City gives OK to plant new species rice in La Crosse Marsh

Expert says will enhance quality, benefit wildlife

Could be some wild rice in the La Crosse River Marsh right now. Nothing like after the group, Friends of the Marsh, start planting more. The organization this week has been granted permission from city hall to plant a different species of wild rice in order to improve the quality of the marsh.

John Sullivan from Friends of the Marsh, says while there is already a species of wild rice in the marsh, they’d like to “enhance quality by planting a more desirable species.”

The grant funded rice-sowing project will have a number of effects, including drawing more migratory water fowl to the marsh. Sullivan says wild rice is one of the most important foods for geese and ducks.