The Institute is partnering with local schools, governments and community-based organizations on a collaborative project to restore native wild rice to wetlands in the River Raisin Watershed. This project is the first planned activity as part of the long-term restoration goal as identified in the Watershed Monitoring Project.

Teachers and students will compare the results of three reseeding methods:

• Scattering seeds by hand
• Planting seeds in a greenhouse and transplanting the seedlings, and
• Forming balls with seeds and clay, then tossing in wetlands

The institute received permission from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to reseed locally native lower lake wild rice (zizania aquatica var. aquatica) in wetlands at Sterling State Park. Future reseeding and restoration activities are also planned for areas at Bolles Harbor, Sisters Island and along the Mason Run drain tributary.

Once the wild rice becomes established, workshops will be planned to demonstrate harvesting and processing methods as well as explaining nutritional and health benefits.