B a d R i v e r N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e (2018)

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

Bad River Natural Resource

Depar tment’s 2018 Gitc hi Gumi (Lake

Superior) Days Event

By: Berthea Olby, NRD Outreach Coordinator

On July 13th, 2018 the Bad

River Natural Resource Department hosted their Annual

Lake Superior Days Celebration & Cultural Camp on the

shores of the beautiful Lake

Superior. During this celebration there are several educational booths on display for

your viewing which focus on

Lake Superior. A couple of

the educational booths included were: NRDs Water

Resources, Beach Monitoring

Project, and GIS Program.

Some other educational

booths involved were USFWS

who brought in LIVE Sea

Lampreys, SNAPSHOT Wisconsin, and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC). Lunch was

Special points of interest:

• Natural Resources Summer

Youth Programs

• Wildlife Program Updates on

Activities & Events

• Congratulations to NRD Warden

• NRD’s Beach Clean-up Event

• Indigenous Arts & Science

Update

• Brownfields Program turns 5!

Inside this issue:

Natural Resource Depart- 2

ment rolls out Comprehensive Project Review

provided,

which

consisted

of grilled

hot dogs,

brats,

Beach Clean-Up Event/

Chequamegon Point

Clean-up

2018 Lake Superior Days

Celebration

...Continued on page 4...

Bad River Natural Resources Department Rolls Out

Comprehensive Project Review Process

Jessica Strand, Environmental Specialist

T

he Bad River Natural Resources Department (NRD) recently went

to Tribal Council for approval

to begin implementing a new

process that will increase the

efficiency and effectiveness of

project reviews completed by

NRD. The

goal of this

new Project

Review Process (PRP) is it to provide

community members and

Trout Lily found on Bad River banks.

…Continued on page 2...

3

4

10 Reasons to Test your

home for RADON

5

Introducing to you….

6-7

BRNRD Summer Youth

Program Updates

8-9

West Nile Virus on the

Reservation

10

Chronic Wasting Disease

& Ma’iingan

11

Tribal Council adopts

Pre-Disaster Mitigation

Plan

12

Page 2

COMMON GROUND

Bad River Natural Resources Department Rolls Out

Comprehensive Project Review Process continued...

other applicants within the Reservation a straight-forward, efficient

way to get feedback from NRD on

their projects, and protect the

natural resources on the Reservation. Through the PRP the NRD

will provide insight and comments

on how to reduce impacts to natural resources and identify any

conditions or permits an applicant

may need to move forward towards starting their project.

The PRP is meant to be straightforward. A packet has been created that contains all the information needed to get started, including the one-page application

form with instructions. Anyone

interested in conducting an activity within the Reservation can get

this packet from NRD or download it from NRD’s webpage

(http://badriver-nsn.gov/tribaloperations/natural-resources/

project-review-informationforms).

Once the application is received

by NRD, staff here will compile

comments from each program on

the project proposed. These comments will then be provided to the

applicant, so they can see if any

additional steps are needed prior

to starting the proposed work. If

any additional steps are needed,

the NRD review comments will

clearly identify what these steps

are and the NRD staff member

who is the contact person.

Since the Bad River Tribal Council has supported the PRP through

a motion to allow the NRD to

begin implementation at the August 1, 2018 regular council meeting, the NRD has now started to

require that all new projects start

using the PRP. If you are planning

a project, please begin your PRP

form today! Miigwech!

Page 3

Bad River Natural

Resources host 2018 Beach

Clean-Up Event

On

Wednesday, August 29th the Bad River

Natural Resource Department held a Beach Clean up Event in effort to keep our beautiful beaches

clean. During this event we had groups go to Joe

Rose Beach, Waverly Beach, and Madigan Beach

with garbage bags and gloves to pick up trash off

the shoreline. Together we gathered approximately 5 bags of trash, a hot tub, plus a pair of crocs’!

Unfortunately, due to the weather, we were unable to include Bad River Mouth Beaches in this

event but NRD staff took care of it a few days

later removing a washed-up hot tub from the

shore.

We’d like to thank the Bad River Recycling program for disposing of the trash collected and

helping maintain the trash cans by Waverly

Beach, it’s greatly appreciated. We would also

like to thank the Bad River community for maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches as they still

look better than Ashland’s beaches. From experi-

ence, I’ve

learned that

we work

best together and if we

continue

these efforts our

beaches will remain beautiful for our future

generations. As stated in the NRD’s mission

statement, we strive to conserve & provide

natural resources for our future generations along with

present generations, and Water IS Life after all and

our most important resource.

Watch for future events on the Natural Resource Department Facebook page or Check out the NRD website at http://badriver-nsn.gov/tribal-operations/

natural-resources/announcement-a-alerts-naturalresources

Piping Plover Season Wrap -up and Chequamegon Point

Clean-up

T

his year the piping plover monitoring season extended

from May 24th to August 2nd. In that time three piping

plover nests were confirmed hatching a total of six chicks. Only

two chicks survived the season to flying status (fledglings). This

year we ran into some unique issues. Including a great horned owl

that was hunting shorebirds on the beaches at night.

Over the years we have been noticing a steady, shrinking shoreline

on Chequamegon Point. Large storm events have altered the shorelines including adding large amounts of woody debris to the beaches. Driftwood is completely normal on a beach but this year there

were excessive amounts in the wrack line along the beaches. This

may have made the beaches appear to be less suitable as nesting

areas for piping plovers. It did make it more difficult for the chicks

to escape predators, including unleashed dogs on the beaches.

Over the course of the season the Tribe’s piping plover monitors

were noticing the piping plover chicks were having difficulties

evading predators due to garbage and accumulating driftwood on

the beached. Driftwood on a beach is normal but the storms in recent years have exacerbated the accumulation of these materials and

it was proving to provide difficult conditions for the piping plovers.

The Bad River Wildlife Program organized a beach clean-up day on

the last day of the monitoring season between the Apostle Island

National Lakeshore staff, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff, and staff from the Bad River Natural Resources Department and we spent the day removing the excessive amounts of driftwood, decking material, plastic materials, and litter from the nesting

beaches. This day was a great success and we were able to get a lot

accomplished.

We understand that there will be storm events that will continue to

alter the beaches leading up to the nesting season next May. Some

years we are unable to get to the point before the piping plovers have

already returned and are nesting. If given the window of opportunity

we will plan another trip out there prior to the piping plovers return,

to ensure suitable nesting areas for the federally endangered piping

plover.

Have you ever thought about spending your summer camping on

Chequamegon Point? How about having a job where you walk to

beach watching birds and educating visitors? If this sounds like the

job for your keep an eye out this December for the piping plover

monitor position openings. You can also contact the Bad River

Wildlife Specialist to get more information.

Page 4

COMMON GROUND

Bad River Natural Resource Department’s 2018 Lake

Superior Days Event continued...

and burgers with all the sides, and

Cake!

On the cultural camp side of the

event we had UW Extensions Jesse

Conaway giving kayaking lessons

and teaching how to play lacrosse,

the kids really enjoyed that! We

also had Cultural demonstrators

present, demonstrating how to do

beading, wild rice stick making,

and birch bark basket making!

This year we had 75 participants

registered and I would like to Thank

You All for coming and keeping

this event going. Next year I plan to

promote more and plan earlier!

USFWS brought Live Lampreys!

Page 5

10 Reasons to Test Your Home for Radon

1.

2.

Cancer Causing Agent: Studies have found that radon is linked to over

home. (Other structures should still be tested. Ex: Schools, work build-

20,000 deaths annually.

ings, daycares, etc.)

“Just because your neighbor had tested and found low levels does not

5.

occurring and cannot be detected by any human senses.

mean you will have low levels in your home. “ Each home (structure) is

unique from each other and has unique features that all can contribute

to different levels of indoor radon. For ex: Homes will have different

6.

crease chances of developing lung cancer.

Each allows for a different pathway to allow radon entry.

Testing is inexpensive and simple: The Bad River Tribe offers free

7.

a long period of time will still increase those chances.

bers. In this circumstance tribal members have radon resources, such

8.

There are solutions to lower indoor radon levels: Although the EPA

test kits to understand the results. States will also offer some incen-

suggests that radon reduction methods can cost from $800-$2,000,

tives for testing; however, test kits will usually range from $15-$25, and

actual costs have been seen towards $2,000-$5,000.

can be found in local hardware stores. Most kits have simple directions

and can be done easily by the homeowner within minutes.

4.

If you do not smoke you are still at risk: Nonsmokers chances of developing lung cancer decrease; however, if exposed to high levels for

radon testing through the Tribal Indoor Radon Program for tribal memas: radon testing professional, free test kits, and free analysis of the

If you smoke you are at higher risk: Since smokers are already at risk

of developing lung cancer, exposure to high levels of radon will in-

types and sizes of basements, possibly in addition to a crawlspace.

3.

Radon is odorless, tasteless, and cannot be seen: Radon is naturally

Your greatest exposure is likely at home: A person spends a majority

9.

Testing is the only way to know

10. Related to over 20,000 lung cancer deaths annually.

of their time indoors, and is expected to spend most of that time in-

Please Contact Daniel Wiggins, Air Quality Technician and Tribal Radon

doors at home. Since a majority of your time is spent at home it is

Program Manager for more information and/or any questions at 715-682-

important to determine the amount of radon you are exposed to in your

7123 or email at Air1@badriver-nsn.gov.

Page 6

COMMON GROUND

Erick Andrews, BRNRD Climate Change Coordinator

The Brownfields Program

Turns Five!

Around five years ago, the Bad

River Tribe started a Brownfields Program supported by

EPA funding. We are currently

accepting applications for our

Brownfield Specialist position.

If you are interested in joining

our team, please visit our

webpage for more information:

http://badrivernsn.gov/employment/860-nrdbrownfield-specialist

We are also developing a community survey to help

us evaluate our Brownfield Program and priorities and gather

information you may have about

potential brownfield sites in our

community.

What is a Brownfield?

The EPA defines a brownfield as

a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which

may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a

hazardous substance, pollutant,

or contaminant. Cleaning up

and reinvesting in brownfield

sites has many benefits, such

as facilitating job growth and

improving and protecting the

environment.

H

i everyone! You may know me already

from my work on various teams in the

Natural Resources Department, including my work

as Piping Plover Monitor and Natural Resources

Aide, but I’m excited to make the transition to a

permanent position in the Natural Resources Department as the Climate Change Coordinator.

I grew up in western Chicago, however I spent many

weeks of my childhood camping in different parks

of Wisconsin, including Devil’s Lake State Park,

which remains one of my favorite hiking spots. After

high school I attended Northland College in Ashland,

where I obtained a degree in Biology with a minor

in Environmental Studies. After graduating from

Northland in 2014, I worked on a variety of different

natural resources projects, including three seasons

studying Common Loons in Minocqua and Rhine-

lander, a sixmonth deployment to the remote Johnston

Atoll in Hawaii,

and three months

in rural Madagascar where I studied endangered Greater Bamboo Lemurs.

After being on the move for the last four years, I’m excited to settle down in this region again and reconnect with

Lake Superior and the Northwoods. In my free time I like

to bake, go camping, or gather my friends together for a

board game. I’m looking forward to working with the rest

of the Natural Resources Department and doing my part in

the fight against climate change.

Gerry White, BRNRD Lead Conservation Officer

B

ozhoo,

My name is Gerald (Jerry) White

and I’m the newly hired Chief Warden

for the tribe since July of this year. Since

I moved back home in 1980 I’ve held

several positions in the name of the tribe

of which I’ve found to be very rewarding

personally. In the earlier years I worked

at the Casino when it first opened, the

position I held was in the Security Department. From there I went to work for

GLIFWC in the Conservation Enforcement Department for approximately 20

years. Started working as a field warden

and then ending my career there as the

Chief Warden for the last five years of

my time there. I then went back to work

at the Casino for the next eleven years

at the Casino for

the next eleven

years holding

several positions

but most know

me from my

time as the Human Resource Manager

there. Which brings me back to working for

the tribe as the Chief Warden. I hope that

my past experiences will help me in this

position and that I may pass on what is

needed for the current and future staff and

for the membership of our tribe.

Page 7

COMMON GROUND

Shea Schachameyer, BRNRD Water Resource Specialist

S

hea Schachameyer grew up across from

Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, where she

developed a love of the water and outdoors. With

an interest in furthering her knowledge of environmental science, Shea attended Northland College

from 2015 - 2017 and in that time earned a B.S. in

Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration. During

this time Shea also worked as a Research Technician with Northland’s Burke Center for Freshwater

Science where she assisted with stream monitoring

programs and most recently a climate change vulnerability study in Apostle Islands coastal wetlands. Prior to starting as Bad River’s Water Resource Specialist, Shea worked as a Wildlife Technician with the Red Cliff Tribe, assisting with the

sharp-tailed grouse restoration project in the

Moquah Barrens. Before moving to the

B

rad Bigboy started as a Conservation

Warden with the Bad River Natural Resources

Department on September 18, 2017. Brad left

Odanah on June 3rd to travel to Rhinelander,

WI, to start the Law Enforcement Academy at

Nicolet College on June 4th. Nineteen weeks

later and after a lot of hard work, Brad graduated from the academy on October 12th! The

Bad River Natural Resources Department is

proud of Brad’s hard work and dedication! Amazing job, Brad! Please make sure

to congratulate Brad on his big accomplishment.

Chequamegon Bay

area, Shea worked as a

Research Technician

on environmental education and outreach

expeditions around the

world as well as on the

UW-Milwaukee

School of Freshwater

Science R/V Neeskay.

Page 8

What Rocked? The BRNRD 2018 Summer Youth

Program, of course!

Edith Leoso, THPO

T

he four-week Bad River

Natural Resource Department Summer Youth Program in July

ROCKED! But even before that, we

had a week with Indigenous Arts and

Sciences where our Youth collaborated with Red Cliff Youth to collect

water samples and identify aquatic

species with Linda Reaux, at the Raspberry Tribal Campground, in Red

Cliff. Huge KUDO’s goes out to Lori

Lemieux, Earth Partnership/

Indigenous Arts & Sciences Program

Coordinator and Suzi Smith, GIS

Specialist who supervised the youth

through the entire project. This year’s

program was structured to have four, 4day workshops. We started out the first

week of July learning about Safety on the

water for both, boating and swimming,

and took a day off in observance of 4th of

July. The second week was spent learning

about birch bark and each youth had the

opportunity to learn how to make a birch

bark basket from our local basket maker

Elder, Charlie Ashmun, and his niece

Angela Ashmun. That week ended at

Lake Superior Days. The third week was

Shadow Week, which sounds kind of

spooky, but it was just following BRNRD

staff around so that youth could get a feel

for what staff did every day by actually

having hands on experience doing their

work. The concept of this workshop was

to enlighten youth about what it takes to

work in the various positions within the

Natural Resource Department, and hopefully gain enough interest to want to pursue a college degree and someday take

our jobs away. (Wait…WHAT! ) The

fourth and final week was the most excellent as it entailed getting reconnected to

our Tribal lands on Madeline Island.

During this week, Youth had the opportunity to be the first Tribal members to

spend a week out at the Tribal Cabins,

since the end of

the business

lease. Believe

me, it wasn’t as

glamping

(glamorous

camping) as we

thought it

would be. We

spent a day

cleaning the

cabins (inside

and out) and

making them

comfortable as

they didn’t come with furniture, but

evidently had mice visitors! (Now that

was spooky!) The 2nd day was our

first full day which opened with a sunrise ceremony conducted by Edith

Leoso, THPO. A beautiful sunrise at

5:00am kicked off the tone of the

week which was spent implementing

a full-time curriculum that included,

identifying plants on Tribal lands,

learning their purpose, and learning

their Ojibwe names. That activity was

led by Gloria Rodriguez and Dan

Powless. That evening was spent not

around the campfire, but in complete

darkness walking along the road lis-

Page 9

BRNRD 2018 Summer Youth Program Continued...

tening for…BATS! YES,

BATS! (Now, that was

really spooky!) But by

the end of that activity, it

was beautiful to walk

barefoot along the beach

with Youth, looking at a

view of Mars, unobstructed by light pollution, sparkling like a ruby in the sky, talking

about the Creation Story…(sigh). Thanks to our

very own, Lacey HillKastern, Wildlife Biologist, who led that activity along with

Abby Fergus. The 3rd day was spent on a bike ride to culturally significant and historic sites on the Island that resulted in only one flat tire…which wasn’t mine. That evening, the Youth had an opportunity to watch our very

healthy meal be prepared on an outdoor grill by Marty

Curry and Beth Paap, proprietors of Island Eats farm and

food truck. They also had a chance to taste test some not

so common foods like, Jicama, a root vegetable Native to

Mexico that has the consistency of a water chestnuts but

leans more towards the taste of an apple. Later that evening, Youth finally had the chance to sit around a campfire with

our Youth Services Coordinator Mitch Crowe and our very

own Tribal Chairman, Mike Wiggins, making smores, and

telling tales, tall tales, I’m sure. Our final day, we packed,

and with much apprehension, but full of fond memories, we

left the confines of being unplugged for a week and returned

to the mainland. And that was the conclusion of our BRNRD

Summer Youth Program. A great time, indeed.

Sampling, Jicama slaw, wasabi peas, sardines, pickled beets, kiwi and other foods.

Page 10

COMMON GROUND

West Nile Virus on the Bad River Reservation

August 31, 2018

On

Monday, a resident from Frank’s Field approached

Bad River Wildlife Specialist about a crow that had died in his

yard. He explained that the day before it had been acting sickly

and was having difficulties lifting its head up. BRNRD recovered

the crow (whenever handling sick or deceased wildlife always

wear gloves) and coordinated with the Ashland County Health

Department to send the crow to the health lab in Madison

and be analyzed for West Nile Virus (WNV). Thursday evening,

confirmation was received that the crow tested positive for

WNV.

WNV is a virus that was first detected in the United States in

New York City in 1999 and first documented in humans in

Wisconsin in 2002. This virus is transmitted via mosquito bites.

80% of people infected with WNV never exhibit any symp-

toms. Less then one percent of infected people will

become seriously ill from the virus. Severe symptoms include a sudden onset of a high fever, neck

stiffness, extreme muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, or disorientation. Please check out the

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Website

for more information:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/arboviral/westnilevirus.htm

Since there is confirmation of WNV in the community it is important to be diligent about protecting yourself and family members from mosquito bites. Walk through your yard and dump

out anything that may be holding stagnant water where mosquitos are likely to breed. Wear

bug protection and long pants and sleeves, especially at dawn, dusk, and the evening hours

when mosquitos are most active. It is also important to report unusual wildlife behaviors and

mortalities to local wildlife officials right away.

Injured or Sick Wildlife Response

Lacey Hill-Kastern, Wildlife Specialist

Lacey Hill-Kastern, Wildlife Specialist

T

he Bad River Ma’iingan Management Plan is currently

open for its five-year review and the Bad River Wildlife

Program is seeking comments and feedback from you. We

have been regularly attending Elder lunches and other community events seeking input. On Wednesday, September

19th, we held a community conversation circle and howling

survey at the Bad River Food Sovereignty Building.

This year Wolf Awareness Week will be October 22nd-26th.

Northland College and the Timber Wolf Alliance will be

hosting several events that week in Ashland. The Bad River

Wildlife Program will be hosting a second Community Conversation Circle about Ma’iingan and howl survey on October 24th. We will also be visiting the local schools to educate

youth about Ma’iingan.

Copies of the Bad River Ma’iingan Management Plan can be

downloaded from the website at https://badriver-nsn.gov/

tribal-operations/natural-resources/wildlife-program/maiingan or hard copies can be picked up at the Bad River Natural Resources Department. Comments on the plan can be

submitted through BRNRD or by emailing Lacey at wildlifegis@badriver-nsn.gov.

B

RNRD is always willing to help when responding to sick or injured wildlife on the Reservation, but what if someone cannot be reached? There are

several great facilities in the surrounding area that the Bad River Wildlife Program

will bring injured or sick wildlife to. Just give them a call and they can talk you

through the process or sometimes they will even send volunteers out to help capture

the sick or wounded wildlife. Just remember when trying to capture wildlife that

you can get bitten or they may have a disease that can be transmitted to people, so

always consult with a professional first and always where gloves and other forms of

projection.

•

•

•

Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation

4009 W Arrowhead Rd, Duluth, MN 55811

218-491-3604

Wildwoodsrehab.org

Northwoods Wildlife Center

8683 S Blumenstein Rd, Minocqua, WI 54548

715-356-7400

Northwoodswildlifecenter.org

Wild Instincts – 4621 Apperson Dr, Rhinelander,

WI 54501

715-362-9453

www.wildinstinctsrehab.com

Raptor Education Group, Inc N2160 W Rollwood, Antigo, WI 54409

715-623-4015

www.raptoreducationgroup.org

All these rehabilitation centers have helped rehab Bad River wildlife over the years

and are all great facilities.

Page 11

Wisconsin

Chronic

Wasting

Disease

Emergency Rule

by: Lacey Hill-Kastern, Wildlife Specialist

T

he Wisconsin Department of

Resources (WDNR) on Wednesday August 8th, passed an emergency rule regulating the movement of deer carcasses from CWD

-affected counties for the 2018

season. Whole deer carcasses

may now not leave the CWDaffected county of harvest unless

they are taken to a licensed meat

processor or taxidermist within 72

hours of the carcass leaving the

county of harvest. Deer carcass

parts may now be left in the field,

including on state-owned/

managed lands. Over the past 17

years, CWD has spread to 55 of

the states 72 counties and is making its way into Northern Wisconsin.

What about the Bad River Reservation? The Bad River Wildlife

Program would like to hear your

thoughts about CWD, testing, and

response. Stay tuned for a community conversation circle coming this fall to discuss this.

Indigenous Arts & Science

Program (IAS)

T

June 2018 Flood

T

he Bad River Tribal Council recently adopted a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan for the Bad River Reservation. The plan was developed by

a multi-department team led by the Natural Resource Department.

he Bad

River Natural

Resource Department & Education Department continues

to collaborate

with Earth Partnership

(University of

WI) & Redcliff

Tribe to engage youth,

educators & community

members in IAS through

boat tours, Madeline

Island tours, and cultural

demonstrations.

LFL Boat Tour

Miigwech to FEMA for providing the funding & support needed to complete this plan!

Miigwech to team members & community members for helping accomplish

this plan!

*Contact the Natural Resource Department for copy of the plan.*

Youth Engagement.

~MISSION STATEMENT~

Bad River Natural

Resource 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