This November, wild rice is for seeding, not stuffing
Remember the grant received by Natural and Applied Sciences faculty members to pilot the restoration of native wild rice, bulrush and wild celery stands in the lower bay? This just in: Researchers have obtained 350 pounds of rice and are targeting Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 17, to seed areas near the mouth of Duck Creek as a first step in returning wild rice to the bay. Adjunct faculty member and environmental researcher Patrick Robinson will head the planting team. Robinson and NAS Profs. Matt Dornbush, Bob Howe and Amy Wolf received the $225,000 federal grant to further the reintroduction of desirable plants in the lee of the new Cat Island Chain breakwater by establishing what size plantings are optimal, at what water depths, and the best means (seeding or plugs). Robinson says the 350 pounds of wild rice should seed about 7 acres of near-shore shallows.