Defining and Forecasting Dangerous Currents on Lake Superior's South Shore
Image credit: M. Thoms
The goal of this project is to characterize and forecast dangerous currents - also called rip currents - on the south shore of Lake Superior (pictured above). This image, taken October 8, 2021, shows a food-grade green dye researchers used to visualize a rip current that was predicted or forecast for this spot on this day along Duluth's Park Point Beach.
Beavers, Streams and Steelhead
Image credit: University of Minnesota
The goal of this project is to identify how beaver dams influence the movement of sports fish, water temperatures and stream flow in the Knife River, a Minnesota tributary to Lake Superior. Experts estimate the Knife encompasses 70% of North Shore spawning habitat for steelhead, a migratory strain of Rainbow Trout. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) routinely removes beaver dams along the river to ensure steelhead can access this habitat.
Cryopreservation of Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Embryos for Aquaculture
Image credit: ATP-Bio
The goal of this project is to develop cryopreservation and laser-warming technology to demonstrate a survival rate greater than 3% for golden shiner (fish) embryos. This project is part of the University of Minnesota Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio). The ATP-Bio project teams seeks to develop technology that can stop biological time through temperature control in order to biopreserve or cryopreserve biological systems.
Harmful Algal Blooms: Molecular Screening Tool to Rapidly Assess Toxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in Minnesota Lakes
Image credit: MPCA
The goal of this project is to develop rapid-assessment tools that can identify cyanobacterial harmful algae bloom (cHAB) growth and toxicity in Minnesota lakes.
Lake Superior: Determining Future Potential Release of Mercury and Sulfur from Peatlands to the Lake Superior Basin
Image credit: Jessica Gutknecht
The goal of this project is to understand how changing temperature, precipitation, and subsequent water table conditions alter the magnitude and direction of changes in sulfur and mercury release from peatlands to water to better predict future total mercury and methyl mercury levels in the Lake Superior watershed.
Microplastics in Lake Superior: An Investigation of Size, Composition, and Weathering.
Image credit: Oregon State University/CC 2.0
The goal of this project is to characterize the size and weathering of plastic particles in Lake Superior and the St. Louis Estuary.
Soil Chemistry and Microbiome Transplant for Wild Rice Restoration
Image credit: M. Thoms
The goal of this project is to determine whether wild rice restoration is hindered by a scarcity in microbial populations needed to free nutrients from sediment and make them available to wild rice.
Estimating the Economic Value of the Pleasure Cruise Industry in the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Statistical Area
Image credit: M. Thoms
The goal of this project is to estimate the economic impacts of the pleasure cruise industry in Duluth ‐ Superior Metropolitan Statistical Area - which includes St. Louis, Douglas, and Carlton Counties - to determine the economic viability of Duluth being a pleasure cruise port of call.
Final Report: The Economic Value of the Cruise Industry to the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Statistical Area. July 23, 2021.