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Wonders of the Near North

Wonders of the near north.
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“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

Book Review: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

By Stephanie Hemphill | May 21, 2017 |

A vivid history and sober analysis of the many threats the Great Lakes face.

Filed Under: Agate Book Review, Fish, Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Research, Resource Management, Water quality Tagged With: Great Laks, Lake Superior, resource management

Walking With Water

By Heidi Fettig Parton | April 10, 2017 |

Sharon Day. Photo © Keely Kernan

Ngah izitchigay nibi ohnjay

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Water quality

Dueling lawsuits over Minntac permit

By Stephanie Hemphill | February 22, 2017 |

Minntac mine. Photo courtesy wikimedia commons by Bjoertvedt

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is at the center of lawsuits over a long-delayed water quality permit for the Minntac taconite mine.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Resource Management, Water quality Tagged With: environmental review, mining, Northern Minnesota, resource management, rivers

Minnesota tweaks wild rice rule

By Stephanie Hemphill | August 7, 2016 |

Seeding wild rice in the St. Louis River. Photo by Cheryl Katz. Used with permission.

Minnesota adjusts a formula designed to protect wild rice waters from sulfate pollution.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Research, Resource Management, Science, Water quality Tagged With: Northern Minnesota, resource management

Minnesota puts taconite mine permitting “on pause”

By Stephanie Hemphill | May 9, 2016 |

U.S. Steel's Minntac mine near Virginia, MN has a permit that expired in 1992. Photo: Creative Commons.

As the federal government investigates whether it should take away Minnesota’s authority to regulate industry, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says it has put most mining permit activities “on pause.”

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Regional Environmental News, Resource Management, Water quality Tagged With: Economy, environmental review, mining, Northern Minnesota, policy, resource management

Efforts to restore wild rice in the St. Louis River face challenges

By Stephanie Hemphill | April 25, 2016 |

A healthy stand of wild rice, Zizania palustris, at harvest time. Ojibwe people call this important activity “manoominike.” The standing partner uses the “gaandakii’igan” (push pole) to get around and the seated partner uses the “bawa’iganaakoog” (knocking sticks) to collect the rice. Photo by Cheryl Katz.

Efforts to restore wild rice in the St. Louis River estuary face potential challenges from carp, Canada geese, and sulfate pollution from upstream taconite mines.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Issues, Resource Management, Uncategorized, Water quality Tagged With: Lake Superior, Northern Minnesota, resource management, St. Louis River, tribes

Researcher crusades for policies to protect water: profile of Dr. Deborah Swackhamer

By Stephanie Hemphill | March 24, 2016 |

Dr. Deborah Swackhamer

As a graduate student, Deborah Swackhamer made important discoveries about toxic chemicals polluting the Great Lakes; as a researcher she endured a grueling industry investigation; as a public scientist she showed how to make Minnesota’s lakes and rivers cleaner. In retirement she continues her lifelong quest to improve water quality.

Filed Under: Homepage Bottom Features, Homepage Top Feature, Research, Resource Management, Science, Water quality Tagged With: Lake Superior, minnesota, resource management

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