August 2024: 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 August St. Louis River Area of Concern project updates.
Photo: The contractor has begun mobilizing at the site. Photo credit: USACE
Thomson Reservoir
Construction crews are mobilizing! On-land site preparation activities start in August & in-water remediation work starts in September. For everyone’s safety, please be cautious around trucks & equipment entering/exiting UMD’s Kayak Center parking lot (off Highway 210 outside of Carlton).
For more information on this project, click here.
Photo: Water and paddlers can now flow into Perch Lake under Hwy 23. Provided by MN DNR.
Photo: Wetland marsh plants are thriving both in the water and on the land in Perch Lake’s new hemi-marsh areas. Provided by MN DNR.
Perch Lake
As evidenced by these canoeists, the hydraulic connection under Hwy 23 is complete. Plus, the aquatic and terrestrial plants are responding well in the new hemi-marsh features. If you are a paddler, check them out and let us know what species you see!
For more information on this project, click here.
Photo: Grass-like manoomin is growing in one of the fenced areas on the St. Louis River, July 2024. Fences will be removed after the rice seed has ripened. Photo provided by WDNR.
Manoomin (Wild Rice) Restoration
Manoomin has begun to stand and flower in the St. Louis River Estuary. All the restoration sites will be assessed in August to determine where fall seeding is needed to enhance and expand the restoration sites, and to inform future management decisions.
For more information on this project, check out the links below.
SLRAOC Manoomin Restoration: https://widnr.widen.net/s/zsldbjsfjb/gw_slr_wildricerestoration
1998-2023 Monitoring and Abundance Report: https://www.1854treatyauthority.org/index.php?option=com_edocman&task=document.viewdoc&id=315&Itemid=165
Harvesting: https://www.1854treatyauthority.org/wild-rice/wild-rice-condition-updates.html and https://data.glifwc.org/manoomin.harvest.info/
Photos: Removal of invasive cattail in Allouez Bay. Photo provided by WDNR.
Allouez Bay
WDNR & Audubon Great Lakes will start invasive cattail removal here in August. This is a first step to improve diversity of native plants & wetland habitat for vulnerable marsh birds & other wildlife species. Several days of mowing & hand-cutting will be done in selected areas totaling about 7 acres.
For more information on this project, click the links below.
