Event Details

The St. Louis River Alliance is excited to host our annual volunteer wild rice planting at Kingsbury Bay on the St. Louis River! Nearly 500 pounds of manoomin, or wild rice seed, will be planted on Thursday, September 12th from approx. 8:30-11:30 a.m. leaving from Spirit Lake Marina located at 121 Spring Street in Duluth.

This is a special opportunity and space is limited to 10-12 volunteers. Please register at: https://forms.gle/K2QVGqi1GFtzAytp6

The Alliance will provide canoes and PFD’s for all attendees who do not have their own gear. Kayaks are not practical in this effort, as the 50 pound seed bag needs to fit in the boat. If you have further questions, email Alyssa at Outreach@StLouisRiver.org

Manoomin Restoration Project

Northern wild rice, manoomin (Ojibwe), or Zizania palustria (scientific name), is an important component to the St. Louis River estuary because of its value as both a cultural and ecological resource. It is tied to the migration story of the Ojibwe people, and it provides an important food source for people and wildlife and habitat for many species.

Historical accounts suggest that Manoomin was once abundant in the St. Louis River estuary. From the 1930's to the 1960's the St. Louis River estuary contained between 600 and 1,000 acres of wild rice. Over the past 50 years, its abundance and distribution has been reduced to a few remnant stands. Causes for the decline in Manoomin abundance include dredging and filling in the estuary, wholesale logging, industry development and water quality impacts from land use and point source inputs. 

The Manoomin Restoration Partnership - St. Louis River Estuary; which includes Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, St. Louis River Alliance and additional tribal partners and non-profits; are seeking to restore at least 275 acres of wild rice by 2025.