3 minute read
Guardian Angels of the St. Louis River
Recognizing the importance of the St. Louis River, the One River, Many Voices initiative asked local media to focus in April on the many ways that the river impacts our lives. To include The Woman Today as part of that project, I was excited to have a chance to chat with two of the guardian angels of the river, Kris Eilers, executive director of the St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA), and Sarah Glesner, SLRA project coordinator.
The SLRA mission and vision are: “As the Voice for the River, the St. Louis River Alliance strives to protect, restore, and enhance the environmental health and economic value of the river. We envision our community living in balance with a vibrant econ omy and a healthy and vital St. Louis River and Lake Superior. The St. Louis River Alliance envisions our community members working together to create a thriving economy that utilizes the river and keeps the water safe for swimming, fishing, and boating.” after living in Eau Claire for twenty years, Kris Eilers moved here to be by the lake and the river. “I have Lake Superior in my blood. I wanted to work on the water contamination issues and was concerned about the pollution then flowing into Lake Superior.”
In 2011, she went to Washington D.C. for the Fresh Water Coalition and met Julene Boe, who was then the SLRA executive director. That led to Kris first becoming involved with the SLRA in 2012, working as the project manager on a five year grant for restoring a habitat for the piping plovers that did not nest here anymore.
Kris was hired for the executive director job in 2015. With the ebb and flow of funding for non-profits, Kris, with a dedicated SLRA board and volunteers, has kept the doors open and the work moving ahead. She doesn’t only think of the river and the lake as part of her job but as a place to enjoy, up close and personal. “I love to sail, kayak, and paddle board, every time I can. There are so many places to explore. I love white water rafting in Cloquet as well.”
Kris adds, “When I am on the water, I find that I can meditate and be exhilarated at the same time. I find myself being present and in the moment. Water is my life.”
As a cheerleader for the Northland’s water resources, she notes, “We have the cleanest, most beautiful water resources right here. This is the perfect place for me to be.”
One of her responsibilities is to advocate for state and federal monies to work on contaminated sites that must be cleaned up. In that endeavor, she heads to the Minnesota State Legislature and to Washington D.C. often to be the most vocal advocate she can be for keeping our Northland waterways clean and pure.
Adding Her Voice to the Cause
Sarah Glesner has worked with several area non-profits including the Duluth Zoo, Hawk Ridge, and Wildwoods. She came on board at the SLRA in 2015 as a project coordinator where she now spends much of her time on educational outreach and events. She has recently been made program manager.
A hometown girl, Sarah grew up in Lakeside, but remembers summers spent on Park Point where her dad grew up. Sarah says she was connected to the water from a young age but she notes she was warned against swimming in some areas because of the contamination.
“The lake and the river are such an essential part of our lives. I am happy to be out in the community doing outreach, holding public comment meetings, and talking face to face with people who are also concerned about how contamination issues are being addressed.”
Connecting children to the water is another big facet of her job. She works with kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs and directly in the area schools. “I want increased access for kids, for them to easily find a place to get to the river. And they need the equipment to be on the water. To get kids and their families to appreciate and to use the water is important to me.”
Sarah asserts, “From the time I was small, I remember saying, ‘I am not going to move away from Lake Superior and the River.’ I have had friends move away and realize how much they miss it and move back. It is critical to realize how important our water resources are to keep people here and to attract new people to the area.” D
To find out more about the organization, visit their website at stlouisriver.org or call (218)733-9520.
