2025 St. Louis River Area of Concern Celebration of Progress (Photos + Presentation)
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2025 St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) Celebration of Progress event! This year’s theme, “From River Bottom to Kitchen Table: Links in the Estuary Food Chain,” brought together scientists, storytellers, anglers, advocates, and community members to reflect on the remarkable progress in restoring the St. Louis River estuary and to look ahead at the work still to come.
Highlights from the evening included:
🧪 Science & Recovery Insights:
Kurt Schmude, Senior Scientist at Lake Superior Research Institute, and Dan Breneman, Project Manager at Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, delivered an engaging introduction to benthos—the tiny organisms at the base of the river's food chain—and how their recovery signals broader ecological health.
🎣 Fishing Through the Decades:
Chris Edquist, owner of The Quest, a St. Louis River Fishing Guide Service, shared heartfelt and humorous fishing tales from 1970 to present, offering a personal lens into how the river and its fishing have changed over time.
⚠️ Are Fish Safe to Eat?
Joel Hoffman presented findings from the Fish Tissue Concentration Study, illuminating trends and challenges in contaminant levels, while also walking us through the current Fish Consumption Advisories and what they mean for local communities. Good news, things are looking up!
🔬 Restoration Progress and Remaining Hurdles:
Attendees learned about the status of beneficial use impairments, cleanup strategies, and what's left to address before delisting the AOC.
🧵 Networking & Knowledge Sharing:
Poster tables from AOC coordinators, fishing groups, and the St. Louis River Alliance allowed for great networking and community conversation. The Alliance also provided updates on advocacy, outreach, and future engagement opportunities.
The event made clear how each link in the estuary food chain—from benthos to fish to human health—is interconnected, and how recovery efforts ripple through every part of the ecosystem.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re energized to keep moving forward—together.
Thank you to our presenters, volunteers, and partners who made this event possible including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Event funding provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Stay tuned for more ways to get involved as we continue the journey toward delisting the St. Louis River AOC!
#StLouisRiver #AOCProgress #EstuaryRecovery #FishSafeToEat #CommunityScience #GreatLakesRestoration
