News & Updates
Annual Superior Cleanup Photos
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Annual Spring Cleanup in Superior. This year we tackled Billings Drive from the Superior Municipal Forest Disc Golf Parking Lot all the way to Highway 105. We rescued a twin mattress and a few half filled garbages bags of litter. We appreciate the new and returning faces who show up to help keep our woods and water clean. A special thank you to our partners City of Superior for providing the cleanup buckets, bags, and pickers! 🌲☀️💧🐢
Register Today: Beginner Paddling & Water Safety River Connection Event
Join the St. Louis River Alliance and UMD Recreation Sports Outdoor Program (UMD RSOP) on Wednesday, July 24th from 5:00-7:30 p.m. for a hands-on, free Beginner Paddling & Water Safety River Connection event hosted at Munger Landing (Clyde Ave, Duluth, MN 55808). All gear will be provided including life jackets, canoes, and paddles. No prior paddle experience necessary.
Space is limited and registration is necessary. Register by July 19 at 4 p.m. REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/HoJED3idmZHpRYNLA
June 2024: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Click here to learn about current project updates for June.
‘Enjoy the St. Louis River Estuary Safely’ Resources
With warmer weather and open water, paddle season is upon us! Whether you are new to recreating on the Estuary or have been at it for a while, you owe it to yourself to make sure you are aware of the appropriate level of safety for the activity and conditions you are participating in.
Our friends at Wisconsin Sea Grant have put together an incredible resource and website to help you Enjoy the St. Louis River Safely.
Dwight’s Point Sea Kayak Paddle + Lunch
Join the St. Louis River Alliance and UMD Recreation Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP) for an afternoon of exploring the newly designated St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail! On Sunday, August 4th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. we will paddle along towering white pines on steep clay embankments, passing lily pads in bloom and birds basking in their summer quarters. Come see, smell, and hear the flora and fauna who call the estuary home.
We will meet at the UMD Boat Shed on Park Point, 1421 St. Louis Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802. After packing up our gear, we will caravan to Woodstock Bay Landing, and then paddle to Dwight’s Point for lunch. Bring your own bottled water and bagged lunch.
REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY.
May 2024: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for May.
Billings Drive Spring Cleanup
Join the St. Louis River Alliance on Wednesday, June 12th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for a volunteer clean up event along Billings Drive in Superior, Wisconsin! Come when you want and stay as long (or as little) as you'd like. Please check in with SLRA staff at the Superior Municipal Forest Disc Golf Lot (directions below). We will collect litter from the Disc Golf course all the way to Highway 105.
Our partners at the City of Superior will provide garbage bags, pickers, and buckets. Please bring your own gloves if you have them and dress for the weather and the job! And don’t forget your water bottle…
Beginner Birding and Bird Identification River Connection Field Event
The St. Louis River Alliance and the Duluth Audubon Society are teaming up again to bring you an incredible experience along the St. Louis River! Join us on Wednesday, June 5th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. for our Beginner Birding and Bird Identification River Connection Field Event hosted on the Waabizheshikana Trail in Duluth.
During this event, attendees will be introduced to the basics of birding along the St. Louis River. Experts from the Duluth Audubon Society will lead the discussion on techniques to locate, identify, and observe birds, as well as guide attendees in the use of bird-spotting equipment such as binoculars and spotting scopes.
Space is limited and we ask experienced birders to leave this opportunity open for those who have not had the chance to get out and bird. Registration is necessary; please register by May 29th at 4 p.m.
Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities Slides PDF
View the 2024 The St. Louis River: A Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities (PDF) Originally presented by Melissa Sjolund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Matthew Steiger, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on April 23, 2024.
View the Powerpoint to learn where you can recreate within the estuary and the cleanup efforts that have made it possible.
The St. Louis River: A Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities Event Photos
Thank you to all of the St. Louis River Area of Concern agency partners for your work in making this year's Celebration of Progress engaging and educational!
We had over 100 community members come out to our 'The St. Louis River: A Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities' to learn about where you can recreate on the river, along with the cleanup efforts that have made it possible. We could not have done it without the incredible non-profits, retailers, and other organizations that showed up to table. THANK YOU ALL!
Recreating in the St. Louis River: A Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Join the adventure and win a prize! The St. Louis River Alliance and Area of Concern partners are excited to share 'Recreating in the St. Louis River: A Virtual Scavenger Hunt'.
Explore hidden gems of the St. Louis River with a virtual scavenger hunt uncovering the many exciting recreational opportunities along the river. Be one of the first twenty participants to correctly answer the 20 multiple choice questions and you’ll win a $20 Super One gift card. All other participants will be entered to win one of five complementary 1-year memberships to the St. Louis River Alliance.
April 2024: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
Many projects are happening to help clean-up and delist the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Here are some current project updates for April.
Become a National Water Trail Map Distribution Location
Open water on the river means paddle season is right around the corner! We are gearing up by distributing National Water Trail maps throughout the Twin Ports.
Are you a local business or organization interested in being a distribution location? Please fill out the following form so we can coordinate a map drop-off/pick-up.
Distribution Location Form: https://tinyurl.com/2024-NWT-Maps
The St. Louis River: A Virtual Tour of Recreation Opportunities Event | Tuesday, April 23rd
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: Piping Plover Monitors
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.
March 2024: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
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.
2024 Anticipated Field Work: St. Louis River Area of Concern
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
Ice Safety River Connection Event: Recap + Photos
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.
February 2024: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
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.
Welcome Jessie Peterson, our newest SLRA Board Member!
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!