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Wonders of the Near North

Wonders of the near north.
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Trump cuts jeopardize work of key Minnesota research lab

By Stephanie Hemphill | April 17, 2025 |

EPA lab in Duluth, MN

EPA facility in Duluth has helped protect human health.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Freshwater lakes, History, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Lake Superior, Nature, Policy, Research, Science, Water quality Tagged With: Lake Superior, Nature, resource management

Omashkooz may soon join us in northeastern Minnesota

By Stephanie Hemphill | February 14, 2025 |

Elk calf

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to return elk to northeastern Minnesota. The majestic animals once ranged the forests and prairies of the state.

The current plan is to capture 100-150 animals from the remnant herds in northwestern Minnesota over five to ten years and move them to the Fond du Lac Reservation in Carlton and southern St. Louis counties. The tribe and the state want to restore a climate-hardy, native species on or near their historical range.

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Conservation practices, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Nature, prairie, Research, Resource Management, wildlife Tagged With: conservation, Nature, Northern Minnesota, resource management

Invasive carp are surging in the Mississippi River. Will people and pets eat them?

By Elise Plunk, Louisiana Illuminator | August 30, 2024 |

Carp jump in the Fox River

Researchers are looking for ways to make invasive Asian carp more palatable for humans, or for dogs.

Filed Under: Conservation practices, Fish, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Mississippi River, Nature, Research, Resource Management Tagged With: conservation, Nature, resource management

Climate disruption: what are we in for?

By Stephanie Hemphill | November 21, 2023 |

Pines on the St. Croix River

We are all noticing changes in the climate. What can we expect in Minnesota?

Filed Under: An Agate Original, Birds, Climate Change, Conservation practices, Forestry, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Lake Superior, Nature, Research Tagged With: conservation, Lake Superior, minnesota, Nature, Northern Minnesota

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

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

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

Bat Gadgetry: High-Tech Solutions to a Deadly Problem 

By Patrick Shea | October 15, 2022 |

Bat cave

A deadly fungus is threatening bats across the continent and it’s pushed several species towards extinction. But some scientists are hopeful they’ve found a solution: a “bug buffet.”

Filed Under: Conservation practices, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Nature, Research, wildlife Tagged With: conservation, Nature

Ecosystems changing rapidly in many remote northern lakes

By Greg Seitz | September 3, 2022 |

Recent studies show how protected waters of Midwest National Parks are affected by global forces.

Filed Under: Climate Change, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Research, Science, Water quality Tagged With: Michigan, minnesota, national parks, water, wisconsin

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