With this funding, the Brothertown Indian Nation will build off of their first year’s efforts to restore wild rice (Mayom) in the Lake Winnebago system. Their project will bring Tribes together with Lake Winnebago community interest groups and state and federal agencies to inform current and future conservation practices and policies.  The presence of wild rice not only signifies ecological richness but also serves as a natural ally in maintaining water quality and biodiversity. It absorbs nutrients and toxins and stabilizes shorelines by binding loose soils and slowing winds across shallow wetlands. These factors can increase water clarity and reduce algae blooms, which are a huge problem in the Lake Winnebago chain. Additionally, the dense growth of wild rice provides habitat and refuge for a diverse array of aquatic organisms.