Cleanup of the Twin Ports' St. Louis River will accelerate under new federal Great Lakes restoration funding. The Lake Superior estuary is one of 22 designated "areas of concern" to be restored using $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure deal approved by Congress last fall. Cleanup of the St. Louis River is expected to be done by 2030.
In a White House-led Zoom call Friday, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar focused on the importance of Duluth's port activities, calling Lake Superior not only a "treasure" for citizens, but "a major part of our commerce."
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said the "unprecedented investment" in the Great Lakes is culturally significant.
"The shores of Lake Superior are the ancestral home of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa," she said. "It has deep cultural resonance for Native people across the region."
Funding will allow "major progress" on continued habitat restoration, invasive species work and cleanup of the river, "and ultimately delist the incredible St. Louis River area in Minnesota," Smith said.
Because the funding is in addition to other federal Great Lakes restoration appropriations, money can also be directed toward addressing nutrient reduction, harmful algal blooms and PFAS pollution in Great Lakes waterways.
One example of remediation being done right now on the St. Louis River is the dredging of frozen sediment and soil in the river's Spirit Lake area, said Debra Shore, from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mayor Emily Larson said in a news release that restoration of the river is good for the environment and Duluth's economy, with opportunities for redevelopment and more recreational experiences.
