The next installment of this season’s River Talks, a free educational series, will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, at the Lake Superior Estuarium, located at 3 Marina Dr., Superior, Wis., on Barker’s Island.

During this in-person presentation, members of the St. Louis River Manoomin Restoration Partnership will discuss the history, restoration and future of manoomin (wild rice) in the St. Louis River estuary.

For generations, Ojibwe people and others have gathered at Chi-gami ziibi – the St. Louis River – to harvest wild rice. Over the past century, these rice beds were severely diminished and nearly disappeared. After more than a decade of coordinated restoration efforts, wild rice is slowly rebounding in the estuary.

Attendees will learn what it takes to restore wild rice habitat and how ongoing stewardship can help ensure its success for generations to come.

Additional River Talks are scheduled for February 11 and April 8.

The River Talks series is sponsored by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve.