals, and nuthatches brighten feeders with their lively presence, while bald eagles can often be spotted near open water, scanning for prey. Chipmunks are deep in hibernation, their metabolic rates slowed to the bare minimum. Black bears, although not true hibernators, stay in their dens in a state of torpor, waking only occasionally. Active species, like deer, foxes, and rabbits leave tracks in the snow that tell ‘snow stories’ of survival and movement.
If you explore the Kelly Creek Preserve this month, you might notice something extraordinary: while much of the region’s surface water is frozen solid, Kelly Spring remains flowing! This remarkable phenomenon occurs because the spring draws water from deep underground, where it remains at a steady temperature year-round. The contrast of flowing water against the frozen surroundings is a striking reminder of the hidden energy and life coursing just beneath the surface. Even in the harshness of January, there’s no shortage of activity for the keen observer. Bundle up and take a moment to explore the natural world this January—you might be surprised by what you find.
Find something cool while exploring the Kinni? We would love to hear about it! Email me at Jane@kinniriver.org for a chance to have your story highlighted on social media or next month's e-newsletter.
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Welcome to the Kinni Explorers Program! A place where muddy boots and adventurous minds are encouraged. We invite you and your little explorer to join Explorer Jane and Explorer Molly as they guide you through different topics involving nature and the outdoors!
This is an exciting new program, and we are eager to witness its evolution and growth! We have a goal of having at least 35 families involved in shaping this program, and we need your help! We value your input and look forward to creating a program that truly caters to the needs and interests of our Kinni Explorers. Are you interested in providing feedback about the program?
Here is what you can do:
1. Watch a Kinni Explorer video.
2. Try out the suggested activity.
3. Take a peek at the activity sheet.
4. Fill out a survey about the program and your Kinni Explorer(s) will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last!
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New Conservation Easement
At the close of 2024, we celebrated a new conservation easement, safeguarding 60 acres of hardwood forest, pasture, and agricultural fields in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed! Peggy Kubicz Hall and her family, who purchased the property in 1992, have lovingly cared for the land for over three decades, renting the farmland and allowing a neighbor to pasture livestock in the west while nurturing a thriving forest community in the east. Driven by a passion for protecting this blend of agricultural life and nature, Peggy partnered with the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust to secure a conservation easement, ensuring this precious land remains safeguarded for future generations
Kinnickinnic River Water Quality Project - St. Croix County
The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust is aiding the St. Croix County Land and Water Conservation Department in finding interested agricultural landowners to participate in protecting the Kinnickinnic River in 2025. The county received a surface water protection grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The grant will focus on helping landowners of agricultural fields in the upper Kinnickinnic Watershed implement Best Management Practices (BMPs). Examples of BMPs that could be implemented are grass waterways, buffers, sediment basins, improvements on streambanks, etc. County conservation staff will help landowners plan and implement BMPs. An information meeting about this grant for interested landowners is currently being planned. If you are an interested landowner who would like more information about this grant and implementing BMPs to help protect the Kinnickinnic River, please contact us. Click here for more information!
Headwaters Preserve Prairie Restoration Continues
As 2024 comes to an end, logging was completed on the Headwaters Preserve. The next phase will include preparation for the actual prairie restoration. That includes burning the logging slash piles this winter and hiring a contractor to control weeds and woody vegetation this summer. Planting prairie seed will occur either late fall of 2025 or spring of 2026.
Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who helped clean up and pile the branches after the logging job. We are now ready to begin burning the slash piles. We will need lots of help!!! Look for volunteer opportunities to help burn slash piles at the Headwaters Preserve on the KRLT website under EVENTS.
During the 2025 field season, the area will be prepared for planting which will occur during spring of 2026. If your business or organization is interested in a group volunteer event to help with these restoration efforts please email me at marty@kinniriver.org.
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Water Monitoring at the KRLT Headwaters Preserve
Kent Johnson
KRLT Conservation Committee Member
The 48-acre KRLT Headwaters Preserve, near Roberts, Wisconsin, includes the headwaters of the Kinnickinnic River (Kinni). The river emanates from the downstream end of a large wetland (Figure 1), which extends across the preserve from northeast to southwest (Figure 2). This wetland plays a vital role for groundwater infiltration, which maintains the spring flow that fuels the Kinni along its route to the St. Croix River. The wetland also holds, cleans, and filters the overland runoff that enters the preserve, before sending the incoming water downstream. Via these important natural functions and more (see “Wetlands 101” (page 15), from the Wisconsin Wetlands Association), the wetland helps to ensure that the Kinni is cold, clear, and clean as it begins its journey.
In April 2024, KRLT initiated a water monitoring project at the KRLT Headwaters Preserve. The monitoring objective is to evaluate the influence of the preserve’s wetland on the Kinnickinnic River, by comparing upstream and downstream temperature and water quality conditions.
Click Here To Continue Reading
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In preparation for Prairie Restoration, we will be burning logging slash and brush piles at the Headwaters Nature Preserve this winter until all piles have been burned. We have about 40 brush piles to burn and could use as much help as possible. Lunch will be provided for those who spend the day, please list in your sign-up if you have any dietary restrictions.
Where
We will start on the south side of the river at the Headwaters Nature Preserve. Park at the DNR parking lot off 150th Str. Follow the trail into the burn site. Once we complete burning on the south side, we will meet at the Land Trust parking lot
on 70th Ave.
When
8:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Please feel free to help for half a day.
Saturday, January 11th, south side, DNR Parking Lot on 150th Str.
Wednesday, January 15th, south side, DNR Parking Lot on 150th Str.
Wednesday, January 22nd, meeting location to be determined.
Saturday, January 25th, meeting location to be determined.
Wednesday, January 29th, meeting location to be determined.
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We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the members, volunteers, sponsors, organizations, and community members who contributed to the conservation efforts of the Kinni in 2024! Thanks to your support, the Prairie Restoration Project at the Headwaters Nature Preserve is in full swing. Your valuable feedback and insights have guided improvements in our communications for KRLT, including this e-newsletter, our website, and our social media storytelling. Family programming in the form of the Kinni Explorers is helping to connect families to the outdoors. We ended the year by celebrating a new conservation easement that protects 60 acres in the watershed! We look forward to the possibilities in 2025 as this energizing momentum helps to keep the organization moving forward.
Do you know someone who shares our love for the Kinni? Encourage them to consider becoming a member! With each new member, our community connections grow stronger, and we can make an even greater impact in protecting the Kinnickinnic River. For more information about memberships, click here!
Have questions about KRLT Memberships? Give me a call at 715-301-0753.
Together, we can protect the Kinni,
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Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
Business Members
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The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that works with the community to conserve and protect the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed. | | | | |
