Free community event highlights Area of Concern restoration success and cultural significance
The St. Louis River Alliance, in partnership with St. Louis River Area of Concern coordinators, invites community members to an evening celebrating the progress made this past year towards delisting the St. Louis River Area of Concern, including the recovery of manoomin (wild rice) in the St. Louis River Estuary.
The free public event will take place Tuesday, April 7, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Clyde Iron Works, 2920 W. Michigan St., Duluth. Free pizza will be served.
Attendees will learn why manoomin is vital to the health of the St. Louis River, what its recovery reveals about ongoing restoration efforts, and what this progress means for the future of the region. Area of Concern Coordinators from state agencies will be available for conversation and questions about past and ongoing restoration projects in the Estuary. Local organizations will host informational tables, sharing projects, stories, and opportunities for community involvement.
The evening will feature special guest speaker Deanna Erickson, Director of the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. Erickson will share insights on the cultural and ecological importance of manoomin and the many “relatives” supported by thriving wild rice beds—including the people who live, paddle, and harvest along these waters.
The event is free and open to the public.
Funding provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
