REGIONAL— The following is the report issued by the Department of Natural Resources on current wild rice conditions in the Tower work area, including northern St. Louis and Lake counties.
“Low water levels in early spring and throughout the summer have provided favorable conditions for rice across the work area this year. Most wild rice waters are supporting more rice than past years, many with thick, dense stands. Given the low water and hot July temperatures, wild rice is ripening slightly earlier than normal, but harvesters need to ensure they scout stands ahead of time to check ripeness. In addition, the low water may make access more difficult. Overall, rice height is ideal to tall. The wild rice season is looking to be one of the better ones we’ve had in several years. Harvesters should be aware there are management efforts occurring at several lakes to address the declining trend of wild rice and increase in competitive aquatic plant species. Harvesters should also be aware of the ongoing wildfire situation in northern St Louis County which may limit access to some wild rice waters.”
Detailed, lake-by-lake wild rice reports, with photos, used to be provided on the 1854 Treaty Authority website, but the organization discontinued providing that information online in 2025. The wild ricing season opened by statute on Aug. 15, but state law prohibits the harvesting of unripe, or green, rice. Rice is ripe when it easily falls into a canoe with gentle hits from ricing sticks and the kernels are hard, not soft and milky.