The
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern
Minnesota and northwestern
Wisconsin. It protects of river, including the
St. Croix River (on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border), and the
Namekagon River (in Wisconsin), as well as adjacent land along the rivers. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is one of the original eight
National Wild and Scenic Rivers, largely as a result of legislation by Senator
Walter Mondale (MN) and more so by Senator
Gaylord Nelson (WI). The largest scenic riverway east of the
Mississippi River, it lies within parts of eight counties in Wisconsin:
Bayfield,
Burnett,
Douglas,
Pierce,
Polk,
St. Croix,
Sawyer, and
Washburn; and three in Minnesota:
Chisago,
Pine, and
Washington.