St. Croix River Valley
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” – John Muir
The Gifted Tree welcomes you to the virtual world of finding your tree planting location. As you know, St. Croix Hospice has planted a tree in honor of your loved one. Your tree will be planted along the St. Croix River valley in the Douglas County Forests, Wisconsin. These forests encompass close to 300 acres in the northwestern part of the state, by far the largest number of county forest acres in the state.
The forest land is managed by the Douglas County Forestry Department. Its responsibilities are:
- To provide stewardship of forest resources
- To develop and maintain recreational opportunities
- To serve as an informational resource to the public
- And to balance local needs with broader state, national, and global concerns by integrating sound forestry practices related to wildlife, fisheries, endangered resources, water quality, soil, and recreation.
Specifically, the mission of the tree planting project is to enhance the quality of life in the area by ensuring long-term health, viability, and productivity of these lands, and providing many diverse recreational opportunities to its residents and visitors. Forest resources are managed to protect them from natural catastrophes (fire, insect and disease outbreaks) and human threats (over-utilization, environmental degradation, and excessive development). Additionally, sound forestry practices are implemented for environmental needs such as the protection of watersheds, rare plant and animal communities, as well as the maintenance of plant and animal diversity.
A great benefit of your tree planting in this project is helping water quality in the St. Croix River, a tributary of the great Mississippi River. Before zeroing in on how planting trees can improve water quality, it is important to understand nature’s water flow. When it rains or snow melts, water runoff is created. The water moves over the surface of the land and is absorbed into the ground or continues its natural course into streams, rivers, lakes, and other water tributaries. Runoff can occur on natural surfaces like soil, grass, or forest floors, as well as on impermeable surfaces like roads, rooftops, and sidewalks. Runoff can carry pollutants such as chemicals, sediments, and debris into nearby water bodies, which has a profound impact on water quality. Managing water runoff is important in urban planning, agriculture, and environmental protection to prevent issues like flooding, soil erosion, and contamination of water sources.
The planting of trees in the right location can help manage the runoff of this water, acting as a natural filter. Over time, tree loss has harmed water sources by not filtering the pollutants and sentiments that can flow into water sources after rain and snow melt. Trees can help absorb this runoff and thus your tree plays a crucial role in the water flow ecosystem.
You can view the general area of your planting, which include either Red pine or Jack pine sapling trees, by clicking on the following link (best viewed on a desktop computer, not a mobile device):
Once connected to the map, feel free to zoom in and out to get a feel of the general planting area as well as its location in Wisconsin, the U.S., and the world. Please understand that this is the general area of your tree planting. There is no plaque designating your memorial gift tree. Unfortunately, visiting the tree is not possible.
Know that your tree is making a monumental difference for the earth and opening a new doorway to the world for future generations. If you have any questions, please view our contact information at: www.thegiftedtree.com/contact-us/. If you would like to plant a tree for someone else, please visit our website at www.TheGiftedTree.com.
