New research targets drinking water workforce, wild rice, and Lake Superior fishes

Minnesota Sea Grant funds five projects focused on community and ecosystem needs
Great Lakes blue economy showing ships, ports, tourism, renewable energy, aquaculture, and water management above water, and fisheries, pollution cleanup, habitat restoration, jobs, equitable access, marine technology, and resilient communities below water.
Marie Thoms

From safe drinking water to wild rice harvests and the health of Lake Superior fisheries, five new research projects will address issues that affect Minnesota communities, economies, and natural resources.

ST. PAUL and DULUTH, Minn. — From safe drinking water to wild rice harvests and the health of Lake Superior fisheries, five new research projects will address issues that affect Minnesota communities, economies, and natural resources. 

The Minnesota Sea Grant program is funding these studies for 2026-2028 through its biennial research competition, with one project jointly supported with Wisconsin Sea Grant to address shared Lake Superior priorities. The projects connect scientific research with on-the-ground needs to help resource managers, communities and industries make informed decisions about Minnesota’s waters. 

“These projects are exactly the kind of smart, forward-looking investments that keep Minnesota strong,” said Minnesota Sea Grant Director John Downing. “From protecting our drinking water and understanding emerging threats like microplastics, to sustaining fisheries and honoring culturally vital resources like wild rice, this work delivers real benefits to our communities, our economy, and our lakes.”  

2026-2028 Biennial Research Projects 

Assessing Water Workforce Pathways in Lake Superior Watershed. Safe and reliable drinking water depends on a skilled workforce. With nearly one-third of water operators expected to retire within the next decade, this project will map current workforce gaps and develop a digital roadmap to connect students and job seekers with water careers. The goal is to help communities maintain essential water services. 

Determining Microplastic Fluxes and Residence Time in Lake Superior. Microplastics are present in Lake Superior, but key questions remain about where they come from and where they go. This project will track how microplastics enter the lake from air, streams and wastewater and where they accumulate or move downstream. The results will help inform efforts to reduce pollution and protect water quality. 

Ecology and Life History of Minnesota’s Ancient Fishes. Species such as bowfin, gar and suckers have long been part of Minnesota waters but are often overlooked. Increasing fishing pressure raises questions about their sustainability. This project will study how long these fish live and how their populations respond to harvest and provide information to guide fisheries management. 

Understanding Winter Manoomin/Psíƞ (Wild Rice) Relationships. Wild rice — manoomin in Ojibwe and psíƞ in Dakota — is culturally and ecologically important across Minnesota. Warmer, shorter winters may affect its growth and survival. This project combines Indigenous knowledge and Western science to examine how winter conditions influence wild rice and supports tribal and state resource management.

2026-2028 Minnesota-Wisconsin Joint Project 

2022 Cisco Recruitment Surge: Impacts on Lake Superior Food Web. A record number of young Cisco were produced in Lake Superior in 2022, which increased a key food source for fish such as lake trout and salmon. This project will examine how that surge affects predator diets, growth and the broader food web. Findings will help fisheries managers maintain balance in the lake’s fisheries. 

“Sea Grant research projects are selected through a rigorous process that ensures both technical excellence and relevance to Minnesotans,” said Minnesota Sea Grant Research and Fellowship Coordinator Alex Frie. “We look forward to these projects producing practical, usable results that support Minnesota's water resources and the people who depend on them.”

Additional Information: 

Minnesota Sea Grant is a program of the University of Minnesota and one of 34 federal-university Sea Grant partnerships across the country supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Great Lakes and coastal states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, outreach, communication, education and technology transfer.

CONTACT:

Alex Frie, research and fellowship coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].

John A. Downing, director, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].

Marie Thoms, associate director, communications director, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].