Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department (2024)

Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department

 Forestry Aide(s), LTE

 Natural Resources Aide (Water/Fish), LTE

(SPRING)

 Piping Plover Monitor(s), LTE

 NRD Aide(s), LTE

 Wetland Specialist, Full Time

 Wildlife Program Mamager, Full Time

SCAN QR CODE to see Full Job Descriptions

& Other Job

Opportunities within the Bad River Tribe !

~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

Zakk Zander, Air Quality Tech - airqualitytech@badriver-nsn.gov

T

Special points of interest:

he Air program is

currently reviewing

historical documents

in order to better forecast

the future, please reach out

to the air program, with any

historic weather events ya’ll

may remember. As Earth

Day approaches on this warm

year, it is important to remember that we have heavy

suspension that humans

could be a driver of a changing climate. The following

article was pulled from the

Ashland Daily press.

• 2024 Mashkiiziibing Sea

Lamprey Activities

• Manoomin Stewardship Plan

Overview

• Beaches Public Notice

• Upcoming 2024 Wildfire

Season

• Save The Dates for Upcoming

Events

• Nixle Alerts

Inside this issue:

Dr Helmut E. Landsberg

brings you today the glad

tiding that the US. climate is

getting warmer Landsberg is

chief of the Weather

'Bureau's Office of Climatology and he has by no means

Continued on page 3...

Overview of Draft

Manoomin Stewardship

2

Registration Clerk

Introduction

3

MNRD Energy Program

4

selected to Receive

Investment to Accelerate

Clean Energy

Emergency Planning and 5

Brownfield Cleanup, the

Before & After

2024 Mashkiiziibing Sea Lamprey Activities

Jacob Rodmaker, Fisheries Specialist - fisheryspecialist@badriver-nsn.gov

M

ashkiiziibii Natural Resources

(MNRD) in conjunction with the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) and the Great Lakes Indian Fish

and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) have

managed the Sea Lamprey population within Mashkiiziibing for decades. This year

MNRD will be updating our stewardship

plan, conducting adult and larval surveys,

and treating the river to remove the larval

lamprey that are within the watershed. We

are working on updating the Mashkiiziibii

Sea Lamprey Stewardship Plan this spring or

early summer. During

the spring run GLIFWC

will set adult traps to estimate the adult Sea

Lamprey population that is utilizing Mashkiiziibing for reproduction. In summer

USFWS and MNRD will do final spot checks

for larval lamprey before treatment in early

…Continued on page 2...

New Bakaan Ingoji Ondaadag Sightings Form

and Quick Identification

6-7

Beaches Public Notice

8

The Upcoming 2024

Wildfire Season

9

Nixle Alerts Sign-Up

10

Save The Date Flier for

Upcoming Community

Events

11

Current Job

Opportunities

12

Page 2

COMMON GROUND

fall. Mashkiiziibing

scheduled for treatment

from September 24thOctober 3rd. The figure

shows the treatment

map for Mashkiiziibing.

As with many treatments before, minimal

lethal concentrations of

lampricide (TFM) will

be held until just south

of the US highway 2

bridge. If you see

USFWS crews out and

have questions they are

more than happy to talk

to you and answer

them. If you have any

questions or concerns

feel free to contact

MNRD’s Fisheries Specialist, Jacob Rodmaker

at 715-682-7123 ext

1552 or via email at

fisheryspecialist@badriver-nsn.gov.

Overview of draft Manoomin Stewardship Plan 2023

Dan Powless, Manoomin Oshkaabewis - Manoomin@badriver-nsn.gov

R

evisions to the 2007 manoomin management plan

have been completed and

updated into a newly titled draft Manoomin Stewardship Plan as of February 2024. This preliminary document was a result of various meetings held by the Manoomin Work

Group, MNRD, Wild Rice Committee,

and numerous discussions from elders and the community. We also

engaged in personal interviews of

knowledgeable individuals to get

their perspectives based on their life

experiences and related stories in

the Kakagon sloughs. Thompson

Wetlands developed and submitted

the updated version which will be

reviewed by the MNRD and MWG for

the final submittal to the Tribal

Council. We tried to the stay within

the parameters of the grant so that it

affords the transparency of meeting

the needs of all individuals and

groups concerned and especially the

Land itself as it relates to Manoomin.

This is to let you know that you are

not left out of the discussion and

hope it suits the tribe’s needs. Some

things were suggested but are in

process of being developed or are

already in the accompanying appendices but not inserted as of yet.

Here is a short insight of the plan

itself.

This Manoomin Stewardship Plan has

woven tribal Traditional Ecological

Knowledge (TEK) and western science into this 10-year plan that

acknowledges Manoomin as a sacred

resource to the Bad River Tribe (we,

the Tribe). Our relationship to Manoomin is to a being and relative. In

honoring that relationship, this plan

is focused on stewardship (i.e.,

guarding that which we do not own),

Miigwan, the feather

highlights areas where

TEK informs this plan.

which

includes

appropriate

management.

Ozhibii'iganaak, the pen

indicates areas where

conventional science

informs this plan.

Knowledge from the feather is represented by the TEK entrusted to others

through this plan. It captures the history of Manoomin through stories and

knowledge from current and former

elders. Knowledge from the pen is

shared through scientific studies and

research cited throughout this plan.

A Mission Statement /Prayer was developed and expressed in Ojibwemowin in

the draft of the Manoomin Stewardship

Plan. Through this prayer, our original

language will carry this plan into the

future.

Page 11

Page 10

COMMON GROUND

Page 3

taken leave of his senses He concedes that " This March had been unprecedented, so far for mean weather. It record low

temperatures on record heavy snows to many parts of the county: but on nasty March ….

he said, " there is no indication of any decided trend downward. Scientists aren ’t sure just what is causing the warmup, Carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere by men with his coal and oil burning appears to be at least partly responsible. Carbon

dioxide absorbs much of the heat radiated by the earth and sends it back to the surface producing the often “greenhouse

effect”.

B

oozhoo!

My name is Bruce Ford Jr..

I’m a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Indians. I recently Joined MNRD as

the new Registration Station Clerk.

I was born in Milwaukee, Wi. I lived

there until I was 9 years old then

moved to Bad River. I went to school

and got my high school diploma and

joined the US Marine Corps 11 days

later. I served in the Marines for 7

years before returning home.

I’ve been an outdoorsman for about 40

years participating in Hunting, Fishing,

and Gathering both On and Off Reservation.

I was given the opportunity to become

a Creel Clerk for Great Lakes Indian

Fish and Wildlife Commission

(GLIFWC) and I did this seasonal job

for about 7 years. I also worked as the

GLIFWC Registration Station Clerk for

around 5 years.

I’m happy to be at your service, come

see me if you

need any information about

hunting and

gathering On

and Off Rez.

See Everyone

Soon!

Miigwetch!

Page 4

COMMON GROUND

M a s h k i i z i i b i i Na t u ra l R e s o u r c e s D e p a r t m e n t I n a a k i d e s e

( E n e r g y ) P r o g ra m S e l e c t e d b y US D e p a r t m e n t o f E n e r g y

t o R e c e i v e $ 1 4 , 0 8 0 , 0 0 0 M I nv e s t m e n t t o A cc e l e ra t e

C l e a n E n e r g y D e p l o y m e n t i n R u ra l a n d R e m o t e A m e r i ca

Jillian Wilde, Energy Coordinator & Climate Change Specialist - EnergyCoordinator@BadRiver-nsn.gov

T

Project Goals:

he Bad River Tribe of Lake Superior Chippewa was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of

Clean Energy Demonstrations to begin award negotiations for up

to $14,080,000 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding as

part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA)

program (energy.gov/oced). Mashkiiziibii Minigrid was selected

as one of 17 clean energy projects across 20 states and 30 tribal

nations and communities to receive more than $366 million to

ensure more reliable power, lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide economic growth opportunities,

and support our nation’s rural and remote communities.

•

Increase energy resilience and grid performance by substantially

increasing local generation and energy storage.

•

Upgrade local grid infrastructure.

•

Create the ability to isolate from the macro grid and still provide

power to the tribal community at large.

•

Enhance Tribal energy sovereignty by owning an ever-increasing

level of energy infrastructure and develop the workforce to operate and maintain the infrastructure.

The Tribe’s Innakidese (Energy) Program, led by Jillian Wilde and

Daniel Wiggins Jr, will serve as the project lead to build a planned

5 MW of solar power plus 8 MWh of battery storage. It is anticipated that the solar power and storage facility will connect with

existing diesel and natural gas generation to form a hybrid

minigrid, enabling the reservation’s Odanah and Birch Hill communities to maintain power amidst power outages. Bayfield Electric Cooperative will extend buried 3-phase distribution line and

install required switchgear to enable resilient islanding of the

main Bad River tribal communities of Odanah and Birch Hill. The

strategic position of solar and battery storage, and architecture of

the switchgear, will allow the minigrid system to support the grid

on two feeders with voltage, frequency, demand, and potentially

black start. This project aims to help the Bad River Band reach its

goal of net zero carbon emissions with 100% renewable electricity generation by 2027 and provide a model for replication in other tribes and rural communities.

•

Achieve 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2027.

•

Take a leadership role by demonstrating innovative but proven

technology to advance industry practice in an innovative implementation.

As part of its Community Benefits Plan, the Bad River Band plans to

work alongside the University of Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Community Initiative and Bayfield Electric Cooperative to reduce utility bills by

10%. It is anticipated that the project will also provide employment

and financial benefits to tribal members, who face a 14% unemployment rate. The project aims to contribute $200,000 to workforce

development training for local tribal members and contract 50% of

workers from the tribal community. The tribe seeks to partner with a

local school district, community college, and the University of Wisconsin to design new employee training and brainstorm activities to

support and formalize clean energy workforce development.

About the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of

Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) was

established to accelerate clean energy technologies and fill a critical innovation gap on the

path to achieving our nation’s climate goals of

net zero emissions by 2050. OCED’s mission

is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private

sector to accelerate deployment, market adoption, and the equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system. Visit energy.gov/oced

to learn more.

Learn more about this project at

https://www.energy.gov/oced/energyimprovements-rural-or-remote-areasselections-award-negotiations#mashkiiziibii

Page 9

The Upcoming 2024 Wildfire Season

Nathan Kilger, Air Quality Specialist -

D

rought crept into the

lands around the south

shore of Lake Superior last

summer and snowfall this winter has

been the lowest measured in recent

history. While we do not know if

2024 will see rain return and the

rivers fill back up, we must prepare

now in case the drought returns and

expands. This is the time to make

sure your home is protected from

wildfires.

The picture of the house lists items

that each resident can do to give

firefighters a chance to put a fire out

if one should approach their home.

Keeping the grass mowed around

your house is an easy step, but keeping brush cut back and brush piles

away from your house is equally important.

The Bad River Tribal Council passed

the Bad River Open Burning, Burn

Barrel, and Fire Prevention Ordinance in 2003 to keep the Bad River

communities and environment safe

from wildfires. The Ordinance describes what cannot be burned,

when burning shall take place, and

directs Bad River Wardens to issue

burning permits to community members wishing to use fire. Anyone

wishing to use fire must have a valid

and signed burning permit in hand

before starting a fire.

Burning permits are required for any

open burning within the Bad River

Reservation boundary, are free, and

can be obtained by calling a Bad River Warden (715-292-7822). More

details, including exemptions, can be found by

following the QR Code.

Smokey Bear helps communicate the

current fire danger level on the Bad

River Reservation. You can visit

Smokey Bear in person along US

Highway 2 in Odanah or you can

check out Smokey’s status at this QR

Code. Wisconsin DNR may have

different information for areas outside of the Bad River Reservation,

please check their website for those

locations.

When Smokey Bear rises to VERY

HIGH or EXTREME, burning bans may

be issued, burning permits will be

halted, and everyone will be asked to

remain vigilant to any fire that may

escape. On those days with dangerously warm, dry, and windy conditions, the Bad River Wardens may

issue a burning ban for the safety of

the communities and the environment. Burning bans will be sent out

on the Bad River’s NIXLE cell phone

alert system and posted on social

media.

Page 8

Page 5

Andrew Spychalla, Brownfield Specialist - Brownsfield@badriver-nsn.gov

O

ne never knows when a spill or

release of hazardous substances may

occur. The same as one never knows

when they’ll stub their toe. If they knew,

it wouldn’t happen. Planning for something like a release of hazardous materials

or chemicals, before it happens, is an

integral process for not only the brownfield program, but all of MNRD. Planning for emergencies in general is important

for any person, group, business, or entity.

The planning stages before an emergency, and

and different Emergency Support Functions -

Preparation for the worst makes the worst less

the implementation of measures to fix the

chapters - of the Band’s Emergency Response

so.

situation after the emergency occurs allow for

Plan. Also, there are many items that fit in the

a review of what went right or wrong during a

“after” category. Codes for cleanup, sampling

If a spill or release of a hazardous substance or

response. In a similar fashion, it is likely

limits, and chemical concentrations are being

material does take place within the external

we’ve all had a cold or the flu this winter. We

reviewed. These codes allow the Band to set

boundaries of the Bad River Reservation, a set

prepared for the chance we got sick, saving up

limits on the amount or concentration of cer-

of codes governs the response. Tribal Code

sick hours at work, having blankets and heat-

tain chemicals that are allowed in the soils,

Chapter 380: Environmental Response and

ing pads in the closet, and stocking frozen

sediments, groundwater, and surface water;

Remediation – gives the Bad River Band au-

soup ready to be reheated. After the cold and

and it allows the Band to hold others to those

thority to clean up any number of spills. It

flu season, we are reminded to wash hands,

limits as well. Any changes that are made will

allows the Band to be reimbursed for the ex-

wear a mask on a plane or public transporta-

be posted for public comment and Tribal

penses of a cleanup or directs those responsi-

tion, and are generally more cognizant of our

Council review when finished.

ble for the spill to clean it up themselves. Hav-

health. This planning before and reflection

ing these codes allows the Band to respond

afterward, makes getting sick hopefully a little

after a spill, and ensure the landscape is

more bearable this time, and the next time.

brought back as close as possible to the condi-

The planning steps before an emergency, and

the cleanup and review periods afterwards, are

constantly ongoing processes that allow the

tion it was in. When the codes are being im-

MNRD and the brownfield program are cur-

Band to set standards to keep the land and

plemented, there is a lot occurring at once.

rently going through the list of things labelled

water in as pristine of a condition as possible.

The spill is on the landscape, the cleanup pro-

“before.” There have been a handful of Emer-

Preparing for different types of emergencies is

cess is ongoing, the staff or contractors are out

gency Response training sessions hosted over

done on a large scale as well as on a personal

with their equipment, various agencies are

the last few years. These sessions get staff on

level every day. It is the hope that there is

checking in, there is paperwork and the finan-

the same page of what to expect in the event

never a spill, or never a release of hazardous

cial ongoings to reimburse for cost, and hope-

of an emergency. There will be more of these

substances. The one thing always worth doing

fully after all of that – the site, which was just

training sessions held in the very near future.

is preparing, but in the end, one never knows.

contaminated, is no longer, or is much less so.

MNRD is in the process of updating docu-

They could stub their toe this week. -

ments such as the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

Miigwech

Page 6

COMMON GROUND

New Bakaan Ingoji Ondaadag Sightings Form and a Quick Identification

Guide

Bridget Thornburg, Non-Local Beings Program Manager - nonlocalbeings@badriver-nsn.gov

B

akaan Ingoji Ondaadag or the Non-Local Beings Program now has a google form that anyone

can use to report sightings of non-local beings around the reservation

https://forms.gle/u8X6Hqt2LhsHTtFr6 You can also call to report sightings at 715-685-7840

(ext. 1558).

This past summer the Non-Local Beings crew monitored 393 miles along main roads of the reservation for nonlocal beings. During this time, they removed non-local beings from 19 acres of land! This amounted to 6 truckloads, 9 large trash bags, and 1,625 plants removed. Purple loosestrife, buckthorn, and wild parsnip were the

most abundant non-local beings that were removed. It is important to be aware of these species because wild

parsnip can cause harm to humans, and all these non-local beings can outcompete native plants, ultimately

threatening the biodiversity of this area. Help the Non-Local Beings Program by reading this quick guide on

these species and reporting sightings on our google form:

Buckthorn: This species leaf’s out much earlier in the spring and holds leaves

much later in the fall than many other trees and shrubs. This, along with the characteristic dark berries late in the season can make this plant easy to identify. The

leaves of buckthorn are oval with have deep arcing veins. Most often, buckthorn

leaves appear to be almost opposite of one another on the twig. Buckthorn is

spread throughout the reservation, mostly on the west side. Removal of this very

persistent species can be difficult, for the most success it is critical to begin removal efforts early in the spring while the plants are still small, and to be careful

not to leave the berries behind after removal because seeds are viable for up to 5

years after detaching from the plant.

Photo courtesy of Leslie J. Mehroff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Purple Loosestrife: This species has a square stem, you can roll it between your fingers to feel

the 4 sides of the stem. The flowers are pink or purple colored and form a tall spike during the

summer. While this species is very beautiful, it has the potential to severely impact significant

functions of wetlands by changing the water levels. Each stem of this plant can produce up to

300,000 seeds per year that are viable for up to 20 years, allowing it to spread very quickly.

When it encroaches into wetlands it decreases the amount of water stored and filtered in the

wetland, and the thick mats of roots can decrease wetland habitat for fish and wildlife. This species is currently in the sloughs and in ditches along the roads. The key to removing this species

is consistent monitoring and frequent hand pulling.

Photo courtesy of Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Wild Parsnip: This species can be confused with Queen Anne’s lace; however, wild parsnip is

much taller, has larger flowers and a stouter stem, reaching up to 4-6 feet tall when flowering.

The leaves look similar to celery leaves, there are grooves on the stem, and the flowers are yellow and clustered together. This plant can cause severe chemical burns and blistering when skin

Continued on next page

Page 7

COMMON GROUND

New Bakaan Ingoji Ondaadag Sightings Form and a Quick Identification

Guide continued...

and blistering when skin that has touched the plant is exposed to sunlight. If it is accidentally touched, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and keep it covered for 48 hours. This species is

present around the powwow grounds and in pockets on the southeastern end of the reservation. Removal

for this species is most successful early in the spring, and when areas with populations of wild parsnip are

frequently monitored to remove resprouts. Photos courtesy of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

A

dditionally, the following species either have small populations or the potential to spread onto the reservation:

garlic mustard, common teasel/ cut-leaved teasel, and poison hemlock. While we are doing everything we can to

slow the introduction and population growth of these species, we need the help of those who know the land and

notice changes in plant species in areas that we may not.

Garlic Mustard: This species appears as kidney shaped rosette leaves close

to the ground (1 to 6 inches) for the first year of its life. The second year of

growth it grows 1 to 4 feet high and flowers. The leaves are dark green and

scalloped along the edges, the leaves and stems smell like garlic or onion

when crushed, and it has small white clustered leaves. This species causes

harm to many native plants including trilliums, trout lily, red maple, and sugar maple. Hand

pulling early in the spring is the best control measure for this species. Photos courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension

Common/Cutleaf Teasel: Similar to the garlic mustard, teasel lives

its first year or two of life as a rosette of leaves near the ground.

Common teasel leaves are oval-shaped, have white hairs, and scalloped edges, measuring up to 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Cutleaf teasel is similar but has deeply lobed leaves. Later in life, these

species can grow a prickly flowering stalk up to 7 feet tall. The flowers are light purple, and

cylinder shaped. The flowers group in an egg-like shape. This species produces many

seeds and can outcompete the native species in the region very quickly. Hand pulling to

fully remove the root is the most effective control measure, flower and seed heads can also

be cut from the flower before they mature. Photos courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension

Poison Hemlock: While this species can also resemble Queen Anne’s lace, there

are distinct purple spots on the stem to distinguish this plant and it can grow to 8

feet tall. The leaves are fern-like, the flowers are white and cluster together like an

umbrella, and the stem may appear ridged due to veins. This species is deadly to

humans and livestock if digested. All parts of the plant are highly toxic. Do not burn

or compost this plant. Dead plants remain toxic for 3 years. Photos courtesy of University

of Minnesota Extension