WHITE IRON CHAIN OF LAKES ASSOCIATION (WICOLA)

The Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project is an effort to protect the water quality of the lakes, streams and wetlands of the Watershed.

The Kawishiwi River Watershed is located in St. Louis, Lake and Cook Counties. It consists of over 1200 square miles of land area including parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Superior National Forest. The Rivers of the watershed, Kawishiwi, Isabella and Stony connect over 430 lakes, eventually draining into the White Iron Chain of Lakes. The Kawishiwi Watershed ends its journey at Fall Lake where it flows into Canada as part of the Rainy River.

The Kawishiwi watershed has multiple land uses. Examples are wilderness recreation, residential, forestry, tourism and mining. Property owners in the watershed have the right to use the land for their homes and businesses. County, State and federal agencies regulate these land uses.

The Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project is not a regulatory plan, but a project to work with Land Owners and Water Users. Historic and present data will be used to acknowledge existing conditions and anticipate future changes to the watershed. It is a process intended to extend the work of a small group of landowners (WICOLA) concerned about local water quality issues and build a network of stewards throughout the watershed. Volunteers will monitor water quality, educate users and identify potential threats to the lakes, streams and wetlands of the Kawishiwi Watershed.

The Waters of the Kawishiwi are a national treasure. Every year, they serve to provide mental, physical and economic benefits to millions. These include residents, visitors and downstream users in Canada. Current threats to the Kawishiwi include things like the Spiny Water Flea found in Burntside Lake, Mercury impairments that limit fish consumption and legacy impacts from past watershed usage. The Kawishiwi Watershed Protection Project is an opportunity to be a part of the solution by preventing the problem.