Willow River (St. Croix River)
Encyclopedia
Willow River is a river in St. Croix County
, Wisconsin
, United States
and a tributary
of the St. Croix River
. Its headwaters
are found near the village of Deer Park
(near the northern border of the county) (45°10′35"N 92°20′02"W). The river at one time dumped into the lower St. Croix river in between Hudson
and North Hudson
(44°59′18"N 92°45′46"W). But a dam was built to block off its mouth, a narrow channel was cut above the dam to the St. Croix River, the channel was dammed, and a mill was built to exploit the head of water that the two dams created. Subsequently, the Willow River Power Co. built a hydroelectric facility to utilize the same head of water, but the head was substantially decreased when the United States built the Red Wing Dam 30 miles downstream on the Mississippi River.
The river lazily winds back and forth with a slow flowage. Its origin is in and around the Cylon
Wildlife Area. It passes south of Deer Park about one mile. It then passes through the towns New Richmond
, Boardman
, and Burkhardt. Near Burkhardt it inters the Willow River State Park
.
The river is hardly canoe
d north of the town of Burkhardt due to fallen trees and sand bars
. In times of low water it is nearly impossible to canoe the river. In the spring the high water in about 6 ft higher than the summer mean. Although it is possible to canoe or kayak
the river is not advised. Trout
fishing is general done down river from Boardman.
The status of the Willow River as a non-navigavble stream figured in constitutional litigation over whether a head of water to which it contributed was a property interest for purposes of the Fifth Amendment
, in United States v. Willow River Power Co.
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
. Its headwaters
Source (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
are found near the village of Deer Park
Deer Park, Wisconsin
Deer Park is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 216 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Deer Park is located at . The town is located along Highway 46 and shares its Main street with Highway 46...
(near the northern border of the county) (45°10′35"N 92°20′02"W). The river at one time dumped into the lower St. Croix river in between Hudson
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713...
and North Hudson
North Hudson, Wisconsin
North Hudson is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,463 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles , of which, 1.3 square miles of it is land and 0.8 square...
(44°59′18"N 92°45′46"W). But a dam was built to block off its mouth, a narrow channel was cut above the dam to the St. Croix River, the channel was dammed, and a mill was built to exploit the head of water that the two dams created. Subsequently, the Willow River Power Co. built a hydroelectric facility to utilize the same head of water, but the head was substantially decreased when the United States built the Red Wing Dam 30 miles downstream on the Mississippi River.
The river lazily winds back and forth with a slow flowage. Its origin is in and around the Cylon
Cylon, Wisconsin
Cylon is a town in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 629 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Cylon is located in the town.-Geography:...
Wildlife Area. It passes south of Deer Park about one mile. It then passes through the towns New Richmond
New Richmond, Wisconsin
New Richmond is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 8,375 as of the 2010 census.-History:New Richmond was founded in 1857. In August 2007, the town celebrated its sesquicentennial....
, Boardman
Boardman
-People:*Allan Boardman, British physicist*Andrea Boardman , English television presenter*Chris Boardman , British cyclist*Christopher Boardman , British sailor...
, and Burkhardt. Near Burkhardt it inters the Willow River State Park
Willow River State Park
Willow River State Park is a Wisconsin state park located five miles north of Hudson. The centerpiece of the park is Willow Falls, a powerful cascade in a deep gorge. Another popular feature is Little Falls Lake, a shallow reservoir on the Willow River. Because of its proximity to...
.
The river is hardly canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
d north of the town of Burkhardt due to fallen trees and sand bars
Shoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
. In times of low water it is nearly impossible to canoe the river. In the spring the high water in about 6 ft higher than the summer mean. Although it is possible to canoe or kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
the river is not advised. Trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishing is general done down river from Boardman.
The status of the Willow River as a non-navigavble stream figured in constitutional litigation over whether a head of water to which it contributed was a property interest for purposes of the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
, in United States v. Willow River Power Co.
United States v. Willow River Power Co.
United States v. Willow River Power Co., is a 1945 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court involving the question whether the United States was liable under the Fifth Amendment for a “taking” of private property for a public purpose when it built a dam on navigable waters that raised the water level...