FOND DU LAC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2008 INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA Fond du Lac: Resource Management 2008 Integrated Resource Management Plan Draft V Table of Contents Table of Figures 3 ii. Signatory page 4 iv. Vision Statement 5 vii. Executive Summary 5 1. Introduction 9 Public Involvement 9 Methodology and Organization of the Plan 10 Origins and History 11 Description of Affected Environment 11 Topography 11 Climate 12 4. Natural Resources 13 A. Cultural / Traditional 13 A1. Description of the Resource 13 A2. Background on Archeological Resources 14 A3. Issues & Concerns 14 A4. Opportunities 14 B. Wild Rice 14 B1 Description of the Resource 14 B2: Background 14 B2a: Restoration Efforts to Date 15 B3: Issues, Concerns and Opportunities 18 C. Water and Wetlands 19 C1 Description of the Resource 19 C2. Background 19 C3. Issues, concerns and opportunities 24 D. Fisheries: 27 D1. Description of Affected Resource 27 D2. Background of the resource 27 D3. Issues, concerns and opportunities 29 E. Land Resources 30 E1. Description of Resource 30 E2. Background on the Resource 30 E3. Issues, concerns, and opportunities 32 F. Forestry 33 F1. Description of the Resource 33 F2. Background on the Resource 34 FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 1 F3. Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities 46 F5 Management Alternatives and Potential Impacts 48 F.5.a Alternative I: Maintain the Current Program 49 F.5.b Alternative IIa: Ecological Silviculture with a “No Harvest Zone” The Preferred Alternative. 50 F.5.c Alternative IIb: Implement Ecological Forestry with a “No Harvest Zone” 51 F.5.c Alternative III: Maximize Timber Production: 52 G. Wildlife: 53 G1. Description of affected Resource: 53 G2. Background on the Resource 53 G. 3 Issues and Concerns Opportunities 56 H. Air Quality 58 H1. Description of the affected resource 58 H2. Background on the Resource 58 H3. Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities 61 5. Socio-Economic Resources 62 A. Conservation/Enforcement 62 A1. Description of affected resource 62 A2. Background 62 A3. Issues, concerns, and opportunities 62 A4. Goals and objectives 63 B. Recreational Resources 63 B1. Description of the affected resource 63 B3. Issues, Concerns, Opportunities 63 C. Energy Resources and Management 64 C1. Description of the Resource 64 C.2 Background on the Resource 64 C3. Issues, Concerns and Opportunities 67 C. Waste Management and Hazardous Substances 68 C1. Description of the affected resource 68 C2. Background on the Resource 69 C3. Issues, concerns and opportunities 70 6. Alternatives for Resource Programs 72 Alternative 1 (Considered a no action or status quo alternative). 72 Alternative 2 : Expansion & Improvement of Current Programs 73 Alternative 3: Reprioritize Program Directives 75 References 77 Appendices 78 Appendix A 78 Resource Management Division Internal Project Review Process 78 Appendix B 82 Questions & Comments from Public Meetings 82 Appendix C 88 FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 2 Capital Project Development 88 Appendix D 91 Definitions: Acronyms in Document 91 Table of Figures Figure 1 Monitoring Wells ................................................................................................ 21 Figure 2 Fond du Lac Wetlands ........................................................................................ 23 Figure 4 Forestry Organizational Chart ............................................................................ 34 Figure 6 Early Settlement Vegetation Relative Abundance ............................................. 36 Figure 7 Early Settlement Vegetation Map ...................................................................... 37 Figure 8 Forest Covertype Relative Abundance ............................................................... 39 Figure 9 Volume by Covertype......................................................................................... 40 Figure 10 Age distribution of Aspen and Birch Covertypes............................................. 40 Figure 11 Northern Hardwood Age Distribution .............................................................. 41 Figure 12 Swamp Hardwoods Age Distribution ............................................................... 41 Figure 13 Swamp Conifers Age Distribution ................................................................... 42 Figure 14 Fir-Spruce Age Distribution ............................................................................. 43 FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 3 ii. Signatory page Prepared By:__________________________________________Date ___________ Fond du Lac Resource Management Director Concurrence By_______________________________________Date ___________ Minnesota Agency Superintendent Bureau of Indian Affairs. Approved By: _______________________________________Date ____________ Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee, Chairwoman Resolution Number _____ Dated ________ Approved By: ________________________________________Date ___________ Midwest Regional Director Bureau of Indian Affairs FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 4 iv. Vision Statement The Fond du Lac Resource Management Division is committed to the management,conservation, and sustainability of the natural resources of the Fond du Lac Band in order to protect the environment on the Fond du Lac Reservation and within its treaty areas. The Resource Management Division will use the tools of research, education and outreach with Band Members, partners and stakeholders to accomplish these goals. vii. Executive Summary The purpose of the Fond du Lac Band’s Integrated Resource Management Plan is to manage the Band’s resources effectively for future generations. The Integrated Resource Management Plan will be used to address current and future management options of the Band. The Integrated Resource Management Plan has been developed by a group of people dedicated to the protection, enhancement, and management of Fond du Lac’s resources. This Integrated Resource Management Plan contains information about the Band’s past and current management activities and identifies resources that need additional management. The Integrated Resource Management Plan contains alternatives to resource management, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, which are based on the management objectives. Management activities range from no action to full implementation, and the alternatives presented reflect that range. The objectives that can be completed under each alternative are displayed in a table located at the end of discussion on alternatives. Public input was solicited on the draft document, which included a variety of management alternatives. Comments obtained from the community and tribal government were incorporated into the final document, and the hearing process provided a basis for the formulation and selection of the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative is officially approved by Resolution # 1183/08. Each resource is described in a narrative that was developed in the following format: o Description of the affected environment o Background for that resource o Issues, concerns, and opportunities for that resource o Goals and objectives for that program, with different management alternatives The final chapter is a summary of the alternatives. The preferred alternative is identified for each resource. FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 5 An important purpose of this document is to guide resource managers. Objectives are specific guides for each resource. The objectives should be reviewed frequently and updated as needed. The maximum period before review and update is ten years. All project work will be documented. The Fond du Lac Band is committed to the expansion and development of programs to successfully manage the Reservation’s natural resources. Maps are also included in this plan as a visual aid and resource management tool. Summary of Preferred Alternatives: Cultural/Traditional Alternative 2: A Tribal Historical Preservation Office (THPO) will be employed to better meet requirements of Section 106. Employees will increase from 1 to 2. Wild Rice Alternative 2: Improve wild rice harvest by conducting monitoring and restoration projects in the Ceded territories Water and Wetlands Alternative 2: Maximize the exercise of tribal sovereignty through the assumption of environmental regulatory authorities under the Clean Water Act: water quality standards, nonpoint source management, permitting under Sections 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), and 404 (Wetland Dredge and Fill). These activities are also eligible for federal funding through the US Environmental Protection Agency. Extending the work of the Fond du Lac Office of Water Protection to off-Reservation/Ceded Territories activities (Alternative 3) is not eligible for the same federal program funding, nor do the Band's delegated authorities extend to off-Reservation lands. Fisheries Alternative 2: Improve and increase fish population assessments both on the Reservation and within both the 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories, with the goal of adding harvest opportunities. Land Resources An alternative was not developed for land resources. The resource is currently under the direction of the Land Use Committee and the Planning Division, which operates under a separate Land Use Plan. FOND DU LAC IRMP 6/19/2008 6 Forestry Alternative 2: Ecological Silviculture will be used to guide forest management decisions. A limited harvest zone will be established within a ¼ mile of the wild rice lakes and ¼ mile of the St. Louis River. Major