# M a s h k i i z i i b i i N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e s (2025) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Abad_river_chippewa%3Acfe3bfc249cb27ba ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text M a s h k i i z i i b i i N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e s (SUMMER) Tyrease James TJ, Forestry Technician – foresttech@badriver-nsn.gov O ~MISSION STATEMENT~ Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Dep ar t ment 72682 Maple Street PO Box 39 Odanah, WI, 54806 Phone: 715-685-7840 - 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 n Monday June 9, 2025, it was brought to our attention that the Forestry skid steer had been vandalized on Birch Hill. Upon inspecting the damage to the skid steer, we found the coolant reservoir, hydraulic oil reservoir, fuel tank, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) tank were all filled with rocks, sticks, and sand respectively. There were parts of the skid steer that were missing like the coolant cap and the windshield wiper. The repairs needed for the skid steer cost $16,000 to get all tanks replaced, refilled and missing parts replaced. Special points of interest: • Equipment Vandalized • Meet the Plover Monitors • Energy Program Updates • Lake Superior Days Celebration • Beach ATV Closure • New MNRD Staff Missing Windshield Wiper Arm Right Photo: Coolant reservoir filled with sticks and rocks. Left Photo: Remnants of debris around fuel intake For any future comments or questions we can be contacted at Forester@badriver-nsn.gov or foresttech@badriver-nsn.gov or 715-685- 8929 or 715-682-7123 extension 1563 Forestry skid steer after vandalization The Forestry Program uses the skid steer in various projects that have taken place around Birch Hill from moving tree tops and logs away from homes and mulching the debris with different attachments. It’s unfortunate that someone has damaged our equipment, keeping us from completing the project. Needless to say, the pine thinning clean-up and debris clean-up will stop due to this event. • Updated Registration Station Flier Inside this issue: Burn Barrels and Burning Trash 2 Non-Local Beings Program Update 3 Energy Program Update 4 Keeping our Summer Clean and Safe 5 Piping Plover Project & Introductions 6 BEACH ATV CLOSURE 7 NIXLE Alerts Sign Up 8 Lake Superior Days 9 Celebration Save The Date Coolant reservoir with missing cap Above is a diagram of the parts that had debris in the components: Yellow is Hydraulic oil, Orange is Coolant, Green is Fuel tank, Blue is DEF Updated Registration Station Flier 10 New MNRD Team Members 11 Spring Climate Summary 12 Page 2 COMMON GROUND Burn Barrels and Burning Trash Zakk Zander, Air Quality Technicien - AirQualityTech@badriver-nsn.gov I Burn barrels used to be a popular method of reducing the volume of household trash, disposing of cardboard boxes, packaging materials, and many other miscellaneous items. Although you do not see as many around as you used to, they are still present in rural communities in northern Wisconsin. Burning of some household wastes continues to be a method of disposal for a significant part of the population. Polluting the soil and water in your own backyard, that’s what’s happening when you fire up a burning barrel. The tradition of putting a match to the family garbage has been around for generations, so what’s the big deal? Until a few decades ago, it wasn’t so dangerous to your health because most of the things burned were made of paper and wood, and gave off smoke and ash. This is not the case anymore. Modern household products and packaging materials contain a mix of plastics and other synthetics that release cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins when burned. Packaging for fast food and convenience items such as containers for frozen pizzas, microwave dinner, beverages, may seem harmless, but when burned they can give off toxic emissions. These emissions H M y name is Russell “Russ” Corbine Jr. I am the new Deputy Director of the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department (MNRD). Here are a few things about me: t has been a while since the Bad River Open Burning, Burn Barrel, and Fire Prevention Ordinance has been written about. So here is reminder to everyone that Bad River burning permits are required within the boundary of the Bad River Reservation. These permits are free and available by coming into the Bad River Natural Resource Department. (Bad River Conservation Code §3.24 enacted by Tribal Council in 2002) I recently came across an article written by Mr. Ralph Dashner about burning garbage and would like to take this opportunity to republish his words. Page 11 • I am from Bad River and grew up in Diaperville. • I joined the U.S. Army in 1999 and served a little over 20 years before retiring in 2019. I participated in several combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. I have also spent a considerable amount of time serving in other foreign duty locations like South Korea. • I served as the Deputy Director of MNRD from July 2020 to December 2020 before pursuing a career with the U.S. Army as a Dept. of Army Civilian employee in South Korea. • I served as an Organizational Consultant for the Commander of US Army Forces-Korea located in Camp Humphreys, South Korea from January 2021 to August 2024. • may include PCB’s, dioxins, arsenic, styrene, formaldehyde, and that’s just a small part of what is released. Household wastes placed in burn barrels, fireplaces, and similar devices burn at temperatures that rarely exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit. A municipal garbage incinerator by comparison will operate at temperatures near 2200 degrees to ensure complete combustion of refuse and more of the pollutants. Because burn barrels operate at lower temperatures and lack filtration, they emit seventeen times as much dioxin and forty times as much ash per pound of garbage as an incinerator. Burn barrels give off high levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, barium, chromium, and cadmium. All of these can cause a wide variety of health problems. They need not be directly inhaled form the smoke; some of these toxins remain in the immediate vicinity and the area downwind of the barrel for years. This accumulation exposes you, your family, neighbors, and future generations to ever increasing levels of hazardous substances. Here are some alternatives to burning trash: Reduce waste by cutting down on what you buy. Buy in bulk when possible and avoid choosing products that are over packaged. Reuse, sell, or give away items you no longer need. Compost leaves, grass, and weeds. Take garbage and other unrecyclable trash to the Solid Waste Transfer Site. Recycle! You can make a difference. The Bad River Open Burning, Burn Barrel, and Fire Prevention Ordinance prohibits the burning of any trash or items that are recyclable. Also prohibited are any items containing plastics, rubber, oils, or wood coated in stain or paint. A full list of prohibited items, along with more Ordinance information, can be found on the Bad River website at (shortened URL): https:// www.badriver-nsn.gov/burnordinance/ A valid permit must be in your hand if you are burning within the Reservation boundary. I returned from South Korea last August and have been consulting for the Adjutant General of the Minnesota Army National Guard which is headquartered in St. Paul, MN. My leadership philosophy is centered around four principles: Empowerment – empower those around you, Accountability – hold myself and others accountable, Set the example – give your best effort and have the personal courage to do what is right, even when no one is looking & Humility – be humble and know when to ask for help. If you see me out and about, please say hello. I look forward to meeting and working with you as we help the Tribe and community reach our goals. Thank you and have a great day! Email: NRDeputy@badriver-nsn.gov My name is Emma Parisien, I’m from Bad River and this is my 3rd year back working as a Natural Resources Aide for the Non-Local Beings Program. I love working outdoors and helping the community with all of the invasive species we work with. I’m excited to continue working for natural resources this summer. ello, my name is Madeline, and I am Bad River’s energy program intern for two months. I’m happy to be here learning about the grid, solar, governmental structures and energy! I’m a geology major interested in renewable energy such as geothermal, and this is a great introduction to the different interconnections and utility aspects of introducing new power sources to the grid. In my free time I enjoy lapidary, canoeing and foraging. M y name is Craig Bigboy and I was born and raised here in Bad River. I have been working with the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department off and on over the years, but for the past 2-3 years I have been working for the Non-Local Beings crew from the Spring to the Fall. I enjoy sports and being outdoors. M y name is Dalton Stone and I work with the Non-Local Beings Program. This is my second year with the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department. I like to hunt, fish, and work with non-local beings. Click Link>> https://www.badriver-nsn.gov/careers/ Page 10 COMMON GROUND Page 3 Bridget Thornberg, Non-Local Beings Program Manager- nonlocalbeings@badriver-nsn.gov T he non-local beings summer crew has been working hard this summer to remove buckthorn, garlic mustard, non-local honeysuckle, and wild parsnip. The map above shows areas where removal work has taken place so far this summer. If you have any concerns about non-local beings on your property or want to report a population of non-local beings please contact nonlocalbeings@badriver-nsn.gov or 715-9791510. On June 26th non-local beings staff and others attended a training to learn how to operate the Mobitrac harvester. The Mobitrac harvester is an amphibious machine that was previously purchased by the Tribe. It has different attachments that allow it to cut and collect vegetation. We had a great day and are very thankful to have had the opportunity to receive this training. Going forward we hope to use the harvester in future projects to restore and maintain balance between non-local beings, native vegetation, and manoomin in the Sloughs. We are still looking to hire a natural resources aide to work as a watercraft inspector at the boat launches on the reservation; if you or anyone you know is interested, you can find the job posting on the Bad River website under “Careers.” We hope everyone is having a great summer, check back in the Fall for another update! Page 4 COMMON GROUND Mashkiiziibii Manoomin Youth Initiative Dan Powless, Manoomin Specialist - manoomin@badriver-nsn.gov B ad River was awarded the Mashkiiziibii Manoomin Youth Initiative grant submitted to the BIA under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative youth sub-focus in 2024 .One part of the Initiative is to create a Youth Manoomin Committee partially modeled after Bad River’s Wild Rice Committee. Through this committee, the self-selected youth will learn about manoomin from elders and knowledge holders to steward the ecology and productivity of the Kakagon Sloughs for the next seven generations. Specifically, David Nevala, Nathanael Secor and Dan Powless will work with the youth on regular intervals in conjunction with the Wild Rice Committee to understand manoomin throughout the plant’s life cycle, learn the Ojibwemowin of Manoominikewin with Ojibwemowin speakers, learn best practices for harvesting and determining ripeness, engage in reseeding and other restoration efforts, travel to other communities to learn from active restoration efforts as well as to network with other ricers and knowledge holders, learn how to practice observation in the field, and contribute to ongoing monitoring projects The first field session began with Jordan Gurnoe, NWU grad student providing a presentation to the YouthWRC about sensor field monitoring and data capture processes. Bad River Staff and students participated in the manoomin plot study and next step of correlating phenologic data with manoomin. Students and staff attended the State/ Tribal Manoomin committee meeting at LDF on 6-18-25. The youth were introduced and spoken of as our future who will be sitting at the table. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – Current activities Slow No Wake buoys were deployed on 6-10-25. Rice has been in floating leaf stage for a week or so and now transitioning to emergent cycle. (photos taken 6-12- 25) While out assessing the manoomin life cycles a carp infestation was witnessed in big round and NE Slough. This has previously been observed during the floating leaf stages, we’ll be following up on this issue. Provided a general overview of the Head Water Restoration Planning Project at the Elderly Building. 20 elders in attendance. One elder discussed how the rice was when he harvested as a young man and believes the carp have created a decline in the rice as well. He stopped ricing because the rice had dwindled to very sparse conditions. Another elder showed up at the hatchery who believes we should go back to the original rice opener of August 25 of not so long ago. He stated we need to change our tactics of just checking the rice on the river edge to going out into the bed or in ten years it could be gone. He talked of how we need to use our tabacco in that it comes from the heart when addressing the rice. He remembers the old ladies were still doing these things. He is very concerned and wants to be involved in the management. It’s good to hear elders coming out and talking about the rice with concern. Manoomin Program By Bella Wabindato, Energy Coordinator- energycoordinator@badriver-nsn.gov I n the Tribal energy world, Bad River is well known for being a pioneer in renewable energy. We have 3 microgrids, 42 residential solar systems, some facility solar systems and 23 solar streetlights. In the near future, we will install six private electric vehicle charging stations, lease an electrical vehicle fleet, install a public electric vehicle charging station, add more residential solar, audit homes for energy efficiency, and install another microgrid. Because of this, we are a prominent stopping point for other organizations or Tribes to look at Tribal renewable energy. In June, we have had the Ho-Chunk Nation’s energy program manager come tour (picture shown above), as well as Wisconsin’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy later in the month. In July, we can look forward to hosting the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. If you’re ever curious and would like to tour, please reach out to the energy program manager at energycoordinator@badriver-nsn.gov. We would love to show anyone and everyone what the energy program is all about. Page 9 Page 8 Page 5 By: Andrew Spychalla, MNRD Brownfield Program - brownfields@badriver-nsn.gov A s we enjoy the sunshine and take part in summer activities - whether it's boating, barbecuing, camping, or DIY home projects - let’s all do our part to protect our environment and local waterways. Preventing spills and pollution: To prevent accidental releases of hazardous or toxic chemicals this summer, make sure to: use and store fuels, paints, cleaners, and other chemicals responsibly. Never dispose of waste - liquid or solid - on the ground or down storm drains. Keep vehicles, boats, and equipment wellmaintained to avoid leaks of oil, gas, or other fluids. And, when attending outdoor gatherings, secure trash and keep recyclables and food waste contained. Simple things will prevent the majority of accidents from occurring during day-to-day activities. If you see a spill, report it: 2. Report it to the appropriate local If there is an obvious spill or a noticeable sheen – specifically in waterways – you can always let the MNRD Brownfield Program know. Sometimes, a sheen on the water could be from biological sources. A good trick is to poke the center of the sheen with a stick; if it reforms into one continuous blob, there is a good chance it is actually a petroleum product. If it disperses and floats in different directions without coming together again, it is likely from a natural source. If there is a spill of hazardous, toxic, or otherwise unnatural substances, even if it is small, it can cause big problems for our soil, rivers, and wildlife. If you witness or are involved in a spill or release of a potentially harmful substance: environmental authority immediately time matters for proper cleanup and environmental protection. Stay clear of hazardous areas and follow all instructions from emergency or cleanup crews if they are on site. By staying alert and responsible, we can keep our communities clean, our water safe, and our environment thriving all summer long. If there are any questions about spill prevention, feel free to contact me at brownfields@badriver-nsn.gov. Miigwech. 1. Act quickly but safely to contain it, if possible. By Madeline, Inaakidese Intern I f you live or have been around the Birch Hill community you’ve probably seen some new streetlights placed throughout the area. These solar powered streetlights are new additions to the existing streetlights that bring improved visibility, safety and resilience to the neighborhood. When the power goes out these lights will still be shining on as they are 100% solar powered. There are currently 23 of these solar powered streetlights up and running, with efficient LEDs that have a 20-year lifespan before having to be replaced and have no operating costs. The energy program also heard community concerns about the placement of the concrete bases and has addressed this with reflective tape around the concrete bases. This project was funded in full by a grant with the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund. The energy program extends their thanks to all who have made this project possible Page 6 COMMON GROUND 2025 Piping Plover Project Jakob Wohlford, Ornithology Specialist - ornithology@badriver-nsn.gov H istory was made! In the 52 years of monitoring the Great Lakes Piping Plovers at Chequamegon Point 2025 has set the record for the most nests in a season at seven nests with 28 total eggs. Once again, this year we have a nest that resides on the Bad River Mouth. The nest at the mouth was one of the most successful nests last year and is once again this year thus far! While we all love driving our ATV’s it is important to have the ATV closure at the Bad River Mouth in place until August 15th or once the last chick is gone to give the species the best chance of survival. ample being X, L: Of, G, Y, who we gave the name Extra Large Guy. These combinations are unique to each bird to help with monitoring while on Chequamegon Point and at their wintering grounds. We are planning on banding chicks during early July after hatching. If you find yourself out near any of the nests this summer feel free to ask our monitors any questions you may have. Please respect these endangered birds and the space that they need, so hopefully we can see Extra Large Guy back here next year! It would be hard to know who somebody is if they didn’t have a name right? We think the same is true for Piping Plovers! This year we have been lucky enough to have successful adult banding for 8 of 13 adults that needed adult combos, with one ex- <<