UPDATE: Body Found in River Identified as Missing Baldwin Man

The body of a man found Tuesday in the St. Croix River has been identified as Donald D. Marklowitz Jr., 54, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Office news release. He was last seen in Hudson on April 1.

UPDATE: The body of a man found Tuesday in the St. Croix River has been identified as Donald D. Marklowitz Jr., 54, of Baldwin, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Office news release. Full text of the release: On May 14th, 2013, the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to the St. Croix River near the 900 blk of Quentin Avenue South to recover a deceased subject.  Subsequently the body was turned over to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office.  The Ramsey County ME's Office positively identified the subject as Donald Duane Marklowitz Jr.dob/070158.  Marklowitz Jr. was last seen in Hudson, Wisconsin on April 1st, 2013.  The exact cause of death is still under investigation.  At this time, neither the Washington County …

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Registration Deadline for St. Croix River National Heritage Area Summit is Friday

The two meetings with identical agendas will present concepts for a Heritage Area in the valley, and seek input about moving forward with the idea.

Those interested in the possibility of designating the St. Croix River region a National Heritage Area are encouraged to attend the Heritage Initiative’s Heritage Summit in Taylors Falls on May 16. “Based on what we’ve heard, a National Heritage Area can improve how we work together in our region to promote historical, cultural and natural resources, and help us share our unique stories with people from all over the country and the world,” Marty Harding, chair of the Heritage Initiative Task Force, said in a news release. “This could also help us better understand our own region, and strengthen the pride we all feel living in such a special part of the country.”  The two meetings with identical agendas will present concepts for a Heritage …

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Susan

11:20 am on Friday, May 17, 2013

I'm sorry, Jimmy, truly I am--Alex, I apologize for my irrational fear. Jimmy, are there some new names for sarcasm that I should be aware of?   more ›

St. Croix 360: Marina Group Works to Keep the St. Croix Clean

Four of the first seven marinas certified under Minnesota’s new Clean Marina Program are on the St. Croix River.

Written By: Greg Seitz, St. Croix 360, stcroix360.com It takes a lot of water to wash a boat. Sunnyside Marina, on the St. Croix River between Stillwater and Bayport, uses about 40 gallons to wash one. For six weeks each fall, as the marina pulls boats out of the river for winter storage, they wash eight per day. It adds up quick. All that water, full of paint, acid, and metals, could end up in the river. But Sunnyside recently became the first marina in Minnesota to install a water recycling system which captures, filters, and reuses it. Sunnyside is also one of the leaders in the state’s Clean Marina Program, which kicked off last December as part of a national initiative to promote environmental protection at marinas. “Marina users aren…

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Zebra Mussels Halt Work on St. Croix River Crossing

Dead zebra mussels have been discovered on multiple construction barges that were set to do construction work on the new St. Croix River Crossing. Work has been halted for now.

Dead zebra mussels have been found on six of eight barges owned by a St. Croix River Crossing construction contractor, according to a Pioneer Press article by Dave Orrick. The mussels were discovered before any of the vessels entered the river, and work has been halted nonetheless. From the Pioneer Press article: The St. Croix is technically classified as contaminated with zebra mussels south of Taylors Falls, but its populations have plummeted to near zero in many areas. In announcing those findings in March, National Park Service officials spoke of the river getting a rare second chance -- but they cautioned that the construction project was potentially a new avenue for the invasive mollusks to re-establish themselves. READ THE PIONEER …

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UPDATE: St. Croix River to Reach 683 Feet for May 4 Fishing Opener

Check this post for Hudson flood updates during the 2013 spring flood season as waters rise on the St. Croix River.

The St. Croix River has reached 680 feet. As of 12 a.m. Monday, the river level was 680.3 feet, according to the National Weather Service. At 684 feet, the river reaches the second tier at Lakefront Park. The river is expected to rise above 683 feet by Saturday, May 4, which is the fishing opener on the St. Croix River. At 683 feet, Minnesota and Wisconsin may impose a no wake zone on the St. Croix River. Check back for more details this week. “Action level” is 680 feet. Flood stage is 687 feet. UPDATED FROM April 22 2013 11:30pm Spring flooding is set to start in downtown Hudson this week. As of 11 p.m. Monday, the St. Croix River has reached 678.2 feet in Stillwater, according to the National Weather Service. The seawall at Lakefront …

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Study: No DNA Evidence of Asian Carp in the St. Croix River; Scientists Urge Continued Action

Scientists believes that despite the lack of eDNA evidence reported in this study, there are very good reasons to believe Asian Carp are routinely entering Minnesota waters from the south and could eventually breed here.

There's some more good news on the invasive-species front in the St. Croix River. Last month, the Minnesota Dpearptment of Natural Resources reported that the presence of zebra mussels are on the decline in the St. Croix River. New analyses for Asian carp DNA in water samples from the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers show "little evidence" of bighead and silver carp, researchers announced in a report released today. The joint effort by scientists from the new Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the University of Minnesota (MAISRC), U.S. Geological Survey and the Minnesota DNR also concludes that while recent captures by commercial fisheries show these invasive fish are present in Minnesota, their numbers are likely still …

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St. Croix Success: Zebra Mussels on Decline in River's Waters

The recent reports that zebra mussels have been dropping in numbers along the final 20 miles of the St. Croix is big news for boaters, swimmers and the river's native species. That trend doesn't look like it will change this year.

One of the most dreaded invasive species, zebra mussels, are on a nationally recognized steep decline on the St. Croix River, to the point where a 2011 report states the abrasive creatures are all but gone.  The good news? Last year's counts didn't ring any alarm bells that the mussels were on the way back. That's good news just weeks before boaters hit the water for fishing season and other recreation activities.  The 2011 report, filed by the National Park Service and handed over to the United States Corps of Engineers about a year ago, states the search for fingernail-sized mussels, which have spread rampantly through lakes across Minnesota, came up empty in the river's deep basin, known as Lake St. Croix. The report shows that the …

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New Lakeland Store Looks to Be Lucky for Lunkers

A love of fishing and the recognition to fill a void has spurred a Woodbury man to go into business for himself.

For anglers along the St. Croix River Valley and points beyond, it's about time.  Matt Wiseman and his partner and girlfriend, Sarah Neuman, are bringing a bait shop back to the valley with Matt's Lucky Bait and Tackle, set to celebrate its hard opening April 6 and 7. Wiseman told the Stillwater Gazette this week he's happy to build on his favorite childhood memories, fishing with his family in the Upper Midwest. He credits his grandparents, who took him fishing as a kid, for help getting Matt's Lucky Bait and Tackle off the ground. Wiseman grew up in the Hudson area.   The shop is currently open, using this next week and a half as its so-called "soft opening" period. It offers everything from line to lures, plenty of bait varieties and …

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National Park Service Urges 'Extreme Caution' As Ice Out Occurs on St. Croix River

The National Park Service issues a reminder that there is "no such thing as guaranteed safe ice" as ice out occurs on the St. Croix River.

The following is a news release from the National Park Service: With the looming spring thaw, the National Park Service is encouraging the public to use extreme caution as ice out occurs on local rivers. There is no such thing as guaranteed safe ice.  People venturing out on ice should follow these guidelines:  For more information, visit the Minnesota DNR's website. A reminder about snowmobile use at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway:

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Stillwater River Crossing

Army Corps Grants MnDOT Permits to Complete Construction of St. Croix River Crossing

Both authorizations were required due to the construction involving work within the St. Croix River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued the Minnesota Department of Transportation the permits needed to complete construction of the new St. Croix River Crossing. The Corps’ permit includes two authorizations under the Rivers and Harbors Act’s Section 10 and the Clean Water Act’s Section 404. Both authorizations were required due to the construction involving work within the St. Croix River. Now that the application has been approved, MnDOT can start the bid-letting process for construction work. The permits authorize MnDOT to construct: The permit also authorizes MnDOT to remove an unused barge unloader facility from the Allen S. King Plant—and redistribute aggregate fill from within the facility cells on the river bottom. RELATED: …

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fb.com/WCwatchdog

5:43 am on Friday, March 22, 2013

+1, hate to generalize but that's how most liberals respond... Name call, answer questions with a question, change the subject, use emotional subjective arguments instead of logical objective fact based arguments, on and on... I think there's a play book on it. Sad thing is it works, the media loves it, and the public falls for it.   more ›