The Fond du Lac Office of Water Protection includes the staff and programs responsible for protecting the aquatic resources of the Reservation: surface waters (lakes and streams), wetlands, and ground water. The Reservation has been granted “Treatment as an Affected State” authority for administering its water quality program, and has adopted water quality standards with designated uses such as fishing, recreation, cultural and wild rice. Since 1998, we have been monitoring these waters to determine if they are indeed “healthy” and able to support the types of aquatic life that we would expect to see in lakes and streams in northern Minnesota. A Joint Comprehensive Wetland Protection and Management Plan is nearing completion, providing a framework for protecting and conserving these important resources. We are also finalizing a Source Water Protection Plan, laying out the strategy for protecting the Band’s drinking water sources.

In addition, Fond du Lac has conducted research on environmental contaminants such as mercury, lead and PCBs, and analyzed fish from Reservation waters for mercury concentrations, leading to fish consumption guidelines. We have identified restoration projects, such as improving stream crossings and enhancing wild rice production in Wild Rice Lake. We are beginning a nonpoint source management program for the Reservation, and working on a cooperative wastewater management project for the Big Lake community. All of these projects and plans are designed to protect and restore the waters of the Reservation for generations to come.

For more information contact:
Nancy Schuldt
Water Projects Coordinator
Fond du Lac Environmental Program
1720 Big Lake Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
Phone: (218) 878-8010
Email Link

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