Contacting the Office:
Julie Morin, Acting Native American Specialist
e-mail: Julie_Morin@fws.gov
BHW Federal Building
One Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
Phone: 612-713-5108
Fax: 612-713-5280
Return to Wisconsin
Page
Return to Tribal Grants Main Page
Stream Quality Surveyed in the Oneida Nation Reservation
The Green Bay Fishery Resources Office (Service) joined members of the Oneida
Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin (Tribe) Oct. 30 to sample 11 sites on seven
streams within the Reservation. The assessments will help determine biological
health and quality of fishery resources on the Reservation. The objectives
were to identify species composition, describe the biological health of each
stream, document seasonal fish migration from the Bay of Green Bay and assist
with a Tribal creel survey. Sampling was performed with electro-shocking
equipment during the spring, summer and fall. A total of 3723 fish representing
35 species were sampled during the 2001 assessments. Game fish species sampled
include largemouth bass, walleye, brook trout, northern pike and smallmouth
bass. An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score was calculated for applicable
sites to determine the biological health or integrity of each stream. The
IBI scores will enable the Tribe to monitor stream integrity over time and
determine the impact land use change has on stream health within the Reservation.
Stream Restoration on Trout Creek in the Oneida Nation Reservation.The Green
Bay Fishery Resources Office (FRO) is working with the Oneida Tribe of Indians
of Wisconsin (Tribe) to develop a restoration plan for Trout Creek. Trout
Creek is located within the Reservation and has been severely impacted by
agricultural practices. A geofluvial morphological survey of the entire stream
was completed in 2001 and will provide valuable information on present and
historic in stream conditions. Information obtained from the survey will
be used to develop restoration projects The Green Bay FRO received and distributed
funds for restoration work within the stream corridor. Several sections along
Trout Creek will be restored during 2002, with additional areas being considered
in the future.
Ashland FRO Assists With Native American Conservation and Restoration
Projects
The Service's Ashland Fishery
Resources Office (FRO) provides technical assistance on fish and wildlife
matters to 14 Native American tribes and
associated conservation programs in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Yearly
contact is made with natural resource directors in order to assess wildlife
technical and financial assistance needs. Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Program information was specifically provided this year. We also provide
project assistance to additional tribes throughout the upper Midwest where
needed. Presently, Ashland FRO is providing financial and technical wildlife
habitat assistance to four tribal wetland projects; Lac du Flambeau (195
acres), Grand Portage (45 acres), Menominee (15 acres) and Great Lakes Indian
Fish and Wildlife Commission, or GLIFWC, (15 acres). One tribal wetland/riparian
project was completed this year, GLIFWC''''s 75-acre-1 mile riparian Spring
Creek project. Wetland restoration technical assistance is also being provided
to the Red Cliff tribe in regards to beaver pond and ephemeral wetland restoration.
Prairie restoration technical assistance was provided to the Prairie Island
Indian Community. Planning is presently underway for a 100-acre prairie restoration
cooperative project involving the Service, Prairie Island Indian Community
and Circle of Flight. In the past few years, Ashland FRO has completed upland
and wetland restoration projects with the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Leach
Lake Reservation, Fond du Lac, White Earth, Red Cliff, Grand Portage, and
Lac du Flambeau. Resource Outputs: The Ashland FRO is responsible for fish
and wildlife technical assistance to 14 Native American Tribes and programs
in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. We also provide project assistance
to additional tribes throughout the upper Midwest where needed. Partners:
Michigan: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band, Minnesota:
Fond du Lac Reservation, Grand Portage RTC, Bois Forte Reservation (Net Lake),
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, 1854 Authority, Wisconsin: Bad River Band,
Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians,
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Sokaogon Chippewa Community(Mole
Lake), St. Croix Tribe, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
Students Scrutinize PCB Cleanup Plan for Lower Fox River-Green Bay
Staff from the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service presented information on the Lower Fox River and Green
Bay PCB contaminated sediment cleanup and natural resources damage assessment
to students of the East DePere High School Dec. 4. Approximately 150 students
from the Environmental Science classes and Ecology Club were kept informed
on local environmental issues and asked questions of the government agencies.
A class of 50 seventh graders also attended. They came to learn more about
water quality issues of which they are currently studying. The students were
very attentive and asked thoughtful questions on how the cleanup was going
to affect themselves and their families.
Trustees Announce Natural Resources Damages Settlement with Georgia-Pacific
Corp.
The natural resource trustees
for the Lower Fox River and Green Bay announced a proposed settlement with
the Fort James Operating Company, a subsidiary
of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, for injury to the environment caused
by widespread contamination of the Fox River and Green Bay by polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) released from their papermaking operations. The trustees
are the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Oneida Tribe of Indians
of Wisconsin, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service representing federal agencies. The basis for this agreement,
reached through the cooperative effort of the trustees and the Wisconsin
and U.S. Departments of Justice, is for restoration and recreation projects
on or adjacent to the Fox River and Green Bay. The selected projects were
chosen from a comprehensive list created by the trustees working with local
communities, organizations and individuals over the past several years. The
projects being addressed in this settlement represent the priority requests
sought by the communities with the trustees acting to facilitate funding
by Georgia-Pacific. Specifically, the settlement provides for: The acquisition
of 1,063 acres of ecologically significant threatened habitat on the west
shore of Green Bay including: approximately 900 acres along the shores of
the Peshtigo River, giving the state almost contiguous shoreline ownership
from Peshtigo to the mouth of the river at Green Bay; approximately 75 acres
of Green Bay shoreline immediately to the south of the mouth of the Peshtigo
River; approximately 50 acres near Long Tail Point and within the Green Bay
West Shore Wildlife Area; and approximately 38 acres near the Suamico River
and adjoining the Sensiba Wildlife Area. By acquiring this desirable property
now, the DNR will be able to insure that it will be available for long-term
environmental and recreational value to the local communities and those who
visit the area. These land acquisitions will be managed for the protection
and restoration of the wetland ecosystems and the fish and wildlife they
contain. The property provides habitat for red-shouldered hawks, osprey,
beaver and other species, foraging territory for bald eagles, northern harriers,
Forster''s terns and common terns. The waterways they contain provide spawning
areas for northern pike and forage fish, and nursery areas for fish, water
birds and shorebirds. The trustees have worked cooperatively with seven municipalities
in Brown County to identify11 recreational projects that will be implemented
as a result of this settlement, including: approximately 3.7 additional miles
of improved river-front trails; construction of a new multipurpose nature
center, including a greenhouse, nature-related exhibits and a marsh overlook,
for use by school and community groups, and other visitors at the Barkhausen
Waterfowl Preserve; a major improvement to the DePere/Brown County Fairgrounds
property, including the boat launch facility, where the old docks and launch
pads will be removed and replaced with six new launch pads and three floating
docks, and the parking lot expanded and paved; waterfront recreational facilities
in the city of Green Bay, including barrier free shoreline fishing facilities;
and acquisition of more than 60 acres of open and improved park land on or
near the Fox River. Specific habitat restoration projects that include: the
local share of reconstruction of the Cat Island Chain; yellow perch restoration
investigations; the spotted musky restoration project; the northern pike
habitat restoration projects; and the feasibility investigation and design
of the Oneida Lake project. Establishment of a land acquisition fund and
a habitat and water quality enhancement fund. Reimbursements to DNR and FWS
for NRDA expenses. According to DNR Secretary Darrell Bazzell, "The
set of projects in this agreement are very significant in assuring the long-term
protection and restoration of the Lower Fox River and Green Bay ecosystem." Bazzell
went on to say, ""This settlement is also significant in that it
represents both a spirit of cooperation among the trustees and the kind of
ongoing progress that everyone wants to see in the restoration and cleanup
of the Lower Fox River and Green Bay."" William Hartwig, Regional
Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added, ""This final
settlement, with projects such as the Cat Island restoration, will provide
tremendous benefits to the fish and wildlife resources, as well as the citizens,
of the Lower Fox River and Green Bay. The settlement is a great illustration
of how partners, working together for a common purpose, can achieve their
goals."" Speaking for the Oneida, Tribal Business Committee member
Paul Ninham added, "Almost 200 years ago, the Oneida people chose to
live here because natural resources were abundant enough to supply food and
shelter. This settlement allows the Tribe to begin the design work to develop
a lake within the Reservation boundaries, restore natural resources and build
on the values that brought us here in 1822."
Ashland FRO Expands Private Lands Habitat Restoration Coverage
The Ashland Fishery Resources Office''s Private Lands fish and wildlife
habitat restoration coverage was recently expanded beyond its original four
county area, which covered Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas and Iron counties in
northern Wisconsin. Additional counties that are now being served by the
Ashland FRO are Sawyer, Price, Oneida and Vilas. Four wetland restoration
projects within the expanded coverage area have already been identified and
two are currently in the planning stages. Close working relationships with
private landowners, County Land Conservation Districts, Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have
helped foster many restoration partnership projects in the original coverage
area. Similar on-the-ground results are expected in the additional counties,
which will benefit the area''s fish and wildlife populations and the private
lands upon which they depend.
Offices Involved: R3-Ashland FROResource
Outputs: The Ashland Fishery Resources Office's (FRO) Private
Lands coverage was recently expanded beyond its original four county area
which covered Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas and Iron counties in northern Wisconsin.
Additional counties which are now being served by the Ashland FRO are Sawyer,
Price, Oneida and Vilas. Four wetland restoration projects within the expanded
coverage area have already been identified and two are in the planning stages
at this time.
Partners: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources, Price County Land Conservation District
(LCD), Sawyer County LCD, Oneida County LCD, Vilas County LCD
Results from Green Bay Workshops Will Help Improve Yellow Perch
Populations
The Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum,
a 17-member advisory group to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
sponsored three workshops to inform the
public of the problems facing Green Bay yellow perch populations and to develop
recommendations. Recommendations were forwarded to Wisconsin DNR Secretary
Darrel Bazzell and included: 1) to review of current assessment methodology
and assessment data for Green Bay yellow perch; 2) to create focused summaries
addressing hypothesis for the decline of perch; 3) to allow increased utilization
of the whole perch by commercial fishers; 4) to determine the level of predation
on perch from white perch, cormorants, walleye, northern pike, and burbot;
5) to create a multi-agency research group to develop hypothesis and research
agenda to address perch issues in Green Bay; and, 6) to develop an action
plan to evaluate the success of management actions to benefit perch. These
recommendations will help guide the Wisconsin DNR in addressing the decline
of yellow perch in Green Bay. Both sport and commercial fishing industries
have suffered from the failing perch stocks and regulations imposed by the
DNR have reduced the commercial harvest from 300,000 to 20,000 pounds and
the sport bag limit from 50 to 10 fish per day. Recommendations from the
Forum will assist the DNR in restoring perch numbers and recovering productive
sport and commercial fisheries. One hundred sixty-four participants attended
the three workshops and learned about potential factors that limit yellow
perch in Green Bay (Workshop I); factors limiting perch in ecosystems outside
of Green Bay (Workshop II); and, the range of management actions that could
be implemented to improve the perch population in Green Bay (Workshop III).
Information about the interaction of yellow perch with white perch, alewife,
gobies and cormorants were presented for Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Saginaw
Bay, Oneida Lake (NY) and Lake Ontario. The Fisheries and Ecological Services
staff from the Green Bay Field Office provided significant support and input
to the Forum's three workshops. Mark Holey, fisheries project leader and
member of the Forum, arranged the 15 speakers for the three workshops, served
as discussion group leader and made a presentation on creating a fisheries
research group. Rob Elliott, fishery biologist, served as discussion group
leader and made a presentation on the operation of the lampara seine as a
new assessment tool and commercial fishing gear. Dr. Ken Stromborg, contaminant
specialist, presented information on the role of cormorants in the Green
Bay aquatic ecosystem. Collette Charboneau, Natural Resources Damage Assessment
restoration specialist, presented information on how NRDA restoration funds
can be used to restore Green Bay yellow perch. Funding for the workshops
was provided from settlement negotiations on the Lower Green/Fox River Natural
Damage Resource Assessment.
Partners: Wisconsin DNR University of Wisconsin Sea Grant
Program University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Trout Unlimited Wisconsin Great
Lakes Sport Fisherman Wisconsin Commercial Fishing Inc Sport Anglers Commercial
fishers local sport clubs.
Green Bay Fishery Office Participates in Third Annual Oneida Nation
Kids and Elders Fishing Day
The Green Bay Fishery Resources Office and the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
organized and held the third annual Oneida Kids and Elders Fishing Day on
May 18, 2002. This year the event was improved to include the participation
of tribal elders. The event was held at the six acre tribally owned Lake
Osnu' sha near Green Bay, Wis. Attendance at the event was estimated at around
120 parents and children participating. Local organizations donated various
items including bait, charcoal, beverages and prizes. Each participant received
fishing pamphlets, a small tackle box filled with essential fishing gear
and a T-shirt designed by a tribal artist. The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources loaned their 600 gallon aquarium for the event. It was filled with
several species including bowfin, longnose gar, smallmouth bass, channel
catfish and various other local species. It was a big hit with the children
and adults and increased understanding of local fish species. The Oneida
Environmental, Health and Safety Department set up a solar station featuring
a hand washing area. Most of the kids were able to catch largemouth bass
and a few brook trout. The day ended with a raffle of donated prizes.
Green Bay Fishery Office Assists Oneida Nation
The Green Bay Fisheries Resource Office provided technical assistance to
the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. Assessments were performed on Osnu'
sha and Quarry Lakes to evaluate the success of stocking strategies, calculate
population estimates and monitor the effects of catch restrictions. This
information will be used by tribal managers to improve management decisions
and to provide a self-sustaining recreational fishery for the Tribe. Largemouth
bass and bluegill were stocked to provide a sustainable fishery in the lakes,
while brook trout and walleye were added as a put-and-take fishery. Stream
surveys were performed on 11 sites on seven streams within the reservation
including Duck Creek, Thornberry Creek, Dutchmens Creek, Lancaster Brook,
Oneida Creek, Beaver Dam Creek and Trout Creek. Information from these surveys
was used to calculate the Index of Biotic Integrity scores to describe the
overall health of streams within the Oneida Nation and increase our understanding
of the resource. This is part of a long-term monitoring effect to observe
changes within the Oneida Nation. A creel survey implemented in Duck Creek
will enable tribal managers to determine the catch during the spring netting
season.
