Dr. Anthony Kern harvesting wild rice.
The first installment of this year’s St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Speaker Series will offer free presentations by an expert in Minnesota’s official state grain, wild rice:
Join the National Park Service on Saturday, November 19 for a free presentation on “Wild Rice in Minnesota and Wisconsin: Conservation, Threats, and Restoration” by Dr. Anthony Kern. Dr. Kern, a biology professor at Northland College, traces the genetic makeup of wild rice in an effort to improve conservation efforts.
American wild rice has significant cultural and ecological importance in the U.S. and Canada. Due to human activities, the plant has disappeared across much of its native range and efforts are underway to conserve and restore wild rice in suitable habitats. This presentation will focus on the ecology of natural (non-cultivated) wild rice populations and discuss current restoration efforts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Dr. Kern will present at 10:00 a.m. and then repeat his talk at 1:00 p.m. Presentations are free and open to the public and take place at the St. Croix River Visitor Center, 401 North Hamilton Street, in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.
Reservations are strongly encouraged due to limited seating. To reserve a seat, call (715) 483-2274. Callers can reserve up to 4 seats.
This presentation on wild rice kicks off the 2011-2012 St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Speaker Series, an annual offering of programs focused on the St. Croix Valley’s national park. The Speaker Series is generously supported by the St. Croix River Fund.
For additional information, contact the St. Croix River Visitor Center at (715) 483-2274 or www.nps.gov/sacn.
Learn more about Dr. Kern’s research here.