Agate

Wonders of the Near North

Wonders of the near north.
  • Home
  • About Agate
  • Archive
  • Donate

Protecting wild rice: will site-specific standards work?

By Stephanie Hemphill | September 15, 2023 |

Rice on lake. Photo courtesy Fond du Lac Resource Management

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has been trying for years to figure out how to get taconite mines to reduce the sulfate in their effluent because it damages wild rice. The current effort involves something called Site Specific Standards, and it looks likely that it will have no more success than previous attempts.

Filed Under: Freshwater lakes, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Policy, Research, Science, Taconite mining, Water quality Tagged With: mining, Northern Minnesota, resource management

In northern Minnesota, early adopters make the case for cold-climate heat pumps

By Stephanie Hemphill | August 10, 2023 |

Michael Overend stands under the manifold where the heat pump refrigerant comes in and warm air is sent to several rooms through ductwork.

Heat pump installers and early adopters in and around Duluth, Minnesota, are demonstrating how the technology can work even in a notoriously cold climate such as northern Minnesota.

Filed Under: Climate Change, Conservation practices, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Policy Tagged With: conservation, Northern Minnesota, resource management

Groups ask for further study of Northshore Mine Tailings Pond Work  

By Stephanie Hemphill | July 7, 2023 |

Northshore Mine in Silver Bay wants to expand its tailings pond; environmental groups are asking for a thorough Environmental Impact Statement.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, History, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Lake Superior, Policy, Taconite mining, Water quality Tagged With: Lake Superior, Northern Minnesota, resource management

Artists inspired by a big river

By Stephanie Hemphill | April 29, 2023 |

Dikes in Spirit Lake

Scientists and artists are close observers. Regional artists share how they are inspired by nature, especially by the St. Louis River.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Art, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature Tagged With: art and science

Trying (again) to tackle mercury in the St. Louis River

By Stephanie Hemphill | February 28, 2023 |

Taking steps to put the St. Louis River on a mercury diet.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Lake Superior, Nature, Peatlands, Policy, Research, Resource Management, Science, Taconite mining, Water quality Tagged With: Lake Superior, mining, minnesota, Nature, Northern Minnesota, policy, resource management

Getting to know Wolves

By Stephanie Hemphill | January 30, 2023 |

Wolf pups from Voyageurs National Park

Recent research reveals more about the lives of wolves on the Fond du Lac Chippewa Reservation and in Voyageurs National Park.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Nature, Research, wildlife Tagged With: Nature, Northern Minnesota

Recent Nature Books

By Stephanie Hemphill | December 9, 2022 |

A rich list of recently published books that nurture our sense of wonder at nature.

Filed Under: Agate Book Review, An Agate Original, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature Tagged With: books

Interest grows in native “rough fish”

By Stephanie Hemphill | November 11, 2022 |

Recent research on some of Minnesota’s native fishes pinpoints astonishing longevity and an important role in ecosystems.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Conservation practices, Fish, Freshwater lakes, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Nature, Research, Resource Management, Science, wildlife Tagged With: conservation, Nature, resource management

Collaborating with nature

By Stephanie Hemphill | September 17, 2022 |

Members of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa share their generations-old farming practices.

Filed Under: Agriculture, An Agate Original, Freshwater lakes, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Science, Water quality Tagged With: Northern Minnesota, resource management, Tribal concerns

Can we talk?

By Stephanie Hemphill | August 20, 2022 |

Tribal and non-tribal governments work harder at understanding each other’s concerns.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Resource Management Tagged With: Indigenous, Native American, treaties

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Welcome

A magazine about nature, science and conservation in Minnesota and the surrounding Great Lakes Region.

Getting Acquainted

Take our Reader Survey

Please Support Agate

Subscribe By Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Agate and receive notifications of new posts. Subscribing is free.

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in