The Estuary Grows on You
“... the estuary grows on you and keeps growing! ”
The St. Louis River Estuary seems to be a well-kept secret. For most of my life it was just that water you saw on your right when you drove down Interstate 35 into Duluth. Then we moved to the Twin Ports and I stumbled across the estuary. First came some of its land, just walking and cross-country skiing through the Superior Municipal Forest, which is part of the estuary area. I soon discovered the estuary is huge! It’s beautiful in all seasons. This is a place where people are rare and eagles are common. It’s always uncrowded. And that’ s only the land! There’s also the water. I paddle on it in the spring, summer and fall, and then snowshoe on the ice in the winter. Such experiences in our own Twin Ports constantly deepen living here.
Eventually I started doing some things that are more organized. For example, a walking partner kept talking about a board she had recently joined, the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve (FOLSR). I happened to be looking for some way to volunteer in the community.
My friend’s enthusiasm about FOLSR plus my personal discovery of the estuary led me to join the board. Its work supports education and ways for people to experience the estuary. Some board members are professionals who have spent years studying, enhancing, developing and restoring the estuary who graciously share what they know. Others are like me, someone who discovering all the ways the estuary grows on you and keeps growing!
I also went to some online and in person educational events about the estuary. Some covered Native American history in the area, some covered easily foraged wild food out there. Yet other events explained the infrastructure development and restoration now going on. Being on the FOLSR board and these other chances to learn more have both enriched living here and also made it easier to engage other people in experiencing this natural treasure in ways that fit them.
Over a few years, from first being something I barely knew existed, the estuary has expanded what it means to live in the Twin Ports in many small, easy-to-do ways that add up to a big., ongoing benefit.
There are many ways to access all that the estuary is. Why not find one that fits you, either on your own, or through something that is offered, like a one hour talk or a visit to the Estuarium (free estuary museum on Barker’s Island in Superior)? It’s easy to imagine that one or two things like that will turn into seeds that let the estuary grow on you as it has on me.
It’s time for me to close now. You see, at that talk on foraging I got the idea of tapping birch trees for their sap. It makes a tasty and healthy beverage. I tapped a few trees and have to go check them. This is just one more example of how the estuary keeps pulling me into the wonderful natural world that is always around us.
The St. Louis River Estuary includes a working waterfront. When approaching commercial vessels, kayakers should always stay within sight of the pilot house.
Article and photo credit: Will Mowchan, FOLSR board member