Industry expanded along the St. Louis River in the late 1800’s as the first railroad was constructed and ship traffic increased. Sawmills, oil refineries, iron ore docks, paint factories, steel and paper mills, and meat-packing plants were built along the banks.
In a time with little regulatory protection, a variety of heavy metals and pollutants being discharged into the water led to the disappearance of habitat and wetlands.
In 1989 the St. Louis River was designated one of 43 impaired Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes. State agencies, tribal agencies, federal authorities, private entities, and nonprofits continue to work to remove beneficial-use impairments and restore habitat so that the estuary can be delisted. To restore the river, partners are removing polluted sediment, planting wild rice, monitoring fish and wildlife, and protecting islands and shoreline.