Little Plover River Named One Of ‘America’s Most Endangered’

A national conservation group has named the Little Plover River in central Wisconsin as one of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers.”

The group American Rivers periodically names a Wisconsin waterway to its 10-most-endangered list. This year, the group has put the Little Plover River near Stevens Point in the national spotlight.

The Little Plover is just six miles long but used to be a very popular trout stream. Now, it suffers from low water flows during much of the year, triggered largely by increased pumping of groundwater for nearby agriculture, industry and other uses.

Barbara Gifford, with the Friends of the Little Plover River, says she hopes the greater attention pushes the state to enforce a public rights flow law that would limit the groundwater drawdown.

“We all need to eat, but other states have tackled this problem. I think it is time for Wisconsin to do this. I think I will be fine, but I’m not so sure about my grandchildren. I think we need to solve this problem today.”

Gifford says the Department of Natural Resources and Village of Plover are trying to find a solution, but she worries about additional studies delaying help for the Little Plover River.