Yellow River 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 seven 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
Water Protection Programs
WATER BASELINE MONITORING
Ten trained volunteers in teams of two monitor five sites on the river on a monthly basis. Data gathered includes:
- Water temperature
- Clarity
- Oxygen Saturation
- Stream Flow
- Habitat
- Macro-invertebrates
Data will be used to monitor trends and identify sources of pollution
NUTRIENT MONITORING
Four volunteers monitor phosphorous levels at two sites on the upper river. Data will be used in an upcoming upper Yellow river management project
ALIEN SPECIES MONITORING
Volunteers propagated and distributed beetles to help control Purple Loosestrife which is native to Europe and Asia. Yellow Iris was cut at the Spooner hatchery
Purple Loosestrive 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.