THE FLORENCE WILD RIVERS Interpretive Center and Gift Shop is at 5628 Forestry Drive, the corner of state Highway 70 and U.S. 2 in Florence, Wis. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

FLORENCE, Wis. — The Friends of the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center and River Alliance of Wisconsin will host a 60th anniversary celebration of the Wild Rivers Act legislation at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Florence Natural Resource Center lower level conference Room.

The event is free, but participants should register in advance.

The day will also celebrate the author of the Wild Rivers legislation, Rep. David Martin from Neenah who passed away Jan. 22. Martin was the keynote speaker at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and was a lifelong river user who loved the serenity and activities provided by Wisconsin’s Wild Rivers. A memorial plaque will be presented to his family and several speakers will share details about his Wild Rivers legacy. There are two Wild Rivers in Florence County — the Pine and Popple.

An optional hike to Meyers Falls in Florence County is on the agenda for a Wild Rivers Act anniversary celebration on Saturday. (travelwisconsin.com photo)

Tourism Development Specialist Christopher Jennings will highlight the importance of the Wild Rivers for tourism and present a proclamation Gov. Tony Evers celebrating the 60th anniversary.

Sen. Mary Felzkowski and Rep. Jeff Mursau will also be in attendance to present a Joint Citation for this special occasion. Chris Collier of Trout Unlimited will highlight several joint projects involving county, state and federal agency assistance that have improved the Wild Rivers ecosystems. John Roberts, a local expert paddler and Wild Rivers’ enthusiast, will also share his “Wildness” essay.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. after which attendees can explore new Wild River displays upstairs in the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center. At 1:30 p.m., attendees can choose either an easy or more difficult hike to Meyers Falls or Breakwater Falls guided by Larry Zibell or Roberts, local river experts. The hikers will depart the parking lot at 1:30 p.m. to caravan to the hike of their choice.

To register for this free event go to www.ExploreFlorenceCounty.com events page to click on the registration link.

Or go to www.WisconsinRivers.org and click on their events page.

“We look forward to celebrating that these Wild Rivers have indeed remained wild and undeveloped, and continue to be utilized by the public to hike the majestic terrain, paddle the quiet and fast water stretches, study the unique geology, explore the varied habitats, and photograph the beautiful waterfalls, while making connections with the peaceful wildness of our natural surroundings,” said Wendy Gehlhoff, director of the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center and Gift Shop.

This bipartisan legislation, which was signed by Gov. Warren Knowles in November of 1965, designated the Pine and Popple Rivers in Florence County and the Pike River in Marinette County to be preserved as Wild Rivers. The legislative intent of the bill was to “… afford the people of this state an opportunity to enjoy natural streams, to attract out-of-state visitors and assure the wellbeing of our tourist industry, it is in the interest of this state to preserve some rivers in a free flowing condition and to protect them from development; and for this purpose a system of wild rivers is established, but no river shall be designated as wild without legislative act.” (s.30.26, Stats.)

River Alliance of Wisconsin has worked to empower people to protect and restore water for over 30 years. The Wild Rivers Interpretive Center hosts monthly free natural resource based educational programs. The center features natural resource based exhibits, free information, animal mount displays, books, gift shop and travel information for Florence County as well as other Wisconsin and upper Michigan destinations.

For more information contact the center at 715-528-5377 or email wgehlhoff@florencecountywi.gov.