Wild Rice in Minnesota

Good snowy morning to all!
So just how many lakes are there with wild rice in Minnesota? We're not discounting Wisconsin and Canada here....I just happen to have more information on Minnesota lakes than anything else.

In February of 2008 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released a wild rice study report requested by the Minnesota Legislature. The report includes current location and estimated acreage of natural wild rice stands; potential threats to those stands; and recommendations for protecting and increasing natural wild rice stands in the state. Link to report:


According to the report wild rice was once found across most of the state, but is now restricted primarily to central and north-central Minnesota. Wild rice is sometimes hard to pin down as it is an annual plant and dependent on water levels and growing conditions. Some years you will find it completely covering a lake, and other years - nothing. The best estimates to date are that wild rice is found on rougly 1286 lakes and river/stream segments across Minnesota. The largest concentration of lakes supporting natural wild rice are found in the following counties: Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca and St. Louis. Over 70% of all reported wild rice gathering trips occur in these counties.

Where has wild rice been lost? Do you know of natural stands that once existed, but are now gone? Do you want to help in monitoring the natural stands we have left? SORA hopes to put together some form of a citizen watch program for natural wild rice stands in Minnesota (Wisconsin is welcome to join us). Monitoring natural stands of wild rice is limited by funding, time and the complexities of wild rice management boundaries. What is needed is continuous interest and input by harvesters and wild rice enthusiasts to keep an eye on trends in natural wild rice growth and abundance. Inventories every 10-15 years will simply serve to monitor it's decline. Join us if you can by becoming involved, asking questions and supporting SORA.

Thanks for your interest in wild rice! Let's keep it around for a few hundred years more...

Miigwech,