The 1854 Treaty Authority provides wild rice condition updates on waters included in the Wild Rice Monitoring program, and on other lakes and rivers as information becomes available. Updates are provided directly to the Bois Forte and Grand Portage reservations for public posting, and also to other interested reservations, agencies, organizations, and individuals. Phone calls are also accepted. Updates are provided periodically (approximately every two weeks) throughout the growing season and as harvest time approaches.
| Water Body | Location | Date | Wild Rice Conditions | Photo |
| Big Rice Lake | FR #247, N of Virginia | 8/19/10 |
rice over more than half of lake, mostly sparse coverage, some moderately dense areas, a few small patches with good density, most standing 2-3 feet, most seeds empty/milky/or full and soft, a few ripening |
8/19/10 |
| Breda Lake | CR #44, N of Brimson (paddle down Petrel Creek) | 8/16/10 | moderate to good density rice over about 3/4 of lake, sparse elsewhere, most standing 2-4 ft., most seeds milky | 7/28/10 |
| Cabin Lake | FR #359, E of Isabella (rough access road) | 8/23/10 |
rice over most of lake, moderate to good density in many areas, some sparse, rice standing 2-3 ft., seeds full and soft, a few ripening | 8/23/10 |
| Campers Lake | CR #2 W of Isabella (paddle down Stony R) | 8/23/10 | rice over good portion of lake, moderate to good density in many areas, most standing 2-3 ft., seeds empty/milky/full and soft, a few ripening | 8/23/10 |
| Cramer Lake | CR #7, NE of Finland | 8/23/10 | rice over about 1/2 of lake, good stand in NE corner of lake, most standing 2-3 ft., seeds full and soft, a few ripening | 8/23/10 |
| Kettle Lake | Kettle Lk Rd (off Hwy 210), SE of Cromwell | 8/13/10 | rice over most of lake, good density in many areas, standing up to 4 ft., most seeds soft | 8/13/10 |
| Little Rice Lake | CR #304, N of Virginia | 8/17/10 |
rice over most of lake but mostly sparse coverage, most standing up to 2.5 ft., most seeds milky (other vegetation visible in photo) |
8/5/10 |
| Round Island Lake | FR #172, E of Isabella (rough access road) | 8/23/10 |
rice over about 3/4 of lake, many areas fair to good density, most standing 2-3 feet, seeds empty/milky/full and soft, a few ripening | 8/23/10 |
| Stone Lake | FR #120, E of Hoyt Lakes (longer carry-down) | 8/17/10 |
rice covering good portion of north end, good density, most standing 3-3.5 ft., most seeds soft, some beginning to ripen | 8/5/10 |
| Vermilion River | FR #4538, W of Crane Lake | 8/30/10 |
rice stands along channel, mostly fair or poor density, most standing about 2 ft., seeds empty/milky/full and soft | 8/24/10 |
| Clark Lake | CR #2, N of Two Harbors | 7/26/10 |
appears to be good rice coverage viewing from road | 7/26/10 |
| Greenwood Lake | CR #2, N of Two Harbors | 7/15/10 | only sparse rice visible from public access, no report from other portions of lake | 7/15/10 |
| Island River | FR#377/379, N of Isabella | 7/15/10 | good rice coverage in bay and along river channel, rice standing 12-18 inches, report of rice in poor condition (8/20/10) | 7/15/10 |
| Moose Lake | CR #461, W of Britt (longer carry-down) | 8/5/10 | sparse rice coverage in most areas of lake, most standing about 1.5 ft., seeds still empty | 8/5/10 |
| St. Louis River | FR #795 (Skibo), E of Hoyt Lakes | 8/12/10 | good stands of rice along river channel, most seeds milky | 8/12/10 |
| St. Louis River | FR #130 (Norway Point), S of Hoyt Lakes | 7/26/10 | rice stands along river channel, moderate to good density | 7/26/10 |
| Tamarack River | HWY 210, near Wright | 7/11/10 |
good stands in river near highway, standing up to 2 ft. and flowering |
7/11/10 |
| Wolf Lake | CR #547, W of Brimson | 8/2/10 | rice stands down shores, good density |
8/2/10 |
| Tommila Lake | FR #412, N of Brimson (longer carry-down) | 8/2/10 | wild rice along shore, sparse to moderately dense |
8/2/10 |
| Mark Lake | FR #161, W of Grand Marais (rough access road) | 7/6/10 | little rice evident viewed from shore at access point |
7/6/10 |
| Moosehorn River | CR #61, S of Moose Lake | 7/22/10 | good rice stands along banks, rice standing and flowering with seed heads | 7/22/10 |
| Birch Lake | CR #407, N of Babbitt | 7/26/10 | moderate to good density rice stands in small bays and along channel on west end | 7/26/10 |
| Cloquet Lake | FR #102, W of Finland | 7/26/10 | rice stands along portions of shore, moderate to good density, most standing 1-2 ft. and flowering with seed heads | 7/26/10 |
| Turpela Lake | CR #100, S of Aurora | 8/17/10 | rice across good portion of lake, appears to be moderate to good density | 8/17/10 |
| Little Indian Sioux River | CR #116 (Echo Trail), E of Buyck | 8/3/10 | rice stands along banks, stalks in poor condition, rice development poor | 8/3/10 |
| Pike River | CR #26, S of Tower | 8/5/10 | rice stands along banks, good density, most standing 2.5-3 ft., seeds still empty | 8/5/10 |
| Leeman Lake | Hwy #73, S of Floodwood | 8/17/10 | rice across most of lake, moderate to good density in portions (viewed from air) | |
| Stony Lake | CR #2, N of Two Harbors | 8/25/10 | rice covering most of lake, appears to be moderately dense (viewed from air) | |
| Sand Lake | CR #2, N of Two Harbors | 8/25/10 | rice in portions of one bay, appears to be moderately dense (viewed from air) | |
| Seven Beaver Lake | FR #418, E of Hoyt Lakes (difficult access) | 8/25/10 | rice scattered over large portion of lake, appears to be mostly sparse coverage, some patches more dense (viewed from air) | |
| Butterball (Long) Lake | FR #795, E of Hoyt Lakes (difficult access) | 8/25/10 | rice covering most of lake, appears to be moderately dense (viewed from air) | |
| Papoose Lake | CR #44, N of Duluth (difficult access) | 8/25/10 | rice over whole lake, appears to be good density (viewed from air) | |
| Washusk #1 Lake | CR #351, E of Cotton (difficult access) | 8/25/10 | rice over most of lake, appears to be moderately dense (viewed from air) |
(CR - county road, FR - forest road, HWY - highway)
8/31/10 update: We have received reports of poor rice conditions in some locations, possibly due to storm and/or high water damage. Please be advised that conditions can change after our latest update on a given lake or river. Good ricing and have a safe season.
** The 1854 Treaty Authority is interested in acquiring wild rice seed from the Vermilion River in 2010. If you have any interest in selling some of your harvest from the Vermilion River, please contact Darren Vogt (218-722-8907, dvogt@1854treatyauthority.org) **
In the 1854 Ceded Territory, no lakes/rivers will be posted with opening dates for wild rice harvest in 2010. Information will be provided here if this changes. Waters are open by the "green rice law", meaning that they are open for harvest when stands are ripe (and within the season of August 15th - September 30th). It is the responsibility of ricers to properly make this determination.