Running Free: The Baraboo River Restoration Story virtual screening and Q&A
On December 15, 2021, River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Friends of the Baraboo River, and Sauk County Land Resources and Environment Department presented a virtual screening of “Running Free: The Baraboo River Restoration Story.”
Running Free is an inspiring look back at efforts to remove dams to improve water quality, tourism, and access to the free-flowing Baraboo River.
The virtual event included a Q&A with special guests including Melissa Schlupp of Sauk County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Deputy Secretary and former Executive Director of River Alliance of Wisconsin Todd Ambs, and Friends of the Baraboo River board member Joe VanBerkel.
We had great questions from the audience about how public opinion about removing dams from the ‘Boo changed, how the fish population improved (small mouth bass in particular), and other dams that are up for removal in Wisconsin.
We also had a surprise guest, Sara Johnson, who was a founding Executive Director of River Alliance who shared her recollections of the community’s work to restore the Baraboo River.
Other resources:
River Alliance of Wisconsin’s dam removal webpage
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources dam search webpage
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources overview on dam removal
“Running Free: The Baraboo River Restoration Story” is supported in part by a grant from the Sauk county Extension Education, Arts & Culture Committee and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin. More support was provided by the Friends of the Baraboo River, Sand County Foundation: Coleman Family Fund, Sauk County Historical Society, Kiwanis Club of Baraboo, Sauk County and River Alliance of Wisconsin.