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Wonders of the Near North

Wonders of the near north.
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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

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

Peatlands: A closer look at an otherworldly world

By Laurie Allmann | October 28, 2022 |

Filed Under: Climate Change, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Peatlands, Uncategorized Tagged With: Northern Minnesota, peatlands

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

Minnesota wildfire outlook

By Chance Lasher | June 22, 2022 |

Many factors play into the risk of wildfires; an outlook for this season, and why Duluth is uniquely vulnerable.

Filed Under: Climate Change, Forestry, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Nature, Science, Wildfire Tagged With: Nature, Northern Minnesota, Wildfire

Working with fire, traditionally

By Stephanie Hemphill | October 3, 2021 |

A new short film, Oshkigin: Spirit of Fire, shows the traditional controlled burning practices of the Anishinaabe people. These small burns help prevent wildfires from getting out of hand.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Forestry, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Nature, Photography, Policy, Resource Management, Science, wildlife Tagged With: Nature, Northern Minnesota, policy, resource management

“Indian Country is clearing its throat”

By Stephanie Hemphill | November 1, 2017 |

Winter on the St. Louis River. Photo by Ivy Vainio

Tribes are working on many fronts to push Minnesota to do a better job of protecting the environment.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Resource Management, Science, Water quality Tagged With: conservation, environmental review, Lake Superior, mining, Nature, Northern Minnesota, policy, resource management, rivers, St. Louis River, tribes

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