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When utilizing American Yacht Restoration’s services it means you will have a strong team working with you that has the track record to complete a project on time and on budget. The owners, captains and crews alike know the advantages of using American Yacht Restoration to assist in the transformation of an idea into a high-quality finished project.

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5770 Columbia Circle, Mangonia Park, FL 33407 2225 Idlewild Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Phone: 561-882-0444 | Fax: 561-882-0443

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American Yacht Restoration, Inc. specializes in custom woodworking for your residence or yacht. We can build or refinish anything from TV lifts, storage solutions, tables, countertops, decks, deck boxes, bunk modifications to complete refits. …

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Home » News » SWD News & Stories » Boat Renovations and Restorations 101

Boat Renovations and Restorations 101

Posted on March 8, 2022 and filed under SWD News & Stories

There’s an intangible, but visceral feeling we get when we hear the rumble of the engine and smell the exhaust of a Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS or view the way the bow of 1962 Riva Aquarama cuts through the water. It’s almost hard to put into words other than to say it’s magical.  And despite the best efforts of the modern design world, there’s just something about the classics that can’t be replicated or replaced. Some things simply can’t be improved upon.

This mighty 1937 Purdy commuter yacht, Aphrodite , was completely restored at Brooklin Boat Yard with design support from Stephens Waring. Her rehabilitation shows how traditional design and technological innovation each have their place on the water. With redesigned propulsion and steering systems, new tanks and plumbing systems, and completely revamped interior, she offers a thrilling glimpse at what yachting was like in the 1930s—with all the comforts of today. Photo credit: Benjamin Mendlowitz

And in the fast-fashion world we live in, where it seems like half of what we buy has been replaced with a newer version before we leave the store, it gives us a good feeling to keep something old going, or better yet, to bring something from the past back to life.

Stephens Waring worked with the owner of this classic 45’ Huckins, called Northern Spy ,  to rebuild the hull structure to accept the most modern of power plants: twin Volvo IPS drives. In the classic Huckins QuadroConic hull form, the IPS performs marvelously, boosting speed, cutting fuel consumption, and increasing maneuverability. Photo credit: Alison Langley

But for every unicorn rebuild project, there are plenty of renovation and restoration disasters along the way. Conversely, there is a mountain of smaller, less illustrious restorations and renovations, implemented successfully, which didn’t require the net worth of a Saudi Sheik to accomplish, but still extended the life and enjoyment of an old and beloved boat.

Big or small, iconic or sentimental, the key to any successful restoration project is figuring out how to identify the right fixer-upper and arming oneself with the knowledge to enter into a rebuild project with a clear understanding of the challenges, costs, and risks along the way.

Renovations vs. Restorations

The terms renovation and restoration are often used interchangeably. And while they may be close cousins, the goal and outcomes of a renovation or restoration project can be quite different in terms of objective, scope, and cost.

What is Restoration?

The bridge of Aphrodite was restored to match the original materials and controls of the vessel. Materials including varnished mahogany were carefully matched and rebuilt based on the original design specifications. Right image photo credit: Benjamin Mendlowitz

The primary objective of a restoration project is to bring a boat back to its original design and construction as closely as possible.  Good restoration experts put significant time into researching the origins and background of the original build including understanding the history of the designer, construction techniques of the time, design philosophy, parts suppliers, and material sources.

In 2014, French & Webb and Kurt Hasselbalch, curator of the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Hart Nautical Collections, began restoration of Marilee originally built in 1926. In early winter 2014 they began with a 3D scan of the existing hull. This, combined with a CAD drawing created from the original Herreshoff plans, enabled the team to accurately examine Marilee’s current shape and compare it with the design from 1926. Photo credit: Alison Langley

Restoration experts often embark on a difficult treasure hunt as they scour the world for rare and comparable historical parts. This process can almost be as time consuming as the construction work itself.

During the restoration process, original materials are matched, and methods of construction are reused.  Modifications from the original design are generally limited to changes necessary to bring a project up to modern codes and standards including electrical and life-safety. Stepping aboard a fully restored vessel should be like taking a step back in time.

What is Renovation?

Renovation is a much broader term.  Generally speaking, it’s the process of renewing a boat or structure by fixing what’s present and adding something new or modern. This includes the integration of new materials, technologies, and even major structural design changes. We often think of a renovation as being built on the “spirit” of the original design while leaving the door open to new opportunities for creativity and innovation.

The owner of Marilee (built in 1926) had the bold vision to create an interior that reflected the yacht’s century-long provenance while creating an open space below. However, he wanted to get away from the dark “cigar room” interiors typical of so many classic yachts. The team worked with Paul Waring of Stephens Waring Yacht Design, to create a traditional and properly constructed interior with an updated layout for relaxed, modern day use. Photo credit: Alison Langley

Renovation can include adding new engines, propeller systems, updated electronics, efficient keels and hulls, and electrical systems.  It can also include a refresh of the interior design elements and decor.

In some cases, renovation can be cheaper than restoration, especially for very old or historic boats where access to original parts and materials are rare or don’t exist at all.

Often renovations are completed in conjunction with restoration.   In architecture we often see this with an old home or building where great lengths are taken to restore the exterior facade back to the original design, while inside, cutting-edge kitchens and bathrooms are installed. The effect is a blend of classic elegance with creature comfort and modern living.

What to Know Before Embarking on a Restoration or Renovation Project

There are no two ways about it, a major restoration or renovation can be costly and time consuming. They can also be extremely rewarding. The most successful projects are born from a sentimental and emotional objective rather than a purely economic consideration (although there are times when the economics pan out as well).  Key to success is starting a restoration or renovation project with the right foundation. This may includes several of the following principles:

  Starting with the Right Boat

Not all boats make good restoration projects.  In fact, most don’t. The ones that do have that special something that may be referred to as being a “classic”.  A good restoration candidate should have a historical or emotional value, or simply, a unique “wow” factor that makes it worthy of a second life.

Building on Good Bones

Zingara was originally designed by Bill Peterson, conceived to participate in the 1990 BOC-British Oxygen Company Challenge, a solo event ‘round-the-world yacht race. By the time we met her, the yacht was a long way from finished. Our renovation made the best use of her potential as a solid sailing yacht: the thoughtful design of the sailing platform, deck arrangement, and cockpit were to be functional in blue water; and down below her interior was to be spacious and comfortable, safe and relatively simple.

When possible, find a boat in which the problems are more cosmetic in nature than major costly systems repairs or replacements. At some point deterioration of major structures such as stringers and bulkheads may make restoration impractical. You should consider consulting with a professional designer like Stephens Waring to get an accurate assessment of major structural components and systems to fully understand the scope and resources necessary for a restoration or renovation.

Set a Realistic Budget and Timeline to Complete the Job

It is said that God created the world in seven days. That’s probably because he didn’t have to clean up anyone’s mess first. Realize that restoration and renovations are often as time and resource consuming as the original build itself. It takes time to undo the bad and rebuild with the good.  Sweat equity can only carry your project so far and there are many hard costs and professional skillsets you’ll need to complete a big job. Working with a professional can help to set a realistic budget and define clear expectations and goals.

Size Does Matter

It’s easy to want to bite off more than you can chew.  However, as a boat gets bigger the complexities of the systems become exponentially larger.  The difference between a 30’ and 40’ boat can be immense.  Experts generally recommend that no one attempt to restore a boat bigger than 35’ without professional support.

Where to Make Your Money Go the Distance

When done correctly, there are a number of benefits to upgrading and renovating rather than buying new. The key is to identify where to get the most bang for the buck.  Finding a project where cosmetic repairs are the main problem is the best place to get a strong ROI.  Renovations such as replacing upholstery, fixtures, refinishing surfaces, and painting can do wonders to make an old vessel feel new and increase the economic value.

Where to Start

Whether looking to renovate a boat you currently own or looking to purchase a used fixer-upper, we strongly suggest starting with a professional evaluation.   Engaging an expert to inspect the hard to reach structures and systems can save a lot of money in the long run.  A renovation expert like Stephens Waring can also help determine a solid triage strategy for what to discard, repair, and replace.  For bigger projects, having a design expert create a detailed design and engineering plan, complete with 3D renderings, can provide a way for owners to better conceptualize the scope, cost, and outcome of the renovation and finished product.

Further Reading:

The Renovation of Marilee

The Renovation of Zingara

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Coronet: America's oldest yacht continues extensive restoration

The 40.5 metre Coronet has been moved to Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut for the final stage of a near thirty-year restoration.  

The wood-hulled sailing yacht still has three years of restoration work ahead of her and will remain on display at the museum for the remainder of the project. Exact details of the project remain under wraps, but it is understood that the interior will be the next point of focus.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ⚓️ The Yachts of Newport ® (@yachtsofnewport)

The yacht was acquired by Newport-based IYRS School of Technology and Trades in 1995, and she was scaled back to the frame and sliced in half in order to be rebuilt.  In 2004, she was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1885 at New York-based shipyard Poillon, Coronet is the oldest registered yacht in the US and has had a number of high-profile owners, including oil tycoon Rufus T. Bush and railroad magnate Arthur Curtiss James, one of the wealthiest men in America in the 1900s.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coronet (@coronetnyc)

She famously won a transatlantic race with a cash prize of $10,000 in 1887 and has circumnavigated the globe with visits to Africa, Hawaii, China and the Middle East.

The yacht is now under the care of hospitality group Crew.

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Landscape conservation, fish passage, and ecosystem restoration — Oh, my! 

When you’re a government agency brimming with scientists, it can be easy to get bogged down in the lingo, and the acronyms — don’t get us started on acronyms… 

There are three tricky terms that form the foundation of so much of the work we do: landscape conservation, fish passage fish passage Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people. Learn more about fish passage and ecosystem restoration. Don’t hit the snooze button; let’s break these down, or “unpack” them — that’s popular jargon these days, right? 

Landscape conservation 

Approaching a project, it may seem addressing conservation needs is relatively simple — replace the pipe under that road; put sand back on a beach there; plug that oil well over there — but looks can be deceiving. 

As often as we can, we study the bigger picture, using the landscape conservation approach. There may be dozens of small to large projects to move on, but the work isn’t done all willy-nilly. Landscape conservation zooms out and looks at a big swath of land, or an entire river system, to look for connections. Say, for instance, we want to help a species like American shad by removing obstacles on its path to breeding grounds. We need to see the fish’s journey as the sum of its parts: ocean, bay, salt marsh salt marsh Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater. Learn more about salt marsh and river — the entire “landscape” (and yes, that includes water, too). 

Typically, when we're restoring passage for fish like shad, which need to move between a river and the ocean, we don’t look at removing a dam at the very “top” of the river first; we work our way from the bottom up. If you take out a barrier at the headwaters, but there are seven more below it, you haven’t really given fish a chance to move anywhere. And if you get all of the barriers removed, but the salt marsh that serves as their nursery where the river meets the sea is degraded and receding, you haven’t solved the whole problem. 

By zooming out, we can prioritize work to address the greatest needs — and have the biggest impacts — first. Landscape conservation manages and protects interconnected lands to restore the entire natural area and looks for opportunities to bring disjointed ecosystems back together, all for the benefit of fish, wildlife and people.  

Fish passage 

The Service and our partners can be thought of as conservation Gandalfs — ensuring safe passage to our fishy friends. Then again, the dams thwarting fish movement upriver also give off Gandalf vibes — “You shall not pass!” Oh, well ... moving on. 

Fish passage is a concise way to describe the comings and goings of fishes in a waterway. Efforts to improve fish passage address common issues facing aquatic species. Dams, culverts and even dirty water can prevent fish and other animals from traveling up and down a stream, creek, river or bay. We work with partners to remove dams, replace culverts and clean up water.  

Sometimes, when a dam can’t be removed, we build a fish ladder, which certainly sounds like a weird contraption for an animal with no arms and legs. Fish ladders create a series of pools, like steps, that fish can swim into, from one to the next, around or over the barrier and back to the water source. 

Many culverts are outdated, crumbling and unfit for fish passage. Replacing them with structures that allow the stream to flow naturally offers fish like the American shad a much easier experience passing through. Often, erosion causes the ends of a culvert to become "perched" above the water's surface. In low-water conditions, it can act like a tiny dam, even if it is just a short step — you try jumping to a ledge that’s just above your head! 

Water quality affects everything that relies on a water source. From stormwater runoff to trash, and even extra heat from climate change climate change Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale. Learn more about climate change , many types of pollution affect rivers. And clearly, a polluted river doesn't serve aquatic or human communities. By removing barriers and restoring the banks of the rivers, we can improve the quality of the water and provide fish safe passage. 

Ecosystem restoration 

Once we understand the barriers, and how the habitats within a landscape work together, we can begin ecosystem restoration. 

Ecosystem restoration can involve adding to the landscape or taking away. The aim is to renew and restore. Whether adding native plants to a riverbank to help cleanse the water, reintroducing grasses to thinning and degrading salt marshes to increase their resilience, taking out barriers to allow for fish passage, or putting sand back on beaches destroyed by storms to increase critical habitat for endangered species and protect local communities, no effort is too small — and together, now, that’s ecosystem restoration! 

Even removing invasive plants like the common reed (Phragmites australis) from salt marsh is part of these restoration projects. Invasive species out-compete native ones and can take over a natural space, reducing the diversity of plants and animals. Salt marsh is a crucial habitat that supports a variety of wildlife (remember, it serves as an American shad nursery) and protects people from the damaging effects of sea-level rise and storm surge caused by climate change. 

Our Northeast Region received more than $900,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative. Learn more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for 2023 Ecosystem Restoration projects. Two of these projects will create and support a more resilient coast by restoring 142 acres of salt marsh, through replanting vegetation and filling in areas washed away by storm surge.  

Helping at home 

While it may be hard to help with landscape conservation and fish passage in your community (well, you can refrain from stacking rocks in streams, creeks and rivers to form little dams), you can practice ecosystem restoration by planting a pollinator garden or creating a green space. You may even find opportunities through your local botanic garden to pluck invasive plants from the ground with your own hands, a quite-satisfying experience. 

If you’d like to know more about what we’re doing right now in all three of these areas, check out these project examples: 

Landscape conservation project 

In 2022, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission submitted a proposal to remove the Spring Garden Dam on Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This active project considers an entire landscape, addressing issues on a high-priority stream that directly impact the watershed. This dam removal will restore passage for migratory fish like the American shad. Funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the removal will also improve water-based recreation, re-establish aquatic connectivity, and eliminate a public-safety hazard by eliminating the nine-foot-high, 255-foot-long concrete dam in Tyler State Park. 

Fish passage project 

In the summer of 2023, the High Street Dam was removed in the Taunton River watershed in Massachusetts. This one dam removal reconnected 10 river miles in a 562- square- mile watershed that stretches all the way to Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Not only does this project open waters to American shad, blueback herring, and American eel, it also connects 354 acres of spawning habitat for alewife. This project, funded in part by the BIL, removes a hazard to human safety and will likely create positive economic impacts for commercial and recreational fishing. 

Ecosystem restoration project 

In Assateague, Virginia, 82 acres of tidal marsh will be restored as part of the Ecosystem Restoration Framework instituted through BIL funding. This large-scale project will help sustain productive fisheries and strengthen resilience within the ecosystem, as well as reduce climate change impacts on nearby communities. By addressing potential flood risks and habitat degradation, projects like this one have lasting benefits to people and wildlife and are essential to ensuring the safety and security of coastal communities.  

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The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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How Wild Rice Forecasts Climate Change

Manoomin, a crop vital to the Indigenous peoples of the Upper Midwest, has been threatened in recent years. But careful stewardship is helping to bring it back.

By Kevin Noble Maillard

Reporting from Troy, Mich.

Dr. Dwayne Jarman is often tinkering with the wild rice machines in his garage in this tree-lined suburb of Detroit. He has threshers to crack the hulls and winnowers to blow the chaff. He smiles and flips the switch. It’s time to process last summer’s harvest from his Anishinaabe homeland near Traverse City in Northern Michigan.

“I want to do the rice all year round because I’m trying to reconnect to the things that matter,” said Dr. Jarman, a veterinarian. When he’s not working his day job, he harvests hundreds of pounds of rice, which he shares with friends and family. For him, harvesting and processing the rice is not only a labor of love, but also a preservation of an Indigenous food under constant environmental stress.

Recipe: Wild Rice Porridge

Climate change and human impact have significantly depleted the natural abundance of manoomin, the “good berry” as wild rice is known in Anishinaabemowin, an Indigenous language also known as Ojibwe, and protecting it is synonymous with preserving cultural identity.

Wild rice is sacred and central to the creation story of the Anishinaabeg, a vast cultural and linguistic collective that includes the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. Under an ancient prophecy known as the Seven Fires, the ancestors left their Atlantic Coast homeland and migrated westward to the “ land where food grows on water. ”

That place is now known as the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest and Central Canada, where manoomin grows in low-lying lakes and meandering streams.

Manoomin, an aquatic grass , is particularly susceptible to deforestation, rising temperatures and extreme weather events.

Manoomin seeds incubate in cold, muddy bottoms in the fall and winter and begin to germinate when water temperatures reach 45 degrees in the spring. The plant needs at least a foot of fresh, moving water for the stalks to grow.

Unlike commercially grown wild rice, which is bred for growth in planned environments and ripens simultaneously so that it can be harvested by a mechanical combine in a single pass, manoomin is harvested by ricers in canoes. One person stands and propels the boat (the “poler”), and the other collects rice into the bed with sticks (the “knocker”). Canoes can’t float in mud.

David Wise, a 56-year-old Ojibwe rancher and lifelong ricer, has seen drastic changes in water levels near his home on the Fond du Lac reservation in Minnesota. When a lake in the ceded territory sank so low that canoes were getting stuck, tribal ricers had to build a 50-yard boardwalk.

“The rice is the canary in the coal mine,” said Mr. Wise, referring to the plant’s sensitivity to ecological changes. “You can tell a lot about the year when you look out on the lake.”

Myron Burns Sr., who is known as Burnsie, is an 86-year-old elder at Bad River reservation in Wisconsin, where a nearby oil pipeline worries residents . He describes muskrats, which are herbivorous, as caretakers of the rice beds. “You plant a garden and don’t take the weeds out of it, the weeds will overcome your fruit,” Mr. Burns said.

Several years ago at Bad River, when outsider overtrapping of muskrats left no natural control for cattails and pickerelweed plants, the manoomin stalks suffered. After the muskrat population was reintroduced in subsequent years, mammalian horticulture returned. “The muskrats started coming back, and the rice is coming back,” Mr. Burns said.

Recipe: Burnsie’s Cheesy Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

Threats to wild manoomin have spurred restoration movements in Indigenous nations, and legal and educational institutions have stepped in to help. The White Earth Nation has sought to enforce the “ rights of manoomin ” under several historic treaties, and a number of Indigenous bands have partnered with universities for research and data collection. As Karen Diver , the senior adviser to the president of the University of Minnesota for Native American affairs, explained, “researchers are impacted and informed not just by science, but by understanding the cultural values of the tribe.”

Those values start at the tribal level. Manoomin is more than sustenance: It is a sacrament of Indigenous connection and an assertion of identity. Tina Frankenberger, who sits on the tribal council of the Grand Traverse Band, first started ricing in 2016, and is helping others to follow suit.

“It is important for people that do not have that relationship yet to realize how important this is to us Anishinaabe,” she said. “I believe that this is a way of laying down a pathway to bringing home people who are lost.”

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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DNR working with private companies to restore, fund Belle Isle Boat House

Concern about the fate of the Belle Isle Boat House has resurfaced after an annual report presentation on Belle Isle during a Detroit City Council meeting on Tuesday.

The boathouse, built in 1902 and used to house the Detroit Rowing Club, has stood dilapidated and empty since August 2022, when sections of the ceiling, floor, and exterior stucco collapsed. After architects estimated the cost of restoration efforts at around $54 million, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which acquired the boathouse when it acquired Belle Isle in 2014 , has searched for solution after solution to make use of its limited funding.

The DNR has toyed with the idea of demolition, and although it's still not off the table, they are now attempting to partner with a private company to save the building and possibly reimagine the boathouse.

"We did send out a public survey to ask folks what they would like to see, and obviously, the majority of the public's sentiment was to save it. ... But that doesn't mean that the funding is there to do so," said Thomas Bissett, the urban district supervisor for the parks and recreation division of the Michigan DNR. "I don't think that (the DNR) wants to demolish it ... What we want is that if it's something that's going to be restored, for it be restored appropriately but then also for it to be funded in the future."

Earlier this year, the DNR began accepting proposals from private companies to redevelop the boathouse , hoping for proposals from people with backgrounds in development and historical rehabilitation with financial backing to submit a viable proposal.

More: Belle Isle’s transformation under state control: What's changed, what's still coming

By the March 31 deadline, the DNR had received five letters of intent, three of which were selected to move forward in the process. They now have until July 31 to submit a formal proposal to the DNR.

"At that point, we would sit down and review them and see if any of them are viable, as far as being able to first fund it but continue to operate it through their plan," said Bissett. "It'd be great to fix it, but it has to fund the facility, and most importantly we want a key aspect of that to remain open to the public. The last thing we want is it to be a building on Belle Isle that's not open to the public.

"We can do lots of improvements, but if we restore the building so it just sits there, that doesn't make any sense for the public."

More: Belle Isle Boat House needs $54M renovation as demolition remains an option

Bissett said that the DNR does not know the extent or viability of the proposals.

"No decision has been made yet to whether one of these proposals would be accepted or whether (the boathouse) would be demolished. ... What they gave us in that letter of intent was just a skeleton. They identified a potential use and potential funding but nothing was set in stone," said Bissett.

What's more, the DNR is on a time crunch. Bissett said the $23 million in funding for the park that the DNR has from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) must be allocated and signed in a construction contract by the end of this year.

In the meantime, Bissett and the DNR have been taking the people behind the proposals, as well as any engineers, financiers, and other experts, to view the site and assist them in creating their formal submissions at the end of July.

"The main thing is that we've done exactly what we said we were going to do: We said we were going to ask the public and we did so, we said we were going to put out a request for letters of intent and we did so, and now we're working with those three groups to help them develop their proposal going forward," said Bissett.

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Illinois Tried to Bait Restaurants With Carp But Customers Won’t Bite

Copi are an existential threat to Lake Michigan fisheries, but despite Illinois’s promotional campaign, it’s a challenge to entice customers

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On a balmy Saturday afternoon in March, a crowd gathers in the parking lot as Dirk Fucik, owner of Dirk’s Fish & Gourmet Shop , presides over his customary seafood sampling event. Amidst the alluring scent wafting from the grill, Fucik invites eager onlookers to savor an array of oceanic delicacies, including salmon, shrimp, tuna, and fish cakes.

“Try these copi cakes,” Fucik urges, introducing the unfamiliar fish cakes to some intrigued guests. Their puzzled expressions accompany inquiries about the nature of the fish. “They used to be known as Asian carp,” he adds.

In 2022, Illinois launched a marketing campaign spotlighting the invasive carp, which have gained infamy for displacing native fish in the Mississippi River and its surrounding streams. The Chicago Tribune reported that the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative earmarked $600,000 for a five-year promotional drive to boost the fish’s consumption. Concerns over the unappetizing name “carp” led to a rebranding initiative. Its new name, “copi,” is derived from “copious,” symbolizing its abundance in state waters.

Esteemed restaurants in Chicago such as Ina Mae Tavern and Gaijin joined the cause to popularize copi as a food source, crafting enticing recipes and leveraging their influence to amplify the campaign. Spearheading the promotional efforts is Tetra Tech, a consulting firm, that manages a dedicated webpage and an Instagram account . The latter regularly features upbeat promotional videos with catchy rhythms and slogans proclaiming, “An invasive species that is delicious!”

But two years into the campaign, enthusiasm among chefs and restaurants to promote the fish has waned. Except for Dirk’s, all participating restaurants and fish markets in Chicago have quietly removed copi from their menus.

“Nobody bothered to order them,” says an operations manager at one of the partnering restaurants, who requested anonymity to avoid jeopardizing their relationship with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Despite having a pleasant, mild flavor, the fish is very bony and hard to process, the manager says. Converting the fish into chopped or ground form was an alternative, yet selling patties at a profitable price point proved challenging. According to the manager, copi was removed from their menu within two weeks of promotion.

Brian Schoenung, program manager at the IDNR overseeing the copi campaign, acknowledged challenges in maintaining partnerships. In addition to supply chain disruptions and manufacturing failures, the campaign has had to navigate diminishing media interest along with lukewarm consumer reception.

“We had a dip, and that dip has not been insignificant,” Schoenung says. “We got a lot of media right off the bat. As things fall out of the spotlight, you’re going to see a little bit of a backslide.”

Emblazoned with promotional materials featuring the slogan “Choose Copi,” Dirk’s introduced copi burgers in salsa and teriyaki flavors , and it continues to offer chopped and ground carp.

However, the persistent negative stereotypes surrounding carp make it a hard sell. Fucik says that many consumers mistakenly associate copi with common carp, imagining them to be bottom-dwelling creatures with a muddy flavor. On the contrary, the four species designated for consumption primarily inhabit upper water regions, feeding on algae, wetland flora, and, notably for black carp, mussels, and snails. Fucik frequently finds himself explaining the distinction to customers, emphasizing that copi, unlike their European counterparts, are mild-flavored and boast high levels of omega-3 fatty acids while maintaining low levels of mercury and other contaminants.

Due to its relatively low demand, copi doesn’t grace the menu at Fucik’s restaurant. Sales of frozen fish patties notably lag behind seafood staples like salmon and tuna. On average, about 100 pounds of copi move in a month, compared to the rapid turnover of salmon, with 100 pounds often selling out in a single day.

“I don’t sell a ton of it, but I don’t mind buying it,” Fucik says. “It’s a good cause, and it’s a good fish. And it would be nice to figure out a way to eradicate [them].”

Invasive carp found their way into American waters through deliberate introduction, as detailed in the 2017 book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Egan. In 1963, researchers at a federal lab in Arkansas advocated for importing these bottom-feeding fish as a natural means of water purification, aiming to reduce reliance on chemical treatments. Amidst growing environmental awareness spurred by Rachel Carson’s influential book, Silent Spring , which illuminated the dangers of widespread herbicide and pesticide use, there arose a pressing need for alternative, environmentally friendly solutions. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory imported three cardboard boxes of juvenile grass carp, native to Asia and renowned for their insatiable appetite for seaweed, with hopes of them cleaning up weed-choked rivers and irrigation ditches across the Southern United States.

Within a decade of the grass carp’s introduction, an Arkansas fish farmer, in pursuit of his own batch of exotic weed-eating fish, accidentally imported three other Asian carp species: black, bighead, and silver carp. However, these carp didn’t fulfill their intended purpose. Silver and bighead carp, as filter feeders, depleted plankton and other nutrients from the waters they inhabited, while black carp sustained themselves on mollusks. Recognizing the potential ecological threat posed by these species, the fish farmer handed them over to the government. State fishery workers attempted to breed the carp in a laboratory but were unsuccessful. So they released the fish into the river and expected them to perish. To their surprise, the carp thrived and rapidly reproduced.

As reported in Egan’s book, the carp began proliferating in the wild, with baby bighead and silver carp appearing in rivers and streams throughout the South. They starve out their competition by stripping away the plankton upon which every other fish species directly or indirectly depends. Bighead carp can grow larger than 100 pounds and consume up to 20 pounds of plankton daily. The invasive carp biomass in some stretches of rivers in the Mississippi basin is thought to be more than 90 percent.

Silver carp, slightly smaller than bighead carp, have gained notoriety as YouTube sensations due to their tendency to leap out of the water like aquatic missiles when disturbed by the sound of a boat motor. This makes them a significant concern for recreational industries and water sports. Their disruptive behavior, coupled with their impact on the fish market, make them a primary target among interest groups for government intervention.

“The Great Lakes provide a lot of jobs and bring a lot of money into the region,” says Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer at Alliance for the Great Lakes , who works on invasive species policies. “If invasive carp get into the lakes or get into the rivers that feed the lakes, it could have devastating consequences for our $7 billion a year fishing industry and our $16 billion a year recreational boating industry across the region.”

Around 2010, the invasive carp crisis gained high-level policy attention. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2009 (there were concerns fish would jump over to the other lake due to the hurricane), policymakers rushed to devise strategies to prevent the intrusion of carp into the Great Lakes, according to Flanagan. A study conducted by the Great Lakes Commission explored various measures to impede carp from migrating northward, including a proposal to reverse the flow of the Chicago River (again) to sever the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin — an essential conduit for invasive species movement. However, the exorbitant costs associated with this plan rendered it unfeasible, Flanagan said. Nevertheless, the study prompted Congress to urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct its own investigation.

Among the options explored is the inclusion of the fish on restaurant menus. The White House had appointed a special committee to address the invasive carp issue, and it was keen on exploring the possibility of turning them into a food source. To test the market, they enlisted out-of-state chefs to prepare complimentary samples, offering them frozen carp at no cost.

In 2010, Fucik received a call from the White House. Initially dismissed as a scam, the phone call proved to be legitimate when Fucik got in touch with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Fucik’s lifelong passion for fish stems from memories of growing up in a Catholic household where fish was a dietary staple, plus regular summer fishing trips with his uncle. After working in the fish market for several years, he opened his store. So when it turned out the call really was from the White House, Fucik immediately embraced the invitation and began to experiment with new recipes incorporating the fish.

The same year, Fucik showcased hundreds of carp burgers at Taste of Chicago, a summer food festival in the city. Despite initial hesitation from some diners, many found themselves pleasantly surprised by the taste. As word of mouth spread, eager patrons quickly formed lines in front of his venue.

Then, Fucik noticed a decline in the momentum of the campaign. He attributes this downturn to an incident in Minneapolis, where an Asian business delegation arriving at the airport was confronted with a sign urging them to “Kill Asian Carp,” a well-intentioned plea aimed at curbing the spread of the invasive species. The visitors found the message off-putting .

In 2014, Minnesota state senators successfully passed a measure mandating that Minnesota agencies designate the fish as “invasive carp.” This move was adopted by other government agencies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes. According to the Associated Press , the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed its designation to “invasive carp” in 2021.

In Illinois, the main concern is the infiltration of carp into Lake Michigan via the Illinois River, which connects to the Great Lakes through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. To counter this threat, the state has implemented a series of measures — electronic barriers, locks, and dams strategically positioned at key choke points along the waterway –– to prevent the fish from swimming upstream into Lake Michigan. By deploying multiple barriers, policymakers hope that even if an invasive carp could bypass one, it would encounter another barrier, the DNR’s Schoenung says. The state also implemented contracted removal efforts, paying 10 cents per pound to fishers to incentivize commercial harvesting. According to Schoenung, since the autumn of 2019, approximately 22 million pounds of carp have been removed through these initiatives. Targeted removal has reduced the fish’s population by half and successfully prevented invasive carp from establishing a population in Lake Michigan. In the South of Joliet’s Brandon Road Lock and Dam, the carp population has decreased by nearly 90 percent, according to Schoenung.

Following the earlier marketing attempts, the copi campaign emerged as a pivotal initiative to provide an outlet for commercial fishers to offload their catch. A majority of the harvests find their way into fertilizers, pet meals, and bait for lobsters and crayfish in Southern states. However, recognizing the nutritional value of carp — high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids — and its status as one of the most consumed fish worldwide, there’s a compelling case to diversify the use of these fish by incorporating them into the domestic food market. The high costs of transportation hindered efforts to simply export the fish.

“By doing so, you’re making the best use of a valuable resource, and you’re also incentivizing harvest,” Schoenung said.

In other regions, particularly in Asia, copi is an essential part of the culinary culture. Historical records trace Chinese consumption of carp back to the Tang Dynasty, according to the U.N. During this period, the family name of the emperor sounded similar to the Chinese name for Eurasian carp, or common carp, the only fish cultured in China at the time. To avoid potential political innuendo, the royal family prohibited the sale and consumption of common carp by the public. This restriction led farmers to turn to alternative species for aquaculture, including bighead carp, silver carp, grass carp, and black carp. These species thus thrived in China and became significant protein sources, symbolizing fortune.

Many ethnic groups are bewildered by Americans’ aversion to the fish. The phenomenon even caught the attention of a Korean television outlet that dispatched a crew to interview Fucik. Schoenung noted that the fish’s name change has little impact on the international markets in the U.S. Many foreigners are accustomed to eating carp and indifferent to the stigma around its former name.

Johnny Zheng, an established entrepreneur based in Chicago’s Chinatown, has become an organic participant in the campaign in recent years. Hailing from China’s Eastern Fujian province, he fondly remembers eating carp cakes and carp fish balls during his childhood. Propelled by a strong sense of cultural pride, he says he has made it his mission to challenge the negative perceptions surrounding carp by introducing it to mainstream markets.

In his role as president of the Mid-America Restaurant Association, Zheng discovered a factory specializing in repurposing carp into fertilizers and animal feed. Frustrated by how his cherished childhood delicacy was underutilized, he took over the factory and resolved to transform the fate of the fish by redirecting them to the dinner table.

“When Asian carp make headlines, the coverage is always negative. It’s reminiscent of other narratives about things from China such as its technology — a portrayal of invasion into mainstream American society and driving out its local supply,” Zheng says. “I know this narrative is wrong and want to prove that Asian carp are not mere ‘trash fish.’ They can be delicious and serve as a valuable source of protein.”

Zheng’s primary customers are Chinese, and not the average American. To reshape the fish’s public perceptions, Zheng invested substantial capital in transforming carp into packaged goods. His factory produces fish heads, as well as fish balls and fish noodles. These products have gradually found their way onto the shelves of numerous Asian groceries. In 2022, he opened another restaurant, A Fusion, in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, to prominently feature the fish on the menu. By creating a dedicated supply chain and culinary outlet for carp-based delicacies, Zheng says he hopes to promote their consumption while honoring their culinary potential.

Despite waning media attention to the cause, Zheng says he remains committed to popularizing copi among U.S. customers. While his investment has yet to yield a noticeable outcome, he says he is faithful that his investment will soon generate an impact.

Schoenung says he expected the campaign to be a marathon. Creating a market for something unfamiliar to many U.S. diners will take more than an overnight operation, but he remains confident that it will eventually take off.

“We’ve got the right pieces in place — we’ve got the marketing, we’ve got the stories, and we’ve got the fish supply,” Schoenung says. “Just building those other pieces, and linking it all together, I am very hopeful and very confident that we’re going to be able to do that.”

For now, Fucik plans to continue to sell copi in small amounts, holding onto hope for future funding that would allow him to host more events promoting the fish. He remains optimistic that public perception of the fish might change through continuing media exposure. Perhaps a headline reporting an injury caused by carp leaping out of the water could reignite interest in consuming the fish, thrusting it back into the news cycle, he says.

“I’m sure we’ll have another surge in interest at some point in time when something comes up,” Fucik says. “Somebody will get hit by a carp in the head in their boat and it’ll make the news. Then all of a sudden they’ll get resurrected again, and they’ll be showing all the videos and then it’ll trickle down to me again. Things get recycled because there is always a new generation of people who haven’t heard about it.”

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