The Kinnickinnic River is one of three primary rivers that flows into the harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at Lake Michigan, along with the Menomonee River and Milwaukee River. [1] It is locally called the "KK River". [2] Kinnickinnic is an Ojibwe word which literally means "what is mixed", referring to the mixing of indigenous plants and tobaccos.

The lowermost portion of the Kinnickinnic River is included in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern, which is one of the Great Lakes Areas of Concern. In the Kinnickinnic, this is due to high levels of PCBs and PAHs found in the river. [6]

The river is framed by a landscape with memorable views, ranging from gently rolling farmland in the upper watershed to a spectacular limestone bluff canyon on the lower river from River Falls to the confluence with the St. Croix River. The Kinni and its uplands are also home to a diverse set of unique and exceptional plant and wildlife habitats.

Due to its exceptional water quality and self-sustaining, bountiful trout fishery, the Kinni is classified as an Outstanding Resource Water and a Class I Trout Stream.