River Talk Series Begins With Climate Change

Credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

A free, informal speaker series about the St. Louis River Estuary in Duluth-Superior begins on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Barker's Waterfront Grille (300 Marina Dr., Superior, Wis.). Hilarie Sorensen with Minnesota Sea Grant will discuss the effects of climate change on the St. Louis River.

Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve are starting the third year of informal evening talks about the estuary.

These informal "River Talks" for 2015-2016 will be held monthly (except in December) at Barker's Waterfront Grille (Barker's Island Inn) in Superior, Wis., through Feb. In March, they will move across the estuary to the Vikre Distillery in Duluth, Minn.

Questions? Contact series organizer, Marie Zhuikov with Wisconsin Sea Grant: 715-392-3141 X1003 or mzhuikov@aqua.wisc.edu.

Dates and tentative topics for other talks are:

• Nov. 18, 2015: The Story Behind the River Talk Sponsors: What the Heck is a NERR and a Sea Grant? 7 p.m., Barker's Waterfront Grille, Barker's Island Inn, 300 Marina Dr., Superior, WI
• No talk in December
• Jan. 27, 2016: Clough Island Restoration Project, 7 p.m., Barker's Waterfront Grille, Barker's Island Inn, 300 Marina Dr., Superior, WI
• Feb. 3, 2016: Hudson Bay Bound, 7 p.m., University of Wisconsin Superior, Swenson Hall, Erlenbach Conference Hall (first floor), Superior, WI (Special Bonus Talk by Natalie Warren in conjunction with the St. Louis River Summit)
• Feb. 24, 2016: The Value of Nature's Benefits in the St. Louis River Watershed, 7 p.m., Barker's Waterfront Grille, Barker's Island Inn, 300 Marina Dr., Superior, WI
• Mar. 30, 2016: Smile, You're on Candid Camera! Mammal Cams in the Estuary, 7 p.m., Vikre Distillery, 525 Lake Ave S., Suite 102, Duluth, MN
• Apr. 27, 2016: Radio Tower Bay, 7 p.m., Vikre Distillery, 525 Lake Ave S., Suite 102, Duluth, MN
• May 25, 2016: 21st Ave W. Project, 7 p.m., Vikre Distillery, 525 Lake Ave S., Suite 102, Duluth, MN

2014 - 2015 Talks:

The 2014-2015 River Talks left lots of knowledge in their wake. Relive the series through blog posts on the talks. Click on individual hotlinks below.

• Oct. 16, 2014: An Industrious River: How Business Relies on Fresh Water, 7 p.m., Red Mug Coffeehouse, 916 Hammond Ave., Superior, WI
• Dec. 18, 2014: What's the Point? Ojibway History and the Unique Value of Wisconsin Point, 7 p.m., Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Learning Center, 3 Marina Dr., Barker's Island, Superior, WI
• Jan. 22, 2015: Formation Story: How the St. Louis River Came to Be, Geologically, 7 p.m., Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Learning Center, 3 Marina Dr., Barker's Island, Superior, WI
• Feb. 18, 2015: Making the St. Louis River Hip: The River Corridor Project, 7 p.m., Amazing Grace Café, 394 S. Lake Ave, Duluth, MN
• Mar. 18, 2015: Restoring the Spirit to the River: The U.S. Steel Superfund Site on Spirit Lake, 7 p.m., Amazing Grace Café, 394 S. Lake Ave, Duluth, MN
• Mar. 31, 2015: The St. Louis River in Your own Words: Results from NOAA's Stakeholder Engagement Interviews in the St. Louis River Estuary, 7:30 p.m., Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Learning Center, 3 Marina Dr., Barker's Island, Superior, WI (Special Bonus Talk in conjunction with the St. Louis River Summit)
• Apr. 15, 2015: Remembering the Cultural History of the St. Louis River Estuary Through Maps, 7 p.m., Amazing Grace Café, 394 S. Lake Ave, Duluth, MN
• May 20, 2015: Researching the Invisible Ways Estuaries Benefit Us, 7 p.m., Amazing Grace Café, 394 S. Lake Ave, Duluth, MN
• Jun. 10, 2015: Pollution, Poetry and Photography: Celebrating the River's Restoration Through Words, 5:30 p.m., Amazing Grace Café, 394 S. Lake Ave, Duluth, MN

2013 - 2014 Talks:

• Sept 24, 2013: Pat Collins with the Minnesota DNR discussed the history of the St. Louis River and gave an overview of restoration efforts, 7 p.m., Red Mug, WI
• October 29, 2013: Diane Desotelle with the Minn. Pollution Control Agency and Matt Steiger with the Wisconsin DNR discussed current efforts to restore the river, 7 p.m., Red Mug, WI
• November 26, 2013: Shon Schooler with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve talked about the ecological mysteries of the St. Louis River, 7 p.m., Red Mug, WI
• No talk in December
• February 11, 2014 (rescheduled from January 28): Gene Clark with Wisconsin Sea Grant delved into the issue of dredging in the estuary, 7 p.m., Clyde Iron Works, MN
• February 25, 2014: Emily Graham from the University of Colorado in Boulder discussed how microscopic critters and mercury impact the health of the estuary, 7 p.m., Clyde Iron Works, MN
• March 25, 2014: Thomas Howes with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa discussed wild rice management, research and restoration, 7 p.m., Clyde Iron Works, MN
• April 29, 2014: John Lindgren with the MN Department of Natural Resources and Paul Piszczek with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources talked about sport fishing in the St. Louis River, 7 p.m., Clyde Iron Works, MN

Posted on October 21, 2015