Join the St. Louis River Alliance and partners for a virtual tour of accessible Area of Concern project sites and connect with recreational experts on where to go and what you can do along the river!

This year's St. Louis River Area of Concern Celebration 'The St. Louis River: A Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities' will be on Tuesday, April 23rd at Clyde Iron Works (2920 W Michigan Street, Duluth) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Area of Concern Coordinators will be there to answer your questions, and Superior and Duluth recreational businesses and organizations will have tables at the event to help get you connected and geared up. All are welcomed and encouraged to come ask questions.

This event is free and open to the public. Come enjoy free pizza and thoughtful conversations! We will also be sharing information on how you can become eligible to win a prize by participating in a fun “Recreating in the St. Louis River: A Virtual Scavenger Hunt”.

NOW HIRING! The St. Louis River Alliance is hiring seasonal Piping Plover Monitors to help monitor and record bird activity on Wisconsin & Minnesota Point.

The monitor season is from April 25th-June 15th and staff will work 20-30 hours per week. Formal office training will be held on Thursday April 25th, and on site monitor training is scheduled for Friday April 26th (weather dependent). In the event that nesting behavior occurs, positions may be extended until August 31st.

Please send your cover letter and resume to Mikayla Erickson at projectleader@stlouisriver.org to be considered for the position.

Click here for the full job description.

Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for March.

The warmer weather lets us know we are not far from construction season... If you are planning to be out in the estuary this year, you may see some work at St. Louis River Area of Concern (SLRAOC) project sites. Plans for this year are highlighted on the attached 2024 Field Work and contacts documents. Click the images below for downloadable PDF.

More information and resource links can be found at: https://www.stlouisriver.org/area-of-concern

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Ice Safety River Connection Event on February 17th at Spirit Lake Marina! We had a great time learning how to measure ice thickness, how to drill a hole through the ice, and how to practice self-rescues if we were to ever fall in. After the hands-on lessons, we joined as a group by the fire to roast marshmallows, drink hot chocolate, and socialize.

A huge thank you to our partners at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for leading the safety discussion and activities, and Barb Huberty with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) for sharing about the St. Louis River Area of Concern work and answer questions on safe fishing and access points. This event was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and we are extremely grateful for their support in all of the current and future River Connection events.

Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for February.

Join us in welcoming Jessie Peterson to the St. Louis River Alliance Board of Directors! For Jessie, access to clean water, air, and land have always been an integral part of health and well-being. Serving on the Board of the St. Louis River Alliance provides the opportunity to engage, connect, and inspire community members to experience the joy that comes from an afternoon spent along a thriving river system.

Learn more about her!

With plenty of open water, it is clear that paddle season is right around the corner!

For those that plan to explore any of the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trails this year, please take a look at the attached Paddlers Awareness handout that shows where current Area of Concern project efforts could interfere with your paddling plans. Be sure to reference it before you launch to avoid active remediation and restoration projects. If you see yellow turbidity curtains in the water, that is a sure sign to stay out.

FULL EVENT

Join the St. Louis River Alliance on Saturday February 17th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM for ‘Ice Safety: A River Connection Field Event’ hosted at Spirit Lake Marina & RV (121 Spring St, Duluth, MN 55808).

Do you know how to check if the ice is safe for walking, skating or ice fishing? Join conservation officers and ice safety experts from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for fun activities and ice safety lessons. Learn how to measure ice thickness and check the quality of the ice!

During this family friendly outdoor field event, attendees will have a chance to explore the beauty of the outdoors and learn important measures to stay safe on the ice. This event will be hands-on and a ton of fun! A bonfire, hot chocolate and marshmallows will keep everyone warm during this event. Please carpool if you are able.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Attendance will be on a first come, first served basis. Please register by February 9th at 4 p.m. by clicking below.

Registration Form: Click Here for Registration Form

Job Opportunity!

The St. Louis River Alliance is hiring a National Water Trail Coordinator. Click here for the full job description. Applications are due on February 23rd.

Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for January:

• 2023 Remedial Action Plan: Share your input on the St. Louis Area of Concern’s draft of the 2023 Remedial Action Plan. The Remedial Action Plan (RAP), and directions for comments can be found using the link below. More information HERE.

• St. Louis River Summit: Learn more about the St. Louis River Area of Concern (SLRAOC) progress at the 2024 St. Louis River Summit. This event will be held on March 6th through March 8th, located at the UW-Superior Yellowjacket Union. Registration opens in January, with a detailed agenda to come in February. More information HERE.

Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for December:

• Wild Rice Restoration: Continued progress has been made towards wild rice restoration in the St. Louis River Estuary. The amount of rice is expanding in Allouez Bay and upstream sites near Boy Scout Landing. Over 12,500 lbs of rice was seeded on 61 acres in 2023, thanks to many partners. More information HERE.

• Manoomin Camp: The 1854 Treaty Authority hosted educators, professionals and youth to celebrate the return of Manoomin. Over 500 students, including 17 different schools attended the first Manoomin camp on the shores of the river in decades.

• Snively Creek: 5,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed and the area was backfilled with clean soil. Temporary erosion control work will be completed in early December. Site restoration continues into Spring of 2024, with more information below.

• Munger Landing: Clean sand was placed over dredged areas, along with biomedium in sensitive habitats. Restoring the boat launch and upland areas is underway, while vegetation planting and final site restoration are coming in Spring of 2024. For everyone’s safety, please stay away from the construction areas.

You’re invited! Join the St. Louis River Alliance for our River Ally Social on Tuesday, December 12th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Clyde Iron Works upstairs bar located at 2920 W Michigan St, Duluth.

This celebration is being held in appreciation of the many people who have supported the St. Louis River Alliance, the restoration of the river, and the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail.

Join staff and board members, fellow river allies, and potential new members to hear about our accomplishments and plans for next year, and how you can be a part of those plans!

This event is indoors, open to the public and family friendly. We will have tables set-up with FREE St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail maps and other information on SLRA projects. Cake will be provided and the cash bar will be open. There will also be door prizes!

Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for November:

• Thomson Reservoir: Design of the sediment remediation project is complete, with project partners moving forward to begin remedial construction in the spring of 2024. More information HERE.

• Scanlon Reservoir: Thanks to the daily support of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Minnesota Power, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, and the Fond du Lac Band, the Great Lakes Legacy Act project at the Scanlon Reservoir is complete! Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, partnered on this one-of-a-kind project to remediate approximately ~55,000 cubic yards of contained sediments. More information HERE.

• Munger Landing: Dredging and removal of contaminated sediments is complete, and a new layer of clean sand has been placed over the full 38-acre footprint. Additionally, the in-water habitat restoration is underway and on-land site restoration will begin soon. More information HERE.

• Pickle Pond: Water and wetland construction is done, including habitat features for fish, turtles, and birds. The staging area is being restored and slope stability monitors will be removed this month. Native plants are coming in 2024. For more information click HERE.

• Snively Creek: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is overseeing the removal of soil contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from Snively Creek this fall. Final restoration of the creek channel and restoring native plants will occur in Spring 2024.

• Perch Lake: Highway 23 is being paved above the newly installed culvert sections, as part of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Perch Lake restoration project. Two-way traffic, with speed restrictions, will be restored through the winter, with continued construction in 2024.

The St. Louis River Alliance is recognized as a major contributor to the health and well-being of Lake Superior with the Lake Superior Magazines 2023 Achievement Award!

Lake Superior Magazine celebrates the Alliance for its partnerships, its planning, and its commitment to the waters of Lake Superior’s largest U.S. tributary. The award and a story about the Alliance appears in the October/November issue of Lake Superior Magazine and is now available online.

The visionaries at Alakef Coffee Roasters understand that the health of our waterways and the people that utilize them are of the utmost importance to our community.

As St. Louis River Alliance Business Partners, Alakef is supporting the work that we do in the estuary everyday. Since starting the partnership in early 2022, Alakef has donated thousands of dollars to the St. Louis River Alliance to help protect, restore, and enhance the St. Louis River.

Does you business align with the St. Louis River Alliance’s mission of protecting, restoring, and enhancing the St. Louis River? You can support our efforts by becoming a partner today!

Learn more about partner benefits at: www.stlouisriver.org/become-a-partner

If you have questions or want to get involved: email Kris@StLouisRiver.org

It's that time of year again... we are excited to be launching our Annual Membership Drive! From now until December 15th we'll be showcasing the many projects and events we host to help connect the community to the river.

Whether it is through Piping Plover monitoring and habitat maintenance, managing the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail, wild rice restoration, clean-up days, or one of our many community events, the St. Louis River Alliance is committed to building experiences and opportunities for YOU to get out on and near the water!

You can be a part of this work by becoming a member or making a tax-deductible donation today. And for a little extra nudge... we're giving a way a guided kayak trip for six on the St. Louis River.

The once-polluted Duluth riverfront U.S. Steel Superfund Site in Morgan Park is set to re-open next summer with new trails and wildlife habitat after $165 million in cleanup efforts.

This past Wednesday, October 25th, St. Louis River Alliance Executive Director Kris Eilers joined Mayor Larson and city leaders aboard the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad to view the nearly completed projects. The finished projects will provide new public access to the St. Louis River and extended recreational trails.

The St Louis River Alliance gives thanks to the neighbors and many project partners for their vision and collaboration to see the site cleaned up and reclaimed.

“The Alliance has been working to help connect people back to the river, and now that some of these projects are being completed, we look forward to helping provide more opportunities to access the river... Community participation, partnerships and problem solving led to the success of these projects and we are so grateful to be here to witness the recovery of a once degraded waterway.” said Kris Eilers

The shore of the St. Louis River near Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood has seen some massive changes in the past few years. After contamination, environmental clean-up and green space restoration have made the area safer and more accessible for generations to come.

U.S. Steel and the Environmental Protection Agency have been cleaning up the area near Spirit Lake, the site of a former U.S. Steel facility. One part of the effort aims to remove or contain residual chemicals leftover from production including lead, zinc, and more. The second part will turn the area into a green space for anyone to enjoy hiking, boating, and other activities.

“As we’re seeing the river become cleaner, our focus is turning more towards making sure that we’re able to connect people who have been negatively impacted by the pollution,” said Kris Eilers, executive director for the St. Louis River Alliance.

According to Eilers, the Alliance is helping to ensure that the people in Morgan Park enjoy the beauty in their own backyards.

“We’re trying to open up avenues by which we can really help people connect and learn to love the river and actually maybe experience it for the first time,” Eilers said.

Watch the video and read the full article at: https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2023/10/25/river-views-inside-look-waterfront-clean-up-effort-near-morgan-park/

Photo by Matthew Sperrazza

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 'Incredible Wild Edibles: A River Connection Field Event' at Chambers Grove on 10/4/23. We had a great time learning about the immense plant diversity of the St. Louis River and surrounding area!

During this event, attendees were introduced to over 50 plants, basic foraging ethics, and had an opportunity to taste, smell, and feel dozens of wild edibles. Thank you to our expert presenter Sarah Foltz Jordan for sharing your passion, time, and knowledge with us.

This event was made possible through the Great Lake Restoration Initiative and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.