Joining Forces To Protect Manoomin (Wild Rice) Resources
The Great Lakes Regional Water Program, in partnership with Ferris State University in Michigan and the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, led a diverse coalition that convened the Wild Rice Restoration and Preservation Conference in August, 2006. The conference brought together Native American communities, universities, tribal colleges, nonprofit groups, tribal and local governments, and federal and state agencies to share information and experiences. It developed new partnerships among Land Grant colleges and universities and tribal communities across the Great Lakes Region, and built a solid foundation for future initiatives.
At the conference, participants learned about wild rice identification, management and restoration, ecological importance, harvesting, processing, nutrition and recipes, culture and the role wild rice plays in the spirituality of Great Lakes tribal communities, and communication and networking.

There were 109 attendees at the conference, and, based upon evaluation results, respondents learned a great deal regarding most of the presented topics. For example, 94 percent stated that they learned a significant or great amount about the cultural values of wild rice. Respondents also generated a wealth of ideas for future coalition building and networking. Participants frequently commented that they appreciated the hands-on elements, the interesting speakers, trips to lakes and rice beds, and the union of science and spirituality themes in the conference. There was also strong interest in more conferences like this in the future . The conference steering committee will use the participant feedback to develop potential next steps toward achieving sustainable wild rice populations across the Great Lakes Region.

Download Wild Rice Brochure

Contacts:

Patrick Robinson
University of Wisconsin-Extension
(920) 465-2175
patrick.robinsin@ces.uwex.edu

Deborah Zak
University of Minnesota Extension
(218) 281-8684
dzak@umn.edu

Scott Herron
Ferris State University
(231) 591-2087
herrons@ferris.edu

Expanding the National Estuarine Research Reserve Program
in the Great Lakes Region
The National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System is a nation-wide network of protected coastal estuaries that are designated and supported through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). These protected areas are established to support long-term research, education and stewardship related to estuary systems. This partnership program between NOAA and the coastal states protects more than one million acres of estuary land and water, which provides essential habitat for wildlife, offers educational opportunities, and serves as living laboratories for scientists.

The Great Lakes Regional Water Program is working to expand NERR freshwater estuary activities in the Great Lakes Region. Currently, the only freshwater estuary NERR site is at Old Woman Creek in Ohio. The Regional Water Program is supporting the designation of an additional freshwater estuary site on Lake Superior, closer to the headwaters of the Great Lakes system. Wisconsin is leading this effort by working with a collaboration of partner organizations representing tribes, state and federal agencies, and citizen groups on Lake Superior to secure designation of a NERR within the Lake Superior Bioregion. Wisconsin’s Governor Doyle formally requested in March 2004 that NOAA provide funding and technical assistance to select a site on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior coast for designation as a NERR. In June of 2004, NOAA responded that the agency is prepared to assist Wisconsin with the designation of a NERR site.

A team structure has been developed to facilitate the NERR designation process.  Representatives from partnering agencies and organizations in Wisconsin are directly involved in the NERR designation process through these teams.  The teams have also been collaborating with partners from Minnesota and Ohio throughout the designation process.  An important next step in the NERR designation process is the nomination of a specific NERR site for consideration by NOAA.