 In 1998, the Plover River Alliance was formed as a means to preserve the ecological and aesthetic quality of the river. The twenty-member group specifically chose the Plover River corridor because of its potential to be managed at a watershed level. Its mission is to “bring together landowners and the public to continue to protect, preserve, and enhance the Plover River corridor and watershed in terms of aesthetics, recreation, and water quality.”
 The Portage County Planning and Zoning office, in conjunction with the Plover River Alliance, developed a “green space” plan to help prioritize future projects.The Alliance, with anticipated help from the Stewardship Fund (a state program), hopes to purchase property along the river to further protect and enhance the area. Landowners have been approached regarding possible sale of property
and have been receptive to the idea. Details such as optimum shoreline footage are being gathered to facilitate property purchase in the future. The long-term goal of the Project is to secure and protect the Plover River watershed in both Marathon and Portage Counties.
 The
Plover River is a hard-water stream that covers 267.6 acres of surface
area and is 34.5 miles in length within Marathon County. The stream flows into Portage County, where it joins the Wisconsin
River in Stevens Point. In Portage County, It
covers 108.8 acres in surface area and is 17 miles in length.
Brown trout,
brook trout and forage species inhabit the stream.
It is designated as a Class I trout stream from the Langlade County
line downstream to Highway N.
From Highway N downstream to Highway 153 it is designated as a
Class II trout water and from Highway 153 to the Portage County line it
is a non-trout water. Agriculture
occurs on approximately 52% of the watershed.
The
River in Portage County is used by several private industries as a source
of power. The river, along with the Jordan Pond and Bentley Pond impoundments,
is heavily used for recreation purposes such as swimming, fishing and
canoeing. The adjoining wetlands provide habitat for wildlife, and nesting
waterfowl and are common and wonderful to watch.
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