Nearly one year into her role as Executive Director for North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area (NWW), Monica Zachay is excited to share newly developed programs and passion about the organization’s long-term goal to establish a National Heritage Area in the St. Croix Region. “I had been working in the St. Croix Watershed for more than a decade and saw this job as an opportunity to share my love of the river and the local communities with other people,” she says. “This organization is all about developing a collective pride in place and helping our small towns to thrive.”
In contrast with National Parks, National Heritage Areas are large, lived-in landscapes with unique natural, cultural, and historic resources. As an example, the proposed North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix National Heritage Area would encompass 18 counties, 4 tribal nations, and approximately 7,700 square miles in Minnesota and Wisconsin and would follow roughly the same geographical boundaries as the St. Croix River Watershed. There are currently 62 National Heritage Areas nationwide, but none in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
One of the primary motivations for establishing a National Heritage Area is to increase heritage tourism and promote economic vitality. “I live in a rural area of the watershed and we have businesses like restaurants and retail shops that struggle to stay open,” Zachay laments, “And yet we have all of these beautiful and historic places in the area for people to visit.”
National Heritage Areas receive up to $500,000 per year in federal funding and enjoy increases in jobs and tourism revenue as well. An economic-impact study conducted by University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management in 2021 predicts that the St. Croix would see 1300 new jobs, a 10% increase in visitors, a $1.2 million annual increase in local sales tax revenue, and a 2.3% increase in income ($950 per person) within two years if a National Heritage Area is established.
So far, North Woods and Waters has collected over eighty resolutions of support from counties, history and culture related nonprofits, and economic development organizations in the region. “But,” says Zachay, “it requires a literal Act of Congress to establish a National Heritage Area, so it can be a long process.”
In the meantime, she is excited to share a few new programs the organization has developed. One is an Artist-in-Residency, which was launched in May, with St. Croix Valley-based writer and poet Laurie Allmann as the first participating artist. During her residency, Allmann will conduct storytelling interviews with people in the community and teach youth writing workshops. She’ll also host a series of poetry readings. “The beauty here is that this is a pilot program, so other artists and writers will be able to take this formula and use it in the future as well,” says Allmann. NWW’s artist residency project is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Another new program, called St. Croix Select, curates and shares books by local authors about the St. Croix. Examples include a book of essays and poetry by Greg Seitz (River of Refuge), a collection of St. Croix River photography by Craig Blacklock (St. Croix & Namekagon Rivers, The Enduring Gift), and a newly written book about the natural history of the Namekagon Barrens by Dave Peters (Sand and Fire).
In addition, North Woods and Waters continues to act as a host for the St. Croix Watershed Stewards program and promotes numerous community events, with an emphasis on nature, culture, and history. “What I really enjoy about this job is that it’s about our communities, the people, the art, and everything,” says Zachay. “It’s not just about the river and the environment, even though that’s an important part.”
If you’re interested in learning more about North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area, there will be a free celebration on Thursday, June 13, 6-8pm at 45th Parallel Distillery (1490 Madison Ave., New Richmond, WI). The event will include a keynote presentation by a highly engaging local author (ahem….me), social time, and information about the new programs. Learn more and register at https://northwoodsandwaters.org.
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