Kinni Corridor Collaborative
Kinni Corridor Collaborative
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The Kinni Corridor Collaborative

  

The Kinni Corridor Collaborative (KinniCC) is a  community-led, non-profit organization working with the City and other stakeholders to implement the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan (KRCP). While we will be working closely with the City to complete many of tasks outlined in the KRCP, we are not a government entity. Some of our members were involved with the planning process, however our organization was created after the plan was approved by the River Falls City Council. 


Our Statement of Purpose:

To work collaboratively with public and private organizations and individuals to assemble the technical and financial resources needed to implement the current Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan while

preserving the ecology and beauty of the Kinnickinnic River.  (See the intro Video from 2019)


Memorandum of Understanding (August 2019) - City of River Falls and KinniCC framework for collaboration and fundraising on KRCP project. 

Letter of Agreement 1 - Lower Kinni Restoration (May 2022) - Addendum to the MOU defines the project objectives, and expectations. 

Additional documents and information are linked at the bottom of this webpage


Guiding Principles for Kinni Restoration Planning

  1. Every citizen plays a role in resource management. 
  2. Ecosystems are complex and interrelated. They contain living and non-living components. They change with time due to succession and disturbance. 
  3. Human and environmental health are related.  The natural world can provide opportunities to enhance our physical and emotional health. 
  4. The natural world can provide inspiration and creativity.  
  5. Cultural, economic, social, and political factors determine human values, understandings, appreciation, and individual attitudes toward environment and peers. 
  6. Diversity of species and ecosystems are important factors of land health.


KinniCC IRS Tax Exempt Status Confirmed 4-2019

Wisconsin Charitable Certificate

Kinni Corridor Collaborative Bylaws adopted 6-2019



  


Committees

2017 Kinni Corridor Plan - community meeting on the future of the river (St Bridget's Church - Fathe

Public relations

Our Public Relations committee tells the KinniCC story through word, photos and videos. This committee meets monthly to plan community outreach and educational activities. Our committee members attend events, maintain social media and web pages, publish our quarterly newsletter The Corridor, send out press releases and more! We are actively seeking volunteers to assistance at events with answering questions, encouraging support for our mission, and talk about the Kinni Corridor Plan projects.  

The Truth  About Dams in River Falls 

join the public relations committee

Finance

Our Finance committee coordinates reports and donor relations with our Board and Treasurer.  Committee members user their expertise in finance to help us identify key contacts as individuals and businesses that support our mission.  Activities include annual and 3-year rolling capital project budget development, review of financial information and federal/state reporting.   This team also assists with Grant proposals and administration.

990 Federal Report - FY2022 


Join the Finance Committee
Part of the current team lead by Duke Welter: 
L to R: (Front) Judie Babcock, Kent Johnson
(Back) Ma

Projects & Funding

Our Projects & Funding Committee is leading the way in implementing Kinni Corridor Plan projects.  Current focus is the Powell Falls Dam removal and restoration, River Stewardship and conditions Monitoring.  This team coordinates closely with the City of River Falls and other partners to support the design, funding and implementation of each project. 

Join Duke Welter and other TU and UWRF  volunteers on our project team.

Join the Project & Funding Committee
2022 Spring in the new stream bed above Powell Dam.  Kinni Stream Team year 1
L to R: Sean Morrison,

River Conditions Monitoring Team

This seasonal team is a mix of student interns from UWRF and volunteers from KIAP-TU-WISH chapter of Trout Unlimited and the community.  This team is collecting data and providing community education about the health of the Kinni. 

Kinni River Monitoring Plan - Pre and Post Dam Removal

Volunteer with the Kinni Stream Team

KinniCC organization Overview

What's something exciting your business offers? Say it here.

Board of Directors

Steve Goff

Judie Foster Babcook

Duke Welter

  

A picture containing indoor, wall, person, floor

Description automatically generatedSteve Goff, Managing Partner Bye, Goff and Rhode (BGR) trial lawyers located in River Falls, WI. As an experienced personal injury trial lawyer, Steven Goff stresses the word “personal” the most. With his practice focuses entirely on plaintiff personal injury. He develops relationships with his clients. Steve takes immense pride in standing up for “the little guy” against big companies. Steven Goff graduated from Iowa State University with honors. He was a member of the scholastic fraternities of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. He received his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1979. Steve has been a member of the bar in both Wisconsin and Minnesota since 1979. He is also admitted to practice in the federal courts of both states and in the Supreme Court of the United States. Steve is the former city attorney for River Falls, WI. 

As an avid fisherman, Steve enjoys an annual trip to Canada with his fishing buddies. He also enjoys spending time with family and friends at his cabin in northern Wisconsin. BGR Bio-Page

  

Duke Welter

Judie Foster Babcook

Duke Welter

John "Duke" Welter - Director

John “Duke” Welter is an avid outdoorsman and game cook. His prior day job was Outreach Coordinator for Trout Unlimited’s Driftless Area Restoration Effort where he help raise $30M in funding for the regional rivers and stream restoration. You can see why he is a great asset to our Board of Directors and Leads or Project Funding team. 


 Duke is most excited to help our organization find the funding for the projects outlined in the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan. 

If he could tell you one thing, it would be “Keep in your mind the benefits to be had from a healthy, free-flowing river – environmental, recreational, economic, and aesthetic – and together we will accomplish this vision.”

Judie Foster Babcook

Judie Foster Babcook

Judie Foster Babcook

Judie Foster Babcock, President

  Judie is a fifth generation member of one of River Falls founding families, The Fosters, so it isn’t hard to see why she loves this area so much!  

In fact, the Kinni is her favorite part of the area.  “The peace and serenity of being near the Kinni – it has a healing effect for me.” 


Judie describes herself as a serial philanthropist and loves serving on non-profit boards. She believes whole-heartedly in the purpose of the KinniCC and the power of community voices in shaping the future of the Kinni River. 



Amanda Hanson

David Foster Babcock

Judie Foster Babcook

Amanda has been married to her husband, Aaron, for nearly 11 years and is the mom to a feisty 4 year old girl. When she isn't busy with her family or working as a Human Resources Specialist, Amanda enjoys watching sports, throwing in a dart league and spending time outdoors. She has been with us since we were established as an organization, serving on our Public Relations committee


What aspect of the Board of Directors is Amanda most excited for? "I am excited to help keep the community informed and educated as we progress. It is going to take all of us to make this plan a success and being transparent with our community is a big part of working together." 

Eric Forward

David Foster Babcock

David Foster Babcock

Eric has a background in Natural Resource Management with a Masters in Geography from Carthage from Western Michigan University.  Eric has experience as a Program Director with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation working with Central Region Working Lands for the last 8 years. 


Eric originally  moved to River Falls to join the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust as Conservation Program Manager.  He enjoys all types of outdoor recreation, especially if it involves the River.  Eric is currently a financial planning advisor with Thrivent Financial. 


He joined the KinniCC Board to support the river restoration through his deep knowledge of the community. 


David Foster Babcock

David Foster Babcock

David Foster Babcock

 David has worked in IT Management for a handful of companies but is now retired. He is married to Judie Foster Babcock who is a fifth generation descendant of Judge Joel Foster. 


It was David's father-in-law, Bruce Foster, who helped to instill in David an abiding love for River Falls and the Kinni.  David says "I love this video of Bruce taking about the history of the Dams on the Kinni in 2004.  I volunteer to see the vision of a free-flowing Kinni become a reality - hopefully in my lifetime, as a tribute to all those who worked toward that goal - like Bruce."


He has served on the board for a number of local non-profits such as Saint Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity and River Falls Food Pantry in addition to helping Kinni River Land Trust by serving as a temporary office manager. David was already a member of the KinniCC Public Relations Committee and has assumed the role of Treasurer for us. 

Scott Eickschen

Martin Kretzmann

Martin Kretzmann

Scott Eickschen - Director with his wife

Local business owner, Scott Eickschen, is also an avid outdoorsman, husband and fisherman. When he isn’t busy ensuring all of his guests at the Country Inn enjoy their stay in River Falls, you will likely find him enjoying the great outdoors. He loves to fish making him extremely passionate about all of the local streams, lakes and rivers. 


His love of fishing and the outdoors are just some of the reasons Scott is so excited and humbled to be part of our Board. 

  “I am most excited for the day we break ground on the first major project of the corridor plan. It will be very fun and exciting to help iron out details, compile and review bids, finalize scheduling and logistics in collaboration with the City and other stakeholders."

Martin Kretzmann

Martin Kretzmann

Martin Kretzmann

  

A person and person posing for a picture in front of a house

Description automatically generated with medium confidenceMartin Kretzmann is the VP of Operations for MN-based Non Profit, National Handicap Housing Institute, dedicated to providing the highest quality, affordable housing options for individuals with mobility disabilities and seniors. A dedicated father of 3 teenagers with his wife, Tabitha, of almost 20 years, Martin spends his time and energy on striving to improve the lives of his family, friends and community. 

Finding the true meaning of the word, neighbors, here in River Falls, Martin desires to protect and preserve the wonderful qualities of Western WI living. 

  

Ann Kelly-Shore

Martin Kretzmann

Ann Kelly-Shore

Ex-officio Director (non-voting)  and volunteer  leader for the Neighbors For Intention Growth initiatives in River Falls township.


 Account Manager and Instrument Specialist working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Medical Devices, Biotechnology, Capital Equipment, Life Sciences, and Genomics. Strong operations professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Biology from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.   



Reports and Resources

Click here to access our reports and resources about the Kinni

KinniCC - Source of Funding Graphic 1-31-2023 (pdf)Download
FY22 990 Public_Exempt Org Kinni Corridor Collaborative Inc_ (pdf)Download
City request for USCOE support 8-11-2022 (pdf)Download
The Truth about Dams in River Falls flyer 11-2022 (pdf)Download
Kinnickinnic River Monitoring Plan_Final_20210507 (pdf)Download
Final Signed MOU with KinniCC 08-30-19 (pdf)Download
LOA 1 - Powell Falls Hydro Dam Decommissioning SIGNED FINAL (pdf)Download
KinniCC BYLAWS - Adopted 6.12.2019 (docx)Download
WI Charitable org Certificate expires 7-31-2023 (pdf)Download
WI Charitable org Certificate expires 7-23-2022 (pdf)Download
IRS approval 501c3 effective Mar 25 2019 (pdf)Download
Signed Resolution 2019-0307-01 - Kinni Corridor Collaborative Incorporation (pdf)Download

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