May 2025: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
The St. Louis River (SLR) was designated as one of the 31 Areas of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes. It was designated as an AOC under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of significant impacts that occurred before modern environmental laws were in place. Following the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan, state and federal agencies have been implementing management actions to address the legacy impairments. If you look, you can now see the work in progress throughout the SLRAOC: contractors are busy each construction season, plant and animal populations are rebounding, water is cleaner, and lost habitat is being restored.
Continue reading for May St. Louis River Area of Concern project updates.
Photo: Potential project elements courtesy of MNDNR
Mud Lake
The public comment period for the Mud Lake Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is open until 5/22. Go to MNDNR’s Mud Lake EAW webpage to see the EAW and get instructions on how to submit written comments.
For more information about the project, click here.
Photo: Fencing is installed to protect portions of the manoomin beds from herbivory. At some sites, the portions protected by fencing is the only place that manoomin can grow and produce seed. Credit WDNR.
Manoomin (Wild Rice) Restoration
Fencing to protect manoomin from herbivory is being installed again this spring. Geese eating the rice has been a great challenge to re-establishing rice beds. Around 50 “exclosures” are placed in the river by the Fond du Lac Band, MNDNR and WDNR. These are removed after the rice seed has ripened.
For more information about the project, click here.
SLRAOC Celebration of Progress
Mark your calendars! This year’s event will be May 8, 5:30-7:30 pm at Clyde Iron Works. Several speakers & tabling guests will help us explore the links in the estuary food chain – from the river bottom to the kitchen table.
