Great Lakes Archives

Infographic: Wild Rice is Keystone Species for Upper Great Lakes Region

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August 5, 2011

Wild Rice is an aquatic grass that is harvested annually for…

Wild rice on the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin is in the floating leaf stage by early June, with a single shoot lying on the water’s surface. This is considered one of the most critical—and and dangerous—stages in the rice’s life cycle. The plants are just beginning to change physiologically from exchanging gases with the water column to exchanging gases with the air. Therefore, they are very susceptible to heavy rains and flooding events that can either rip out the young plants by the roots, or drown them. June 6, 2011.

Where Food Grows on Water: Environmental and Human Threats to Wisconsin’s Wild Rice

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August 4, 2011

For generations, the upper Great Lakes region has boasted harvests of wild rice, growing in Lake Superior and other watersheds within the basin. But disease, dams, and climate change are now endangering the uncultivated bounty.

Circle of Blue Director Appointed to World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water Security

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August 3, 2011

J. Carl Ganter is director of Circle of Blue, a global water…

Business vs. Environment: Ohio Governor Vetoes Lake Erie Water Withdrawal Bill

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July 18, 2011

The highly controversial bill set the highest thresholds for water withdrawal permits in the Great Lakes region, sparking debate between environmentalists and businesses over the use of Lake Erie water.