Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the Wild Rivers Act, a trailblazing piece of state legislation that has helped shape the practice of conservation in Wisconsin.
Passed in 1965 with unanimous support in the state Legislature, the law preserves the free-flowing conditions of designated rivers and protects their health and natural aesthetic by barring development.
"This was a classic case of Wisconsin being a leader in the nation, and you could even argue perhaps the world, when it comes to river protection," said Mark Peterson, executive director of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College in Ashland.
Through the passage of the Wild Rivers Act, Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to have a wild and scenic rivers law. Eight years later, Minnesota and several other states responded with similar legislation.
In 1968, the federal government followed suit with regulations of its own.
"Some speculate that the Wisconsin legislation was an inspiration, but also perhaps served as a template for what was to come from the federal government," Peterson said.
Wisconsin's Wild Rivers Act prohibits dams and other structures from impeding water current and protects shorelines. It also stipulates that vegetation must remain untampered with within 150 ft. of the riverbank, and that only walk-in access is provided on state-owned grounds — no motorized vehicles allowed.
Peterson said the act preserves the natural and scenic beauty of the rivers, reflects the state’s history and culture, offers a recreational haven for visitors, and brings in tourism dollars.
There were three rivers originally designated for protection in 1968, including the Pike River in Marinette County and the Pine-Popple Rivers in Florence and Forest counties. Marin Hanson Wild River in Ashland County and the Totagatic River in northern Wisconsin were added later to the list.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, "stewardship of the wild rivers is shared by all landowners along the river — small private landowners, commercial timber companies, and county, state, and federal governments."
The DNR will host a ceremony Saturday commemorating the preservation of designated rivers. The celebration includes distinguished speakers, a cook-out and a hike at Big Bull Falls on the Popple River.