Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve

09/09/2026

The restoration of manoomin to the St. Louis River estuary has been a long journey full of learning and collaboration. This sequence of photos, taken in the upper estuary near the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth, shows the fruits (or seeds!) of over a decade of work towards a future sustained by wild rice.

09/02/2026

It was an honor to join fellow land and water stewards at Mashkiziibi (the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) along Lake Superior's largest coastal manoomin beds to kick off Wisconsin's first Wild Rice Week. We here along the St. Louis River estuary appreciate all that manoomin does for us and other beings. We're glad to join in the celebration! A press release can be found in the comments. Happy Wild Rice Week!

08/23/2026

University of Wisconsin Superior student Eric is helping manoomin stewards understand the role muskrats play in restoration. Alert: cute rodent video!

https://www.wdio.com/top-stories/uw-superior-undergraduate-studies-link-between-muskrats-and-manoomin/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WDIO&fbclid=IwY2xjawT0JApwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5BDAZx3qYCgY_-5IdhsiRy8Zk_kISWHL1GYExsc1GBg9a6Tt5T3X7o6SZEPg_aem_XTx-1aXuFW5SqyclffnrTA

Eric Omdahl, an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, is looking into how muskrats have been interacting with the wild rice on the St. Louis River while working at the Superior National Institute and Research Reserve.

08/20/2026

We're keeping an eye on the prescribed fire site at Wisconsin Point. Many blueberry bushes have been spotted!

Nine months after its first prescribed burn in 150 years, a 22-acre patch of forest on Wisconsin Point is starting to show the effects.

08/06/2026

Meanwhile, upstream on the St. Louis River...🐺

08/04/2026

The Reserve is looking for a new member of our team! We're searching for a Research Administrative Specialist to support the Reserve by coordinating and administering grants and supporting the development of new proposals, as well as our overall operations. Applications are due by August 25th. Link to the position description and application details here: https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/lake-superior-reserve-research-administrative-specialist-superior-wisconsin-united-states

07/31/2026

Tomorrow is the first Saturday of month! Which means a special activity at the Lake Superior Estuarium. We are open 10am to 5pm.

On Tuesday, some wonderful campers came to the Estuarium and drew some real and invented plants! We would love to add 🌱 more plants and plant facts🪻to what they started. You're invited to contribute while visiting the Estuarium for First Saturday tomorrow!

07/23/2026

Hope you can join us tomorrow morning (Fri 7/24) for Everyone Can Bird! Graduation to Migration at the Lake Superior Estuarium! Arrive via free shuttle bus at the Superior Public Library or meet us right at the Estuarium on Barker's Island.

We'll have many learning choices: ASL interpretation, indoor and outdoor activities, bird observation while moving along a trail or sitting in one spot, binoculars to borrow, a track chair and other assistive devices from indiGO, expert bird guides...and more. :)

Many thanks to planning and hosting collaborators: University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, indiGO Wisconsin, LiveWell through UW-Superior Pruitt Center, Minnesota Land Trust, City of Superior Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, and Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve!

07/17/2026

Sad to share CANCELLATION of Lake Superior Day this Sunday.

More info in comments & event description.