Ninth annual St. Louis River Summit to focus on river towns

The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold its annual St. Louis River Summit March 5-6 in the Yellowjacket Union at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

A variety of speakers will present information about progress related to river landscapes, community well-being, progress on habitat restoration, and scientific monitoring techniques. This year’s summit will feature a keynote panel of representatives from local and regional breweries and distilleries, focused on the importance of clean water to their processes and industry.

“The theme for this year is ‘River Towns: Landscapes and Livelihoods,’” said Erika Washburn, Lake Superior Reserve manager. “The communities along the river have changed over time, influencing the river and estuary’s ecology and health. This theme is meant to reflect on these changes, all of which are set within the larger Lake Superior coastal system.”

The goal of the summit is to bring together key audiences working in the region to share information about the St. Louis River and encourage coordination of activities and funding proposals.

A poster session will take place Tuesday, March 5, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. in the Yellowjacket Union, Keith Okeson, past president of the Lake Superior Chapter of Muskies Inc., and Marte Kitson, extension educator with Minnesota Sea Grant, will present, “Muskie Fishing a Restored River.” This talk is being held as part of the popular monthly River Talk series. These events are free and open to all.

Students from UW-Superior, the College of St. Scholastica, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and other local institutions will attend parts of the summit to learn more about the research community and river projects.

Summit pre-registration is required for full-day participation. The cost is $30, which includes lunch and refreshments. There is no charge to students, but registration is required. The deadline is Monday, Feb. 18. To register and view the agenda, visit lakesuperiorreserve.org.