Hi again, I'm Ranger Sam and thanks for joining me as we continue to dive into the river's
history. Like the river, people flow and change and that includes their relationship with
the river itself. Like the Native Americans, who used the river as an every day survival
source, fur trappers used it for their trade, and the logging industry used it as a mode
of transportation. When the logging industry started to fade around the 1910's, it left
the river and its surrounding areas devastated. So people started to advocate for its protection.
So do you like to fish? Do like to check out the wildlife? Or do you fancy yourself a paddle?
Well folks like you have been coming up to this area for the last century. And because
they wanted to protect these rivers conservation efforts gain momentum in the 1950's and 60's
because people who loved the outdoors not only wanted to protect it for their enjoyment,
they wanted to secure for people like you and me and future generations so they can
enjoy nature's splendor. With great efforts from Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson and
Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale, they co-authored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was
which passed into law in September 1968 by President Johnson. This act protects not only
the river, but the flora, the fauna, and it insures present people and future generations
to enjoy the shores of the Namekagon and the St. Croix. Though the rivers' environment
can never go back its original state before European contact and pre-logging day, efforts
can be put forth to restore and keep its natural quality and picturesque landscape. Thanks
so much for watching and I hope to see you soon.