LLTC’s rake surveys of Leech Lake have revealed an infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive species that has devastated traditional wild rice beds.

To grasp the significance of manoomin (wild rice) to the Anishinaabeg, it’s essential to first understand the people’s history. Long ago, the Anishinaabeg lived along the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean, until sacred prophecies led to a westward migration to the place “where food grows on water.” Trusting in this vision, the ancestors followed a sacred journey to the land of 10,000 lakes and the surrounding regions. Since then, the Anishinaabeg’s purpose is clear: to safeguard wild rice and the waters that sustain it.

The Anishinaabeg have a sacred duty to protect the Earth for the next seven generations, ensuring they inherit a world where life can thrive. Today, manoomin faces numerous threats, including climate change, pollution, and invasive species, which endanger its very existence. This past ricing season served as a powerful reminder that we must take action now to ensure that manoomin thrives for future generations.

Recently, the rice beds across the Leech Lake region in northern Minnesota were significantly affected by heavy precipitation events that occurred in the spring of 2024. Climate change and its impacts on manoomin are being felt throughout the state. While climate change and pollution require collective global action, invasive species present a challenge that can be addressed locally. This is the mission of a research project at Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) called, “Protecting Manoomin for the Next Seven Generations.”

Wild rice has decreased in abundance in Minnesota, as outlined by the governor’s task force. This is especially true on Leech Lake’s rice bed, which is now less than half the area it was just two decades ago, according to local ricing experts. This decrease in abundance coincides with when the Eurasian watermilfoil invasive species was discovered in 2004. LLTC’s three-year research project aims to investigate the impact of invasive species on wild rice and restore impacted areas. The project is a collaborative effort between LLTC and the Leech Lake Division of Resource Management and will be funded through a Minnesota Department of Agriculture crop research grant.

In 2024, interns from LLTC conducted rake surveys to map the vegetation in Headquarters Bay, the region of Leech Lake most affected. This method involves tossing a double-sided garden rake into the water, retrieving it, and cataloging the plants that come up. The findings revealed that vast areas of Leech Lake are now dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil, and wild rice has significantly decreased since the original surveys were conducted from 2002 to 2009. The project aims to combat this invasive threat through mechanical removal and reseeding efforts.

In 2025, a diver-assisted suction harvest system will be utilized to remove invasive species from the survey plots where Eurasian watermilfoil is present while control plots will be used for comparison of success. This innovative approach uses a pontoon equipped with a shop vacuum, allowing divers to extract Eurasian watermilfoil directly from the water. This particular invasive plant is a perennial and regrows from its roots each year, so tackling the problem from the roots is essential.

Wild rice will be reseeded in survey plots to reestablish the plant where it was traditionally found on Headquarters Bay. And in 2026, project surveys will determine whether wild rice is able to recover in areas previously occupied by invasive species. If this project proves successful, LLTC will have established a method for managing invasive species without introducing harmful chemicals into the water, while also improving the health of wild rice beds. This project will also help others understand the impact of invasive species on wild rice.

A key aspect of this project is keeping the community engaged and educating others on how to help manoomin. LLTC has organized community events with students, local residents, and the public to involve them in this important process. Manoomin has helped the Anishinaabeg for generations, and now it’s time for us to return the favor. This project aims to help manoomin thrive so that it remains for our children and future generations.