Researchers at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute have been monitoring bird activity on Interstate Island. With a combination of in-person surveys and a network of 16 trail cameras placed along the edge of the shoreline, they are able to document bird use of the island from spring through fall each year.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Annual Vista Star Boat Tour! We had a great time learning from Area of Concern coordinators about the various projects happening on and near the water, plus up close looks at some of the work being done.

Thank you to our member volunteers for coming and helping us plant nearly 500 pounds of manoomin (wild rice) in Kingsbury Bay! We had 17 volunteers and 2 staff helping reseed the estuary.

If you'd like to learn more about the Wild Rice Restoration efforts, CLICK HERE.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency have signed a $6 million agreement to address and clean up contaminated sediment in the Scanlon Reservoir in Scanlon, Minnesota. Slated to begin this fall, the project will employ new remediation technologies to improve the habitat for fish and wildlife.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Annual St. Louis River Alliance Canoe Trip! Check out the incredible pictures from the day.

Join the St. Louis River Alliance on Saturday, August 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for our Annual SLRA Canoe Trip. We will meet and launch from Woodstock Bay Primitive Boat Landing. Come explore one of the routes from the newly designated St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail and learn from about projects happening the the estuary by an Area of Concern Coordinator. RSVP to secure your spot today!

ST. LOUIS RIVER AREA OF CONCERN UPDATE: Researchers at Duluth’s EPA lab completed a study that sheds light on what is (or isn’t) behind the slow recovery of Lake Sturgeon in the St. Louis River.

Click here to read more..

Scanlon Reservoir Sediment Remediation: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is distributing this Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for a 30-day review and comment period pursuant to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) rules.

Thank you to everyone who came out to help with our annual Spring Cleanup! Miller Creek up by target is cleaner by 20+ bags of garbage (460 pounds!!!)

Here is a “birds eye” view of the completed habitat restoration at Interstate Island. The project was completed in late April.

52,624 cubic yards of dredged materials were beneficially reused to restore or enhance the colonial water bird nesting habitat!

Beginning at the end of June 2021, a portion of the Cross City Trail and adjacent city-owned land will be closed to accommodate work being done in the ponds behind Erie Pier.

At the headwaters of Lake Superior nestled between Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin lies an urban treasure waiting to be explored. Join Kris Eilers, Executive Director of the St. Louis River Alliance, as she shares about the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail. May 20th from 6-7 p.m. via zoom.

Calling all amateur and professional photographers! We are looking for your portraits of wildlife, animal behavior, the relationship between people and nature, plant life, weather, seasons, recreation and harbor activities for our 2021 photo contest.

It’s an exciting time for a Common Tern who soon will return to its restored nesting site on Interstate Island after overwintering in South America. 

Last year, restoration began on Interstate Island to combat habitat loss that happened over recent years due to flooding and higher water levels. Next week JF Brennan Company will complete the construction aspects of the habitat restoration.

Pick up your FREE St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE) National Water Trail Map at one of the many local businesses in the Twin Ports (Duluth, MN and Superior, WI) PDF versions are also available online.

CLICK HERE TO FIND WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR FREE MAP

There are many remediation and restoration projects going on in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. This is especially important for paddlers and boaters on the River. The sites that should be avoided due to active construction this year (2021) are Kingsbury Bay, Grassy Point, and USS/Spirit Lake.

The St. Louis River Alliance is hiring three Piping Plover Monitors to work 20-30 hours a week from May 1st - June 15th, 2021. In the event that nesting behavior is observed, positions will be extended until August 31st. The employment extension will be determined by May 31st.

Spring is coming and big things are happening at the Ponds behind Erie Pier site in the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Trees are being cleared this week to prep the site for the remedial construction scheduled to begin in June.

There is some great field work anticipated for 2021! Check-out what is planned for the St. Louis River Area of Concern, both in Minnesota and Wisconsin.