February 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 February St. Louis River Area of Concern project updates.
Photo: 2024 Celebration of Progress, credit SLRA
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.
Photo: Fall on the St. Louis River; credit MPCA
St. Louis River Watershed Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load Report
A TMDL is being prepared to determine mercury reductions needed for lakes & rivers in the SLRW.
Learn more at the next public forum:
3-5pm on 2/26: MN North Mesabi Eveleth Campus Atrium (1100 Industrial Parkway, Eveleth) OR
11am-1pm on 2/27: Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College (2101 14th St, Cloquet)
For more information, click here or contact Jennifer.brentrup@state.mn.us
St. Louis River Summit
Join us March 4-6 at the UWS Yellowjacket Union to learn & share about the St. Louis River. SLRAOC updates will be shared in presentations, posters, & an outreach table. Be sure to meet the new FdL and MNDNR SLRAOC Coordinators while you are there. Registration is open!
For more information, click here. To register, click here.
Photo: Wisconsin Point boardwalk, provided by WDNR
Photo: feedback survey QR code and information
Wisconsin Point
Are you a WI Point visitor or would like to be? If so, the City of Superior, WDNR, and other partners hope you’ll share how you use WI Point, what about it is important to you, and if there are barriers that prevent you from using the area. As Superior makes future plans, they’ll use your input to help ensure a healthy and adaptable WI Point.
For more information and to take the survey, click here.
