Wild rice crop damaged by northern Minn. flooding

Heavy rain and extreme flooding in northern Minnesota this morning has taken a toll on the wild rice harvest. The Fond du Lac Reservation's crop was destroyed by flood water while the rice beds in northwest Wisconsin are also in poor shape. The region was inundated by major flooding in June.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Aug 25, 2012
Updated on: Mar 8, 2018

Heavy rain and extreme flooding in northern Minnesota this summer has taken a toll on the region's wild rice harvest, the Duluth News Tribune reports. Flood water destroyed the crop on the Fond du Lac Reservation.

Wild rice beds in northwest Wisconsin are also in poor shape, the Associated Press says. Biologist Peter David says a warm spring followed by heavy rain caused the damage.

The region experienced major flooding in June, causing at millions of dollars in damage to public facilities and homes.

During a special session Friday, the Minnesota legislature approved a $167.5 million flood package designed to rebuild washed-out roads, repair flooded businesses and damaged houses and restore damaged parks.

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Wild rice growers on the Fond Du Lac Reservation say June floods devastated aquatic life in several lakes where fall harvests typically reap several thousand pounds of wild rice, which is used at community events, funerals and the school, WDIO reports. It was the first time in 13 years that there was no harvest, a natural resources program manager says.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it will continue assessing damage to private property stemming from the floods in northeast Minnesota last month, and will be here for as long needed. State and federal officials have been in Carlton, St. Louis, Aitkin and Pine counties, as well as on the Fond du Lac Reservation, looking at the damage.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken had a busy Saturday visiting several areas damaged in recent flooding in northeastern Minnesota. Franken -- who co-sponsored the state's $108 million disaster declaration with Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar -- made stops in Duluth's Fond du Lac neighborhood, Barnum, Moose Lake and Willow River.

Hundreds of residents in the low-lying Fond du Lac area of Duluth still cannot return after massive flooding in northeastern Minnesota this week. Damage estimates are climbing and more rain is expected. Meanwhile, congressional lawmakers pledge federal support. And kids in Duluth opened a lemonade stand to raise money for the Lake Superior Zoo, which was hit hard by the floodwaters.

Floodwaters are receding in most areas of northeast Minnesota, but it will be several more days before the area is safe to travel. Many flood victims have started to turn their attention to cleaning up and surveying the damage -- which is expected to exceed $100 million in Duluth alone. Residents in the Fon du Lac neighborhood were among those allowed to return Saturday.