Rooted in Respect: How Amy Carrozzino-Lyon Is Reviving Wetlands and Relationships Through Wild Rice | Natural Resources Institute
By Anne Marie Nardi
Most days, you’ll find Amy Carrozzino-Lyon knee-deep in the soft shallows of the bay of Green Bay, scattering seeds of wild rice by hand. But what looks like a quiet act of restoration is, in truth, part of something far more powerful—a movement to restore not only wetlands, but connections: to the land, to tradition, and to one another.
A restoration scientist based at UW-Green Bay and an affiliate with the UW-Madison Division of Extension, Carrozzino-Lyon leads regional efforts to bring back native wild rice, or manoomin, to the west shore’s wetland habitats. Wild rice doesn’t just stabilize shorelines and filter water—it holds deep cultural, spiritual, and dietary importance to Indigenous people across Wisconsin. Guided by this understanding, Carrozzino-Lyon sees the return of wild rice as a reconnection with centuries-old stewardship.
