The Friends of the Black River remove about one ton of trash annually from the Black River. Photo credit: Friends of the Black River.

The Black River flows about 200 miles from its headwaters near Medford, Wis., to its mouth in La Crosse where it joins the Mississippi River.  This waterway has long played a major role in the lives and livelihoods of many west-central Wisconsin residents have who lived and worked in Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Taylor, and Trempealeau counties. 

Throughout recorded history, the tea-stained color of the water flowing here has remained unchanged due to an abundance of dissolved organic carbon, primarily in the form of tannic acids that naturally leach from oak and tamarac forests and sphagnum moss bogs in this watershed.  Native Americans referred to it as Neosheprah (‘Dark River’).  Seventeenth century French explorers later gave it the everlasting name La Riviere Noire (‘The Black River’).  Used generations ago by lumberjacks who floated huge log rafts of white pine to saw mills as far downstream as Onalaska and La Crosse, the river’s energy was harnessed and transformed during the twentieth century by the construction of a hydroelectric dam that continues to operate in Black River Falls.  Today, because of its near pristine condition and accessibility, the Black River is on Wisconsin's list of Land Legacy Places (i.e., sites considered critical to meet Wisconsin's future conservation and recreation needs).

The Friends of the Black River, a watershed conservation organization established in 2004, is a well-informed, respected and active contributor to projects and decisions that enhance the Black River and its watershed.  With more than 100 members, this organization fosters community appreciation, understanding and sustainable uses of the Black River and its watershed by hosting educational and enjoyable programs, events and conservation projects.  These activities include an annual river Clean-up and Festival, guided recreational paddling (canoe and kayak) trips, boating safety, stream monitoring, boat access improvements, and recreational fishing opportunities.  It also promotes wise decision-making on the part of public and private officials when environmental issues may affect the health of the Black River Basin.

Not surprisingly then, La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) biologist Mark Steingraeber was well received by fifteen Friends of the Black River on the evening of June 11 when he was invited to speak at their monthly meeting in Black River Falls.  His mission in ‘preaching to the choir’ that assembled for the evening was to inform these new found Friends about Asian carps and the menace these fish pose to other parts of the Midwest, as well as the La Crosse County administered program to collect and dispose of unwanted medications in the region.  Following these presentations, Friends group member and Jackson County Americorps coordinator John Elliot agreed to post Asian carp identification signs on information kiosks maintained by the Friends at several Black River access points.  In addition, Elliot also encouraged Jackson County officials to contact their counterparts in La Crosse County to investigate the feasibility of offering services to collect and dispose of unwanted medications from Jackson County residents.  With committed friends and environmental stewards like these, the quality and scenic beauty of the Black River will no doubt be protected for many generations to come.