The 8th Congressional District of Minnesota covers much of the northwestern St. Croix River watershed, as well as the state’s Arrowhead region. Its residents include iron miners, Boundary Waters outfitters, Duluth and the North Shore – and 87 miles of the St. Croix.
There is St. Croix and Wild River State Parks, Highway 70 and the Kettle River rapids,white pines, sandbars, historic sites, and constituents including sturgeon, smallmouth bass, dragonflies, rare mussels, eagles, bears, and a whole lot of people who love it all.
From the mouth of the Tamarack River downstream to Cedar Bend, the region is represented by Congressman Rick Nolan. And now, the St. Croix is also represented in Nolan’s office in Washington, D.C. National Park Service director Jon Jarvis recently dropped off a photo of the upper river.
According to Julie Galonska, chief of interpretation, the photo was taken by ranger Joan Jacobowski, who has been a seasonal ranger at the riverway for nearly 10 years, in July 2008. The St. Croix River Association paid for matting and framing.