Yellow River Protection Conservancy Programs
Guardians of the River
This land and water protection program offers recognition, encouragement, and grants to private landowners. We put a star on our “Big Watershed Map” for every landowner using one of eight land protection methods. Deed restrictions and conservation easements may qualify for a Yellow River Protection Conservancy (YRPC) grant to defray land protection expenses.
Buy-Protect-Sell-Repeat
- Identify environmentally endangered or sensitive property
- Purchase the Property
- Protect property with a deed restriction or conservation easement
- Resell
- Repeat: Use proceeds to buy another property
Stream Monitoring
Baseline Monitoring
Volunteers in teams of two monitor specific sites on the river on a monthly basis May – October. Data gathered includes:
- Water temperature
- Clarity
- Oxygen Saturation
- Stream Flow
- Habitat
- Macro-invertebrates
Data is used to monitor trends and identify potential issues.
Nutrient Monitoring
Volunteers monitor phosphorous levels at specific sites on the Yellow River. Water samples are stabilized with sulfuric acid and sent to a lab in Madison, Wisconsin for testing.
Phosphorus testing began in 2023 and continues to expand to more sites. Through 2025 phosphorus levels are not excessive at any Yellow River Site tested.
Invasive Species
Stream Monitoring Volunteers look for and report Invasive Species if found during their monthly monitoring. Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Iris and Hybrid Cattails have been observed in the Yellow River Watershed.
Purple Loosestrife impacts
- Dense growth along shoreland making it difficult to access open water
- Provides unsuitable shelter, food, and nesting habitat for native animals
- Overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants
- Dense root systems change the hydrology of wetlands
Assisting Friends in the Watershed
Save the Hollow
YRPC supports concerned Shell Lake citizens opposed to the commercial Development of three city lots on the South Side.
Protecting the lots guards against erosion into Sawyer Creek Springs, headwaters to a Class I trout stream tributary to the Yellow River.
Washburn County Campground Ordinance
YRPC supports amending the Washburn County Zoning Campground Ordinance. Amendment is a good first step in maintaining campground development while protecting vulnerable sites. YRPC supports stricter wastewater disposal rules.