Twin Ports Freshwater Folk invites you to a special event for June showcasing the work of the 2025-2026 cohort of the Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship.
During this month’s event, three Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellows will share their experiences and impact on Minnesota’s water resources. Fellows Larissa Scott, Reid Brown, and Reane Loiselle-Kasun will share their work, which focused on stream restoration tools for St. Louis County, data-driven evaluations of water sustainability and permitting, and new insights into the management of aquatic invasive species.
In-person attendees are invited to the Duluth MPCA conference room at 11:30 a.m. for networking, sandwiches, and plenty of fresh water. The online and in-person presentation will begin at noon. Sadly, the Zoom option is sandwich-free.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required for in-person and virtual attendance.
When
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CDT
Location
Duluth MPCA, conference room
525 Lake Ave. S., Suite 400
Duluth, MN 55802
Parking
Attendees should inform the gate attendant at the MPCA lot that they are attending a meeting at the MPCA.
Registration
- In-person registration
- Virtual registration
Event schedule
- 11:30 a.m. Lunch and networking (in-person only)
- 12:00 p.m. Attendee announcements
- 12:05 p.m. Fellowship showcase
- 12:50 p.m. Moderated question and answer session
- Adjourning by 1 p.m. at the latest.
Connecting Curly-leaf Pondweed Management and Water Quality Outcomes: Reane Loiselle-Kasun
Host agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mentors: Kelly Pennington and Jon Hanson
Curly-leaf pondweed is the most frequently treated aquatic invasive macrophyte in Minnesota, with an average of 150-225 lakes permitted for herbicide control and 20-40 lakes permitted for mechanical harvesting every summer in recent years. There are several reasons why curly-leaf pondweed is managed with water quality improvement becoming an increasingly common goal. However, the water quality outcomes from curly-leaf pondweed management are still relatively unknown, resulting in concern that these expensive treatments might not address stakeholder goals. This research addresses questions surrounding the impact on water quality of curly-leaf pondweed management using a large remote-sensing dataset of over 350 lakes across Minnesota.
Reane Loiselle-Kasun bio: Reane is a water scientist with a background in aquatic ecology and limnology, interested in integrated lake management and harmful algal blooms. Her master's research focused on how Great Lakes phytoplankton communities respond to fluctuations in nutrient and temperature levels, with an emphasis on harmful algal bloom-forming species. Before completing her master's, she obtained her bachelor's in water science from Northland College. She spent 3 years at the Burke Center for Ecosystem Research working on a variety of projects, including stream monitoring and restoration, inland lake monitoring, Lake Superior algal bloom research, and public outreach and education.
Assessing Minnesota Water Permits' Ability to Constrain High-volume Water Use: Reid Brown
Host agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mentor: Pooja Kanwar
As a 2025-2026 MN Sea Grant Science and Policy fellow, Reid Brown has worked extensively with the DNR’s Water Regulation Unit under the supervision of Pooja Kanwar, Ph.D. One aspect of this fellowship has been assessing long-term water use trends in Minnesota. In Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources regulates and manages the state’s water quantity. Any large water appropriator (consuming in excess of 1,000,000 gallons per year) is required by statute to apply for a permit. These permits detail the primary use for the water as well as the permitted volume the appropriator is allowed to use, and this volume is informed by local conditions assessed by staff hydrologists. The fellow assessed water consumption trends across the state, going back to 1988. Findings show that actual consumption is often much lower than the permitted volume. When excessive consumption does occur, it is most common to occur with irrigation permits. Consumption is significantly higher in drought years for irrigation permits compared to non-drought years, and there is no significant difference in consumption in drought years compared to non-drought years for non-irrigation permits. These findings suggest a need to review and modify permitted volumes of water in Minnesota to accurately reflect current consumption trends. Further analysis is needed to assess the viability of management and policy interventions to best conserve water resources in Minnesota.
Additionally, the fellow worked under Kate Fairman as the project manager with the DNR Environmental Review unit on a proposed stream restoration project at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel, Minnesota. As the project manager, the fellow helped the project proposer (the Nature Conservancy) navigate the environmental review process. This culminated in publishing the proposer-provided Environmental Assessment Worksheet, notifying the press and other regulatory bodies, and preparing and presenting the Record of Decision to the DNR Commissioner's Office regarding the lack of demonstrated need for an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed work. Now, the project can proceed to permitting and the construction phase.
Reid Brown bio: Reid Brown is a current 4th-year Ph.D. student in the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Plant and Microbial Biology program and anticipates defending his dissertation in May 2027. He is interested in better understanding greenhouse gas dynamics and emissions pathways in inland lakes, with a focus on methane. Brown's dissertation work focused on exploring the seasonal differences of these emissions, along with the drivers that exacerbate these emissions. Additionally, Brown is interested in increased methane accumulation as a water quality issue to account for, as methane oxidation often consumes oxygen and may deplete it to critically low levels in lakes. Upon completion of his Ph.D., Brown hopes to continue working with the state of Minnesota in a position that combines the strong data analysis skills he has developed with the focus of protecting and better managing the state’s resources.
Advancing Stream Restoration in Saint Louis County: Larissa Scott
Host: St. Louis County, Minnesota
Mentors: Carol Andrews and Will Bomier
This fellowship has resulted in the creation of an application that will allow St. Louis County (SLC) to identify and prioritize stream segments for restoration. The fellow also generated stream networks for all of St. Louis County using ArcGIS Pro, St. Louis County infrastructure data (including culvert locations), and high-resolution lidar-derived DEM data (2nd generation, 0.5 m) collected in 2021. Before this project, no county-wide, high-resolution, accurate stream network existed, making this dataset foundational to future restoration work and watershed planning, including help with flood prediction and climate resiliency.
On several hot summer days, the fellow performed thermal monitoring in sections of Miller and Tischer Creek (approximately 3 miles total) using a novel field method designed to capture longitudinal thermal variability. On Miller Creek, data collected was combined with MNDNR temperature records and analyzed to identify thermally vulnerable reaches, pinpoint drivers of peak temperatures, and prioritize restoration actions that will most effectively reduce thermal stress during extreme heat events. Targeted locations were selected for riparian tree planting and live‑stake installation to enhance shading and improve long‑term thermal resilience. As a result of this work, many of these locations will be planted in May 2026 by the Nature Conservancy in coordination with St. Louis County.
Additional fellowship activities included:
- Developed research-based documents and organized meetings to coordinate the planting of native tree species and the installation of live stakes along Miller Creek.
- Collected monitoring data for monarch butterflies at gravel pits and SLC road right-of-ways.
- Visited gravel pits and updated storm water protection plans.
- Collaboration with SLC staff to update the County’s internal snow and ice policy white paper. Revisions focused on documenting practices that have helped reduce the environmental impacts of de‑icing operations while maintaining safe transportation conditions. This ensures that the best practices are aligned with current research and local watershed priorities. It also identified areas for further reductions.
Beyond these direct contributions, the fellowship has strengthened St. Louis County Public Works’ long‑term capacity to integrate stream restoration and monitoring into infrastructure and watershed planning. The tools, datasets, and analyses developed during the fellowship will remain accessible for future planning and decision‑making, improving practices related to resource management and stream restoration.
This fellowship has resulted in the creation of important datasets, identification of restoration potentials, evaluation of stream health indicators, and broader efforts to support watershed resilience. The fellowship has also supported cross‑agency collaboration, fostering a more coordinated and effective approach to watershed stewardship.
Larissa Scott bio: Driven by a passion for environmental science and communication, Larissa Scott leverages her background in research, education, and geospatial analysis to address complex human-water interactions. Her expertise is grounded in significant academic projects, including investigating land-use impacts on Oregon coastal headwater streams and assessing habitat recovery following the Stewart River realignment near Two Harbors, Minnesota. Larissa has further honed her communication skills by teaching biology laboratories at the University of Minnesota and facilitating hands-on learning for K–12 students. By integrating ecological research with ArcGIS-based analysis, she focuses on translating technical data into actionable insights to mitigate environmental degradation and foster informed community engagement.
Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship Program Funding
Funding for the Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Additional support for the 2025-2026 cohort was provided by St. Louis County.
About TPFF
Twin Ports Freshwater Folk (TPFF) is an informal gathering of individuals from the Twin Ports who are involved in freshwater research, policy, or regulatory issues. Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of every month and include networking, informal discussion, and a seminar.
Event Sponsors
- Minnesota Sea Grant
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth
- Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth
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Contact
Alex Frie, research and fellowship coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth. [email protected].