Wild Rice Condition Updates

The 1854 Treaty Authority provides wild rice condition updates on waters included in the Wild Rice Monitoring program, and on other lakes and rivers as information becomes available. Updates are provided directly to the Bois Forte and Grand Portage reservations for public posting, and also to other interested reservations, agencies, organizations, and individuals. Phone calls are also accepted. Updates are provided periodically (approximately every two weeks) throughout the growing season and as harvest time approaches.

Water Body	Location	Date	Wild Rice Conditions	Photo
Big Rice Lake	FR #247, N of Virginia	7/22/10	rice over good portion of lake but mostly sparse coverage, standing up to 3 ft. and flowering	7/12/10
Breda Lake	CR #44, N of Brimson (paddle down Petrel Creek)	7/13/10	rice over most of lake, good density, most standing about 1.5 ft., some taller, rice flowering	7/13/10
Cabin Lake	FR #359, E of Isabella (rough access road)	7/15/10	rice over most of lake, moderate to good density in many areas, some sparse, rice standing 12-14 inches, a few flowering with seed heads	7/15/10
Campers Lake	CR #2 W of Isabella (paddle down Stony R)	7/15/10	rice over 1/3 to 1/2 of lake, moderate density, better coverage on north end, most standing 1-2 ft	7/15/10
Cramer Lake	CR #7, NE of Finland	7/15/10	good stand in NE corner of lake, sparse or open water elsewhere	7/15/10
Kettle Lake	Kettle Lk Rd (off Hwy 210), SE of Cromwell	7/13/10	good rice stands along shores, sparse to moderately dense in center, standing up to 3 ft. and flowering with seed heads	7/13/10
Little Rice Lake	CR #304, N of Virginia	7/22/10	rice over most of lake but mostly sparse coverage, most standing 1-2 ft., some flowering, (other vegetation visible in photo)	7/22/10
Round Island Lake	FR #172, E of Isabella (rough access road)	7/15/10	rice over about 2/3 of lake, sparse to moderate density, standing 1-2 feet, some flowering with seed heads	7/15/10
Stone Lake	FR #120, E of Hoyt Lakes (longer carry-down)	7/12/10	rice covering good portion of north end, good density, standing up to 2.5 ft. and flowering	7/12/10
Vermilion River	FR #4538, W of Crane Lake	7/14/10	rice over about 3/4 of larger bay area, good stands along channel, average height about 2 ft., most flowering with seed heads	7/14/10
Clark Lake	CR #2, N of Two Harbors	7/15/10	appears to be good rice coverage viewing from road	7/15/10
Greenwood Lake	CR #2, N of Two Harbors	7/15/10	only sparse rice visible from public access, no report from other portions of lake	7/15/10
Island River	FR#377/379, N of Isabella	7/15/10	good rice coverage in bay and along river channel, rice standing 12-18 inches	7/15/10
Moose Lake	CR #461, W of Britt (longer carry-down)	7/12/10	sparse rice coverage in most areas of lake	7/12/10
St. Louis River	FR #795 (Skibo), E of Hoyt Lakes	7/15/10	good stands of rice along river channel	7/15/10
Tamarack River	HWY 210, near Wright	7/11/10	good stands in river near highway, standing up to 2 ft. and flowering	7/11/10
Wolf Lake	CR #547, W of Brimson	7/1/10	rice stands down shores, good density, most standing about 1 ft.	7/1/10
Tommila Lake	FR #412, N of Brimson (longer carry-down)	7/1/10	areas of sparse rice	7/1/10
Mark Lake	FR #161, W of Grand Marais (rough access road)	7/6/10	little rice evident viewed from shore at access point	7/6/10
Moosehorn River	CR #61, S of Moose Lake	7/22/10	good rice stands along banks, rice standing and flowering with seed heads	7/22/10

(CR - county road, FR - forest road, HWY - highway)

Friendly reminders:

Access to some lakes may be difficult. Please plan ahead and check into access before heading out.
These updates are not a complete list of conditions in the 1854 Ceded Territory this year. Only lakes and rivers that we have reports on are listed. Scouting other potential rice waters may lead to success.
It is illegal to harvest unripe wild rice. Please be sure that the rice is ripe and ready for harvest.

Posting opening dates:

It is currently unknown which (if any) lakes/rivers will be posted with opening dates for wild rice harvest in 2010. In the 1854 Ceded Territory, Big Rice Lake and the Vermilion River were posted in 2009. Information will be provided here when available. Other waters are open by the "green rice law", meaning that they are open for harvest when stands are ripe. It is the responsibility of ricers to properly make this determination.