B a d R i v e r N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e (2019)

B a d R i v e r N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e

RADON IS THE

SECOND

LEADING

CAUSE OF

LUNG CANCER

Bad River Tribal Radon Program

715-682-7123

Call for free testing services!

~MISSION STATEMENT~

Bad River Natural

Resou rce Depar t men t

72682 Maple Street

PO Box 39

Odanah, WI, 54806

Phone: 715-682-7123

Fax: 715-682-7118

Email: NRDOutreach@badriver-nsn.gov

The Department strives for resource management which both conserves the natural resources

for the future generations and provide for the

needs of the present. The departments existence

reflects the importance the Bad River Tribe

places on its right and ability to exercise sovereignty, self-determination and self-regulation in

the area of natural resource management.

Were on the Web!

Visit www.badriver-nsn.gov

Daniel Wiggins, Air/Radon Technician

Special points of interest:

• Bad River Ishkonige Nawadide

Solar Project

T

he U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE) announced in July

that the Bad River Ishkonige

Nawadide Solar Project was

among 14 tribal energy projects

chosen for a combined

$16,000,000. The Bad River

Project was awarded nearly

$1,000,000 for a total project

value of nearly $2,000,000.

Bad River has chosen to call this

project Ishkonige Nawadide or

They Capture Fire. The Air

Quality Technician worked with

a team to properly plan for the

project and included William

Bailey from CheqBay Renewables, Niels Wolter of Madison

Solar, Travis and Amy Simpkins

of MuGrid, and tribal staff from

the Tribes Natural Resource Department, Planning Department,

Legal Department, and Account-

• Bad River’s Tobacco Use Policy

• Public Notice(s)

• Project Reviews by NRD

• IAS Youth Engagement

• RADON Public Notice

Inside this issue:

2019 Lake Superior Days

Celebration

2

New Wildlife Specialist

3

Public Safety Notice Line 5

5

Public Notice - Line 5 @

6

Project Reviews by NRD:

A Year in Review

7

Wigwaas (Birch Trees)

8

Coastal Habitat Protection for Namegos (Coaster

Brook Trout) through Land

9

and second-hand smoke”.

Game Wardens thoughts

10

The Policy differentiates between commercial tobacco

smoke (that contains up to

600 added chemicals, including ingredients found in nail

polish remover and battery

Beach Clean-Up Event

11

Radon Public Notice

12

ing Department.

This project plans to implement the first phase of energy

independence through the installation of 520 kW DC of

solar photovoltaic (PV) at

three tribal buildings, 200kW

DC at the Wastewater Treatment

Plant (WWTP), 300 kW DC at

the Health & Wellness Center

(Health Clinic), and 20 kW AC at

the Chief Blackbird Administration Building (Administration

Building).

...Continued on page 4...

Nathan Kilger, Air Quality Specialist

T

he Tobacco Use

Policy approved by

Bad River Tribal Council in

2014 was written to “protect

employees, community members, visitors, and volunteers

from the known dangers of

commercial tobacco products

…Continued on page 2...

Page 2

components) from ceremonial and traditional tobacco (without the deadly chemicals). The policy

designates which areas are non-smoking areas;

governmental vehicles are also designated as

non-smoking areas.

In addition, more news about illnesses and

deaths related to e-cigarettes and vaping have

been coming from many states and cities, including areas in Wisconsin and Minnesota. One unnamed man in Wisconsin was in a coma and an

elderly man in Minnesota has recently died.

COMMON GROUND

he Education Department

collaborated with UW Extension, Cat Techtmann, to bring

youth on a field trip to discuss the

history of mining and the threat of

future mining in our watershed. This was one of the many

IAS activities implemented this

year.

T

Signs recently installed at the Chief Blackbird Center remind employees, community

members, visitors, and volunteers that certain tobacco products are prohibited around

the building. I’ll finish this article by quoting

an air quality scientist who would always

remind people: “breathing is better than the

alternative”.

Berthea Olby, NRD Outreach Coordinator

n July 19th 2019 the Natural Resources Department hosted our annual Lake Superior Days Event. During this

event you had the opportunity to learn a

number of different things about our beautiful lake. Attendees were also given the opportunity to get

hands-on and make their own “ricing sticks” with our cultural demonstrator, who happens to be a Bad River Elder

and professional ricer. This year we had 65 participants.

O

Page 11

Berthea Olby, NRD Outreach Coordinator

On

August 16th we held our

2019 Beach Clean-up Event. During this event we sent a group to

both Bad River Mouth Beaches,

and also Waverly Beach. We had

approximately 25 people participate in this event this year, including our summer youth crew. Next

year we are hoping to expand and

include Joe Rose Beach, Second

Landing, and Long Island Beaches. As our Beach Monitoring Message states, our beach going public

is our priority, and Nobody likes a

Dirty Beach!

Current Status of Reservation Beaches can

be obtained by calling (715) 685-7870.

Page 10

COMMON GROUND

Page 3

Gerry White, Lead Conservation Warden

Bad River Leasing

E

ach time anyone sees a

group of birds, mainly

crows and bald eagles, along the

roadway usually the first thought

is “There is a gut pile there.”

Many birds stick around throughout the winter. Some of those

birds scavenge for food. Not only will birds scavenge in the winter but other animals will also

scavenge like the fox and coyote.

To some of those animals, scavenging would include picking at

road kill, gut piles and deer

scraps tossed out from processing

the latest hunt. Any animal parts

along the road way are in itself a

hazard and unsightly to those

driving on the road. Once the

animals find scraps to scavenge

they will flock there until there is

nothing left to eat.

This becomes an additional hazard causing motorists to have to

possibly slow down and in some

cases swerve in attempts to keep

Chief Blackbird Center

P.O. Box 39

Odanah,WI 54861

from

hitting

animals.

It is

safe

driving

practice

not to

swerve and keep safe control of

the vehicle. What ends up happening in some cases those animals

will get hit by the oncoming vehicle injuring them and sometimes

unintentionally killing the animal.

Bad River Tribal members practice

a deer harvest season from July 1st

to January 31st. Although most

hunting occurs during the “rut”

some hunting occurs before and

after. If the mosquitoes are still

out it’s nice to

get out of the

woods towards

the roadway to

field dress the

deer. Once the

snow flies it is

easier to field

dress your deer at

the roadway instead of in the

715-682-7111 x 1588

lease@badriver-nsn.gov

Patti J. BigBoy

deep snow. Plus if you didn’t have

to drag your dressed deer thru the

snow it won’t get full of snow.

Most gut piles and deer scraps end

up staying on or getting tossed in

the ditch along the roadway. Scavenging animals end up pulling the

scraps out into the roadway causing driving hazards.

It would be a courtesy to all motorists including the animals scavenging if the gut piles and deer scraps

were not along the roadway. It

would be a good practice to put the

gut piles and deer scraps further

into the woods past trees and

shrubs. This would make it harder

for scavenging animals to drag

them further into the roadway.

Don’t worry, the scavenging animals will find the scraps if they are

further into the woods. By this

practice your help can go a long

way. Thank you!

M

y name is Abi Fergus and I started working as

Mashkizibi’s new wildlife specialist on Lake Superior Day this

past July. Two years ago, I came up to Mashkizibi from lower

Michigan to work as an intern by collecting input for the update

of the Ma’iingan plan. Mashkizibi amazed me in a way that no

other place has. Ma’iingan runs through the woods, sloughs

pour into Gitchi Gummi, leeches the size of blue gills swim

around. It was heartbreaking to leave at the end of my internship two years ago, so I moved back in January of 2018—as

soon as I graduated Alma College with a biology degree.

I had the opportunity to work as Bad River’s wildlife

technician in the 2018 summer season. In that role I did everything from pick up nearly 100 piles of Ma’iingan Moo (wolf

scat) to use in a diet survey to assist in organizing outreach

about Chronic Wasting Disease. It is a dream come true to hold

the wildlife specialist position now and I am excited to serve

the Tribe and change the wildlife field to bring awareness and

respect for tribal sovereignty and reciprocity.

I am also a graduate student at the University of

Wisconsin-Madison. I study in the Nelson Institute and the

Carnivore Coexistence Lab. Through a research project with

nearby, non-tribal farmers I am exploring the effectiveness of

light makers, noise makers, and fladry (flagging) at keeping

Makwa (black bear), Ma’iingan (gray wolf), Coyote (Wiisagima' iingan), and possibly Mishibizhii (mountain lion) away

from livestock farms. Bad River is funding this work with a

BIA Endangered Species grant. I could not get this research

done

without

the hard

work that

two Wisconsin

Tribal

Conservation

Advisory

Committee interns and

members

of the

Natural Resource Aide Crew have put in. Miigwetch! This research is fostering a positive relationship between Bad River and nearby livestock owners, and this relationship building can lead to better collaboration in carnivore coexistence.

I am reevaluating the focus of Bad River’s wildlife program.

Chronic Wasting Disease, Ma’iingan, and Piping Plover work will remain

high priorities, and I would love to hear what else the community thinks we

should focus on protecting

When I’m not working or doing school full time, I enjoy playing

my ukulele, having play time with my two pet rats, and foraging for food

and medicine. Please feel free to say hi in the Natural Resource office or by

calling or emailing me.

Wildlife@badriver-nsn.gov 715-685-7840 x 1554

Page 4

COMMON GROUND

Page 9

Coastal Habitat Protection for Namegos (Coaster

Brook Trout) through Land Acquisition.

The solar PV systems will be integrated with the existing utility

grid but will be able to operate independent of the grid using

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Because of the utility’s maximum net metering policy of 20 kW AC, the two larger

installations will be designed for “behind-the-meter” electric

usage, and store electricity for use when site demand exceeds

the solar generation. The BESS also creates resiliency providing power when the grid is down. All three buildings are essential tribal buildings.

Suzi Smith, GIS Specialist & Naomi Tillison, NRD Director

I

n autumn of 2018 Bad River Band received $330,000 of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding administered

through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to help

with the purchase 915 acres of land within the

exterior boundaries of the Reservation in the

vicinity of Graveyard Creek. On September

The PV systems will generate approximately 625,000 kWh

annually and offset 100% of the annual electric usage of the

Wastewater Treatment Plant and Health Clinic, and 5.5% of the

Administration Building. They will reduce the Tribe’s electric

bills by $841,000 in the first 25 years and eliminating 487 tons

of CO2 emissions. This pilot project represents the Tribe’s

continued progress down the economic and environmental path

to a 100% clean and resilient energy future while further developing the Tribe’s expertise needed to realize that future.

In July of 2016, the Tribe experienced a 500-year flood and in

response adopted an Emergency Response Plan, along with PreDisaster Mitigation Plan. The Tribe’s goal is to mitigate and

prepare for the consequences of hazards and effectively respond

and recover in the event of an emergency or disaster. The Tribe

identified the Health & Wellness Center and the Wastewater

Treatment Plant as the most important tribal facilities and decided to locate the Tribal Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at

the Chief Blackbird Administration Building. Further, the Tribe

Location of 200kW DC at the Wastewater Treatment Plant

Location of 300 kW DC at the Health & Wellness Center

has included energy as a major component of operations

under the EOC.

The ability to invest in large energy projects within the reservation, allows the Tribe to exercise its sovereignty and protect the natural resources. The Project Manager, partners and

team members will be responsible for completing the project

and continue to assess objectives to the Tribe’s long-term

goals to achieve energy independence while further developing and implementing mitigation strategies towards the

Tribe’s Emergency Preparedness Plan. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Daniel Wiggins at Air1@badrivernsn.gov.

17, 2019 the Tribal Council authorized a purchase agreement with the State of Wisconsin

DNR on all the parcels within the Reservation

owned by WDNR in Iron County. The closing

will take place in 3 groups of parcels, starting in

the next 45 days, as title issues are addressed.

This land acquisition will help us better protect and restore Graveyard & Bell Creeks,

cold water trout streams, and connected waters.

Page 8

tinuing educational outreach about the project review process and various ordinances,

including a working session with Tribal

Council, a display at the NRD Open House,

newsletter articles, and a postcard mailing to

all owners of fee lands within the Reservation boundaries. (We are currently working

on a mailing for all those who have interests

in trusts lands.)

Aspects like open lines of communication,

accurate and complete information, transparency, and forethought regarding review and

permitting timelines for non-emergency projects are key for a smooth project review and

permitting process. Thus, we encourage applicants to provide as much information as

possible on their applications and to promptly respond to questions or requests for additional information as we at NRD work to

make our process more transparent and easier

to understand for

applicants. Working together we can

continue to protect

and restore resources for the

seventh generation

while providing for

the needs of the

current generations.

We encourage

Environmental Program display at NRD Open House discussing the Project Review

process.”

feedback from applicants who

have gone through the project

Please contact the NRD Office with questions

review process, and questions from anyone

and comments.

interested in learning more about the process.

Gena Abramson, Forestry Specialist

W

iigwaas remains an important part of the

culture at Bad River (Mashkiiziibii). The

moratorium (2016) on birch gathering has curtailed some of

the cultural activities associated with birch for some members.

Unfortunately, the act of overharvesting by a few has impacted the community as a whole.

Our Natural Resources Department is actively trying to address this situation. We have formed a work group that aims

to develop recommendations to ensure a healthy population of

birch on the Reservation. We also aim to unify the community members’ ideals and values regarding what it means to

gather sustainably.

Once we have a definite plan for birch management, we hope

to bring our findings to the Bad River Tribal Council for their

approval.

As our community grows, sometimes forested areas need to

be cleared of trees. When this happens, we open these areas

for future development under the moratorium and require an

We want members to speak up when they know of illegal birch gathering. It

is not necessary to identify yourself when reporting illegal harvesting. We

want opportunities to be there for all tribal members (especially the 7th generation). Birch needs to be protected on the landscape as it is in decline all

across the region. Additionally, climate change is expected to have a severely negative impact on the birch population.

Sustainable harvesting is very important. Please do not harvest more than

you need. It is important to leave some for the next person. This is a great

topic to discuss with the elders. Please reach out to them for advice. They

will appreciate your respect for the land, the ancestors, and the 7th generation.

access permit to gather birch. This allows our community

Contact Forestry in the Natural Resources Department if you have any ques-

members to harvest birch.

tions or concerns.

Page 5

Page 6

COMMON GROUND

Page 7

COMMON GROUND

Jessica Strand, Environmental Specialist

The Natural Resources Department (NRD) began the

project review process (in it’s current form) on August

1, 2018—and since we are a year into the process it is

time for us to stop and reflect about what has worked

and what hasn’t worked and how far we’ve come.

As of September 9th, we have completed 53 initial project reviews and have another 14 that we are currently

reviewing. On average, it has taken us 40 days to complete initial project reviews during this timeframe,

though our project review packet lets people know we

aim to complete the initial project review in 45 days.

The longest it has taken us for an initial review has been

64 days, and the shortest has been a couple days when

there has been an emergency review (clean-up of a spill

associated with the truck crash on Hwy 2).

Our review of projects has been ongoing through our

from an initial review to project implementation.

busiest times and during periods where we’ve had up to

five vacancies in staff positions that are supposed to

The average project requires additional steps to be completed before the

provide reviews. We’ve reviewed projects with the bare

applicant moves to implementation—sometimes this is in the form of

minimum of information and others with all the inforadditional information that needs to be turned in, while other times in the

mation

form of permits

we need

Table: Summary of Projects Reviewed by Status

that need to be

and

acquired. Very

# of Initial Reviews

others

# of Projects Completely few projects are

Application Type/Entity

Under Review

that

cleared to proCompleted*

Reviewed/Permitted

change

ceed with just

4

even as

the initial proBad River Tribal Projects

25

11

we’re

ject review

1

trying to Enbridge Energy

since the Tribe

2

2

review

seeks to mini2

them.

Misc. Companies

4

3

mize potential

We’ve

impacts to the

1

reNorthern Natural Gas

7

5

environment for

viewed

every project,

4

Private Miscellaneous

1

1

very

and oftentimes

simple

has ordinances

1

7

0

projects Residential Leases

that require

with

conditional

0

Shoreline Riprap

5

1

little

permits to enimpact

sure this hap1

Xcel Energy

2

2

on the

pens that need

environto be applied for

14

Total

53

25

ment

as well.

and

*Includes in the count the number of projects completely reviewed and permitted.

more

The initial recomview period, plus timelines associated with various ordinances and perplex projects that have larger environmental implicamits, are often where friction is generated between applicants and NRD.

tions. These scenarios, and many others, contribute to

Friction seems to be generated due to confusion about the process/

how long our initial reviews of projects take. They also

permits and a dislike of how long it takes from the start of a project recontribute to how easy it is for an applicant to move

view to implementing the project. Thus, NRD has been working on conContinued on page 8