South Fork Crow River Annual Public Meeting

Thursday, October 16 from 7:00 to 8:30
Hutchinson Event Center
(located in the Plaza 15)

Here is your chance to find out more and ask questions about
our valuable water resource located right in our back yard.


Speakers:
Jenny Gieseke �] Watershed Specialist with the Crow River Organization of Water
Speaking topic: Update on current and upcoming water quality improvement projects in the area

Erik Wrede �] Water Trails Coordinator with the MN DNR Trails and Waterways
Speaking topic: DNR trails/waterways program and providing an overview of what’s in store for the South Fork Crow River

John Paulson – Environmental Specialist with City of Hutchinson
Speaking topic: Municipal Storm Water Program – WWTF upgrades

Kent Exner – City Engineer with City of Hutchinson
Speaking topic: Final details of the dam construction project

New canoe landing signs and maps were installed at boat landings in Hutchinson’s West River Park and Roberts Park by Gary Davis (left) and Deane Dietel.

Responsible ATV use appreciated along South Fork

Several people reported shoreline damage from ATV use along the South Fork of the Crow River. ATV and snowmobile use is allowed along the corridor, but the South Fork Crow River Association asks users to remember a few common sense tips:

• Don’t drive in tributaries or the river itself when it is not frozen. Besides possibly getting stuck, driving through the river bed stirs up sediments adding to the turbidity of the river.
• Don’t enter or exit the river area along fragile shoreline areas. Some steep banks could not only give away and possibly injure a driver, but could collapse part of the river bank, too. Collapsing banks also add to the sediment in the river. Enter and exit along slopes with gradual and grassy banks.
• Don’t disrupt wildlife. Many fish and animals spawn, breed or live along the river. Canoeists and others visiting the river report seeing otter, fox, deer, turtles, mink, raccoons, owls, eagles, etc. Keep a distance, so all users can continue to enjoy seeing wildlife.
• Respect private property. Homeowners and farmers along the river can report abuse to authorities.

The SFCRA encourages motorized visitors to use caution and common sense when visiting the river.

River cleanup netted chairs, hot water heater and more

From Diane Sander
Crow River Organization of Water

The fifth annual Crow River Clean-up Day took place on a rainy Sept. 13, 2008. The rain did not stop more than 300 citizens from 18 communities across the Crow River Watershed from removing garbage and debris from the banks of the Crow River and its tributaries. In total the cleanup resulted in the removal of more than 5.3 tons of trash from more than 30 miles of shoreline.

Our youngest volunteer came in at the age of a whole 6 months. She helped her parents in Brooten and Belgrade clean up the area. Imagine what she can do when she turns 12!

Items found during the cleanup include three kids’ hard plastic swimming pools, a large pile of plastic twine, old-style push mower blades, boat seats, retrieving dummy, hot water heater, bed spring, wash tub, fishing poles, tractor seat, lawn tractor hood, rubber raft, outdoor furniture, folding chairs, bicycle, 50-gallon barrels, kitty litter pails full of used litter, washing machine, computer monitors, five gallons of old paint, milk cans, grill, Styrofoam, clothing, shopping carts, stop sign, road sign, fence posts, milk crate, running board from a truck, snow shovels, spade, car battery, scrap metal, empty drum of zirconium carbonate paste, V6 motor, crib, outboard motor, washing machine tub, countertop, lawn chairs, fire extinguisher, bag of diapers, rubber ducky #214 from past Hanover Harvest Festival, and literally a ton of glass and plastic bottles and fast food wrappers.

Thanks to everyone for their help and support.

What’s that river?

A trio of Hutchinson Street Department workers, Gene Baasen, Jerome Burmeister and Matt Beilke, tighten the last bolts on a sign at the Fifth Avenue Southeast bridge that identifies the South Fork of the Crow River. Signs will be posted at all six bridges over the Crow River in Hutchinson.

Photo courtesy of the Hutchinson Leader, August 1, 2006.

The view from above: Otter Lake, Campbell Lake and the South Fork of the Crow River

This striking aerial view looking north shows South Otter and Otter Lake, Campbell Lake and the South Fork of the Crow River in Hutchinson. It was presented in a slide show at the South Fork Crow River Association’s annual meeting by Andy Cotter. He said it was taken from an ultra-light aircraft. Notice the two islands in the foreground in South Otter Lake. The lakes are formed by impounding river water behind the Main Street Dam. A project to replace the existing dam with a larger fieldstone rapids style structure is still awaiting federal money. If received, the dam could be replaced in August 2007.

Crow River
Watershed