Kimball, Northwoods Land Trust to dedicate Interstate Falls property

KIMBALL, Wis - The Northwoods Land Trust and town of Kimball are holding a ceremony June 25 to mark the protection of public access to Interstate Falls,

The Northwoods Land Trust purchased property on the Wisconsin side of the falls in December 2015 and turned the land over to the town of Kimball.

The day's events will begin with the trust's annual meeting at 11 a.m. in the Kimball Community Center. According to the trust's Executive Director Bryan Pierce, the meeting will include a virtual tour of the trust's recent projects, a celebration of several major milestones and a look at current and future projects.

A free public lunch will begin at noon, after which the Interstate Falls dedication is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. At the community center there will be a presentation on the history of the property, land protection efforts and current plans to improve the site, Pierce said in an event announcement. The group will then travel to the property to dedicate the entrance sign and walk to the falls.

The purchased property is approximately 38.7 acres near the 17.5-foot waterfall on the Montreal River, north of Hurley. The purchase included 2,500 feet of frontage on the Montreal River, along with a roughly quarter-mile corridor on Cominski Creek.

Interstate Falls is downstream from nearby Peterson Falls, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which officially named the pair of waterfalls in 2007 - clarifying the confusion of the proper names of the two features. Peterson features three cascades descending approximately 35 feet, according to the USGS, whereas Interstate Falls features a single drop over bedrock.

The trust purchased the property for $188,000 from Donald and Nancy Siebert, who owned the property for over 60 years, allowing the public to access the falls through their property. The decision to sell the property potentially threatened public access, until the trust was able to acquire the property.

The acquisition of the falls was funded through a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant, as well as matching funds from several private groups - including the Caerus Foundation, John C. Bock Foundation, James E. Dutton Foundation, James D. & Jane P. Watermolen Foundation and the Modestus Bauer Foundation.

The town of Kimball agreed to accept the property from the trust at its April 9 meeting.

"After eight years of concerted efforts by many people, it feels great that the Northwoods Land Trust will soon be making a gift of this unique natural resource and tourism asset to the local community," Pierce said in the announcement.

Among the improvements planned for the site, according to Pierce, are boundary and trail signage, construction of a parking lot and information kiosk, rerouting of hiking trails with a small boardwalk, as well as improving safety and viewing features as needed.

Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to contact the trusty at 715-479-2490 or nwlt@northwoodslandtrust.org.