Tribal Forest Protection Act Projects in the Lake States

Sand Plains Ecosystem Restoration Part 1

The project was approved by the Regional Forester on December 21, 2016 for 15,822 acres of 20-40 year old red and white pine plantations.  The goals of the project are to improve the diversity and structural complexity of red pine, enhance climate change resilience, and reflect native plant communities supportive of wildlife, culture, and fire. Phase 1 is to restore native plant community in a historically fire-dependent pine ecosystem.

Project activities will include multi-thinning, treatments to remove competing vegetation and reduce hazardous fuels, and to plant/seed desirable native species. 

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Sand Plains Ecosystem Restoration, Part 2

This is the second phase of a larger project to advance restoration of species diversity, structural diversity, and a native plant community in a historically fire dependent pine ecosystem through the implementation of prescribed fire as well as seeding and planting of native plant species.

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Aspen and Climate Project on Capitol Project Fund Lands within the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Reservation

Approved by the Regional Forester February 8, 2018.  On Chippewa National Forest lands within Leech Lake Reservation, there are 72, 230 acres of stands categorized as aspen.   The over representation of aspen on the landscape results in decreased forest diversity, higher risk of climate change impacts and a non-representation of native plant communities.  A shift in aspen would restore fire dependent species and allow natural succession to occur, increasing forest diversity and climate change resistance/resilience. 

This project would change the proportion of the reservation that is dominated by aspen to provide a more diverse forest that would improve resistance and resilience to climate change.  Mesic hardwood stands would be left to mature and succeed naturally.  Fire dependent systems would be managed more aggressively through harvest, site preparation and planting, and prescribed fire may be utilized prior to planting of these systems as part of the Fire Restoration TFPA.  Stands that already contain later successional fire adapted species could also be treated with prescribed fire following aspen harvest.  The Aspen and Climate Change TFPA project will help the Capitol Project Fund meet the Forest Plan goals and objectives, specifically Objective 2 for Vegetation Management: Increase acres of red, white and jack pine, spruce/fir, and northern hardwood vegetation communities. Decrease acres of aspen vegetation communities.

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Wildland Fire Program Capacity Building and TFPA/638 Fire Restoration

In 2019, Leech Lake Reservation submitted a TFPA Fire Restoration proposal.  In 2023 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe submitted a proposal for another grant to begin work in 2024 to prepare 6,250 acres for fire restoration under the Fire Restoration TFPA on Leech Lake Reservation and entered into a 638 Agreement with the Chippewa National Forest to tie two TFPA projects into one. 

This project is supported by the USDA Forest Service Washington Office of Tribal Relations.  The project will increase the ability of the Leech Lake Wildland Fire Program to provide services in wildland fire suppression, hazardous fuels reductions in the urban interface, and prescribed fire on Tribal lands adjacent to the Chippewa National Forest.

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Sand Plains Restoration Part 3 Ecosystem Restoration

This project desires to develop actions and proactive measures to work towards restoration of portions of the Chippewa National Forest that are frequently utilized by Tribal members and restore native plant community in a historically forest-dependent pine ecosystem.

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Fire Dependent Stands and Climate Change

This project desires to develop vegetation management conditions on Forest Service lands within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in areas of fire-dependent native plant communities with historically frequent fire return intervals.

This project aspires to achieve the appropriate balance of resources to sustain Ojibwe lifeways, using ecological and cultural restoration work in coordination with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) offered by the Band to achieve desired conditions described in management plans.  Further the project commits to the success of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the USDA Forest Service on October 4, 2019.

 Associated Tribe: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 

Jumbo River Watershed Enhancement

The Jumbo River Enhancement Project aims to achieve several important goals:

1. Habitat Restoration and Conservation: Restore and enhance the natural habitat along the Jumbo River, benefiting local wildlife and plant species. Improve water quality and ecosystem health by addressing issues like erosion and invasive species.
2. Cultural Preservation: Respect and honor the cultural significance of the land to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Preserve traditional practices, knowledge, and connections to the environment. Preserve traditional practices, knowledge, and connections to the environment.
3. Collaboration and Advocacy: Foster collaboration between KBIC, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Advocate for sustainable land management practices and protection of natural resources.

Overall, the project seeks to create a harmonious balance between ecological restoration and cultural heritage.

 Associated Tribe: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community   

Manoomin (Wild Rice) Access Project

The Manoomin Access Project addresses need for improvements to or new access routes, within 1842 Ceded Territory and lands on the Ottawa National Forest, for the purposes of restoration and harvesting efforts by the Lac Vieux Desert Tribe. The project will specifically address needs at four locations including Sucker Lake, Brush Lake, Mallard Lake, and the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River. The Ottawa National Forest is still in the process of securing the engineering/design of each access improvement/addition. This project was fully funded through a TFPA proposal and is a priority initiative of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

Team members for Lac Vieux Desert are the Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Council, the Lac Vieux Desert Conservation Committee (Manoomin Authority for LVD), the LVD Environmental Department, and the LVD Tribal Historic Preservation Office.

 Associated Tribe: Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa  

Improve Wild Rice Habitat to Support Tribal Food Sovereignty by Replacing Road Stream Crossings on the Wisconsin River

Under this TFPA agreement, the Tribe would collaborate with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest on food sovereignty initiatives, improving access to exercise Tribal reserved treaty rights, cultural resource protection, natural resources protection, and incorporating Tribal indigenous knowledge for land management and public understanding within the ceded-treaty territory and adjacent to Lake Lac Vieux Desert. One initial planned project would incorporate all these goals. The Lac Vieux Desert (LVD) Tribe identified, during formal consultation, the replacement of four culverts with one approximately 36-foot span bridge on Forest Road 2205 as their top priority for supporting Food Sovereignty. The LVD Tribe has historically been identified as one of several Tribal disadvantaged and underserved communities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The replacement of these culverts with a bridge removes a significant barrier to aquatic organism passage, eliminates artificial upstream ponding impacting dam operations and water quality, and supports restoration of traditional Manoomin (wild rice) beds in Lake Lac Vieux Desert. This lake is a large natural, spring-fed lake that serves as the headwaters of the Wisconsin River and supports Manoomin and fish that have been harvested for sustenance by the LVD Tribal community since migration to the Old Village site. The lake is located near the LVD Tribe’s traditional village, Getegitigaaning, which is still occupied today.

The replacement of this stream crossing to restore natural water surface elevations downstream of the dam has been identified by Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) stakeholders (many organizations including USDA Forest Service, LVD Tribe, US Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) to be a high priority for the long-term success of Manoomin. This project is one part of a comprehensive effort between the Ottawa National Forest, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and the LVD Tribe to address lake water quality, habitat, access, food sovereignty, and preservation of Tribal culture on Lake Lac Vieux Desert across the State lines of Wisconsin and Michigan.

The existing stream crossing consists of four culverts on Forest Road 2205 and is significantly undersized. The culverts are set above the stream bed creating a barrier to aquatic organisms at most water flow rates. The crossing is 800 feet' downstream of the Lac Vieux Desert Dam, a small low head dam. The dam raises water levels only a couple of feet. An elevation survey confirmed that the existing perched undersized culverts back water up to the Lac Vieux Desert Lake outlet dam in high flow conditions, which limits how much effect the dam can have to lower lake levels to elevations specified in the dam's AMP particularly during wet year operations. The goal of the AMP is to have an operational plan for the dam that provides the greatest benefit to the growth and sustainability of Manoomin while balancing other stakeholder and resource concerns.

Additional efforts for this project will tier from the stream crossing restoration to improve Manoomin and Ogaawag (walleye) habitat and provide interpretation at Lac Vieux Desert Recreation area. These efforts include replacing signage and providing for Tribal ceremonial practices.

Associated Tribes:  Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa  &  Keweenaw Bay Indian Community 

Wiigwaas & Giizhik (Paper Birch and Cedar) for the Future Project

This TFPA project has two primary aspects:

The first is to establish a formalized process for exchanging mapping information between Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and the Ottawa National Forest for paper birch and northern white cedar gathering opportunities.  This portion of the project will extend across all areas of the Ottawa National Forest.

The second aspect is to improve the regeneration, recruitment, growth, and development of paper birch and northern white cedar through active management projects.  This second aspect of the project will be targeted to portions of the Ottawa National Forest closest to the KBIC headquarters in Baraga, MI, primarily on the Ontonagon and Kenton Ranger Districts within existing active vegetation management projects and the LVD-L’Anse Trail Corridor.

The area includes valuable trust resources, treaty rights, and culturally important areas and resources for KBIC.  Specifically, these include the LVD-L'Anse Trail Corridor, wild rice beds in Ottawa National Forest lakes, birch, and other species. KBIC is proposing several actions that will help the Ottawa National Forest adapt to climate change risks, all of which do, or will, create risk to adjoining or adjacent Tribal lands and/or values, and recognizing the unique local considerations of the project area.

 Associated Tribe: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community 

Preservation and Restoration of Wiigwaasmitigoog (Paper Birch Trees) in the Treaty Ceded Territories of 1836, 1837, 1842 and 1854

This TFPA project desires to mitigate impacts of climate change on the cultural values of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians.  The Jumbo River Watershed is spread out in a wide area with many wetlands, lakes, and creeks that are important to cultural and recreational values of the Ojibwa people.

The changing climate poses a threat to the Jumbo River Watershed, specifically climate factors like more days with extreme heat in summer and winter, extreme high stream flows and low stream flows, more frequent heavy precipitation events, longer growing seasons, changes in phenology, and declines in northern boreal plants and animals.  The project incorporates adaptation actions on approximately 26,274 acres of land administered by the Ottawa National Forest.

 Associated Tribes: Represented by Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission 

Superior Township Dump Site Cleanup & Stream Restoration, Endazhi-atoon

The Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC) and the Hiawatha National Forest are working to clean up and restore the former Superior Township Dump located in a small primary or secondary stream that flows onto BMIC reservation land and into Lake Superior. BMIC and the Hiawatha National Forest see this project as a three phase process: Phase I: Feasibility Study of the Site, Phase II: Site Cleanup, Phase III: Site Restoration.

Funding is available through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to complete Phase I. This would be the first step in restoring the creek to its original state to benefit native species and protect the environment and human health. The feasibility study would be used to determine the types of items, chemicals and debris in the dump; if contaminants are leaking into the water; and how deep waste is buried in the dump. Subsequent specific actions at the site are currently unknown until the feasibility study is completed. This will inform what actions are most appropriate for addressing Phases II and III and the resources needed to carry out the actions.

Threat to Tribal Lands and Need for Restoration:

Records indicate that the creek once held native brook trout. The stream and surroundings should be quality invertebrate and amphibian habitat. However, because the creek and adjacent hillside were used as a dump site for many years, the stream has degraded to a point that it is now unsuitable habitat for most species. It appears that televisions, cars and other refuse were dumped down the slope leading to the stream on an area several hundred meters long. The stream runs through at least one car and several televisions. In addition to negatively impacting availability of natural substrate and other habitat features necessary for aquatic life, it is suspected the waste is still leaking chemical pollutants into the water, making the water itself uninhabitable.

Ongoing climate change presents several risks to the natural and cultural values of the BMIC. Regional climate change trends make clean up and restoration of this site imperative to protect the environment and human health.

The region is seeing more heat days and these are forecasted to increase. A new Tribal housing development is under construction approximately a half mile away. This housing will include over 80 for families. The proximity of the site to family housing is a concern as people may be enticed to escape the heat by spending time exploring the cooler area that the forest and stream provide.

Increased precipitation, more high-streamflow days in winter and spring, and more frequent heavy precipitation events are of great concern for this site. Debris from the dump site is already exposed and chronological pictures show that more debris is being uncovered as time passes. These climate change driven precipitation events are anticipated to expose more debris. Also of concern are sources of material and contaminants currently buried in the bank which could be released through erosion, and further impact soil, groundwater and surface water. This in turn would impact aquatic life in the stream, and the fisheries and wild rice beds that are downstream in Waiska Bay. Human health is a great concern for children playing in the area of this site or downstream from it, and for families who may be recreating, hunting and gathering, and pursuing their life-ways near the site.

The region is already seeing declines in northern and boreal plants and animals due to climate change. This will need to be considered when restoring the site. Assisted migration by planting species that are more climate adaptive as well as species of cultural significance to the Tribe are also being considered.

A significant amount of disturbance will occur at the site due to debris removal during Phase II, and fill will likely be imported during restoration activities in Phase III. Because of these two actions, there is a strong possibility of non-local beings (invasive species) becoming established at the site. The site will need to be monitored and action taken to remove non-local beings before they become established.

Other Factors: The area includes features unique to the BMIC Tribe, including trust resources, treaty rights and culturally important areas and resources.

 Associated Tribe: Bay Mills Indian Community 

Little Plains

This project restores cultural fire to the Little Plains area, conducts pre and post- fire monitoring, and collects local Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Additionally, wildland firefighting training for Tribal members will be conducted.

For a number of years BMIC, Biological Services Department and Hiawatha National Forest have been developing the Little Plains Ishkode project on the Hiawatha National Forest to restore cultural fire and land management to pre-colonization conditions; these actions would also sustain the availability of wild blueberries, a culturally-important species, in a climate refuge accessible to Bay Mills citizens.

Wild blueberries (Vaccinium spp) are understood to be a tribally-important species for subsistence harvesting. Land use goals favoring timber production have excluded cultural fire from this location of historic berry gathering, but through partnership, it is now being restored. This study will observe the response of berry production during this restoration. We observe and record the response of berry production and change in vegetation during the course of these treatments (before, after logging, after prescribed fire).

Additionally, this proposal intends to educate youth and community members through a series of presentations and field trips on local climate impacts, land use history, cultural connections with fire (ishkode), and sustaining treaty rights and treaty-protected resources in a climate refuge near the community.

 Associated Tribe: Bay Mills Indian Community 

The Ishkode Project: Advancing Co-Stewardship of Federal Lands and Demonstrating Relational Engagement in Remnant Boreal Forests in the Eastern Upper Peninsula: Engaging Anishinaabe and Western Sciences in Building Resilience in Remnant Boreal Forest Ecological Systems

In 2019, the Sault Tribe Wildlife Program initiated an ishkode project, in collaboration with the Hiawatha National Forest and the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan. Wildlife Program and Inter-Tribal Council staff collaboratively pursued interviews with Sault Tribe elders, cultural staff, and regional Anishinaabeg to better understand past and present Anishinaabe relations with ishkode (fire) on the land, enhance Wildlife Program and local Anishinaabeg communication and collaboration on Wildlife Program activities, and guide Wildlife Program fire management planning on Tribal and Federal forest lands.

Ishkode (fire) has been an important actor in Anishinaabe forest stewardship for hunting and gathering opportunities, succession stewardship, and supporting other culturally important species and communities. Ishkode, ignited by both lightning strikes and by Anishinaabek, was the predominant post-glacial disturbance, influencing multiple scales from individual communities and ecosystems to the broader landscape. USDA Forest Service research suggests a historic mean fire return interval of 6 years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula red pine forests. Ishkode and these fire-shaped biotic communities are an integral component of the ecosystems that define and inform Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin (our cultural traditions and ways of life). Ishkode suppression is a major stressor in regional forests, which has changed the age, structure, and species composition of vegetation, reduced biotic diversity, and contributed to species endangerment. This suppression has also impaired Sault Tribe community relationships with ishkode and understandings of how ishkode has contributed to shaping our lands and culture.

This co-stewardship approach will utilize Anishinaabe and Western Science to understand the impact of current fire management and evaluate new prescriptions with different science and cultural perspectives. This adaptive management approach creates a plan to enhance fire safety, ecosystem resilience, biotic diversity, and revitalize and protect ancestral forest relations.

 Associated Tribe: The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians 

The Ishkode Project: Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Prescribed Fire Effectiveness Monitoring

In 2019, the Sault Tribe Wildlife Program initiated an Ishkode Project, in collaboration with the Hiawatha National Forest and the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan. Wildlife Program and Inter-Tribal Council staff collaboratively pursued interviews with Sault Tribe elders, cultural staff, and regional Anishinaabeg to better understand past and present Anishinaabe relations with ishkode (fire) on the land, enhance Wildlife Program and local Anishinaabeg communication and collaboration on Wildlife Program activities, and guide Wildlife Program fire management planning on tribal and federal forest lands.

Ishkode (fire) has been an important actor in Anishinaabe forest stewardship for hunting and gathering opportunities, succession stewardship, and supporting other culturally important species and communities. Ishkode, ignited by both lightning strikes and by Anishinaabek, was the predominant post-glacial disturbance, influencing multiple scales from individual communities and ecosystems to the broader landscape. US Forest Service research suggests a historic mean fire return interval of 6 years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula red pine forests. Ishkode and these fire-shaped biotic communities are an integral component of the ecosystems that define and inform Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin (our cultural traditions and ways of life). Ishkode suppression is a major stressor in regional forests, which has changed the age, structure, and species composition of vegetation, reduced biotic diversity, and contributed to species endangerment. This suppression has also impaired Sault Tribe community relationships with ishkode and understandings of how ishkode has contributed to shaping our lands and culture.

This co-stewardship approach will utilize Anishinaabe and Western Science to understand the impact of current fire management and evaluate new prescriptions with different science and cultural perspectives. This adaptive management approach creates a plan to enhance fire safety, ecosystem resilience, biotic diversity, and revitalize and protect ancestral forest relations.

 Associated Tribe: The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians