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6 T~ TALK Spring -Summer 1445 <br />Continued from page 5... <br />St Crolx Rlver : P/ann/ng for the Futuro <br />example, the plan might identify segments of <br />the river that have not had adequate water <br />quality monitoring, or a section where <br />fioodplain delineation is necessary for visitor <br />safety. The WRMP is being coordinated by Dr. <br />Jim Perry and Ms. Kerry Holmberg of the <br />University of Minnesota through a cooperative <br />agreement. It is expected to be completed. by <br />September 1996. <br />Water quality in the St. Croix is generally <br />described as good. Both states classify it for <br />most of its length as an Outstanding Resource <br />Water, a classification limiting the degradation <br />that will be tolerated. Water quality problems <br />that originate within the river corridor are <br />mostly limited to sediment movement from the <br />river channel and. banks, and from <br />indiscriminate sanitation practices by <br />recreationisis. <br />It could be predicted that the majority of <br />any degradation occurring on the St. Croix <br />originates in the watersheds of its multiple <br />tributaries. To that end, an interstate, <br />interagency committee has been formed to <br />address basin-wide water quality issues. <br />Agencies represented on the committee include <br />Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, <br />Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. National <br />Park Service. Boundary Area Commission, and <br />U.S. Geological survey. <br />One of the committee's most. significant <br />accomplishments thus far was to convince the <br />U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality <br />Assessment Program (NAWQA) to include the <br />St. Croix Basin in the Upper Mississippi <br />NAWQA study area. NAWQA was implemented <br />to determine the status and trends of water <br />quality throughout the nation. In addition to <br />this accomplishment., the basin committee has <br />written a comprehensive study plan to address <br />a multitude of water quality issues over the next <br />.several years. The study plan will be available <br />for public review in the near future. <br />While there are obvious overlaps by these <br />various planning efforts, there is also important <br />linkage. The outcome. hopefully, will be <br />continued protection and enhancement of the <br />scenic St. Croix, its resources, and its <br />watershed. <br />