Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga iganiing Aki-genawendamowaad Biboon Mazina igan onji Odaakewigima (Letter from Director)

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1 Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga iganiing Aki-genawendamowaad Red Lake Department of Natural Resources Biboon (Winter) Program Updates Ezhi- ganawenjigaadeg- Nibi 2-5 Waters Miskwaagamiiwizaaga iganing Mitigokewin 6 Forestry Ezhi-ayaaggidakiiminaan 7 Environmental Awesiinhyag 8 Wildlife Giigoonyikewin 9 Fisheries Red Lake DNR High School Drive Red Lake, MN Phone - (218) Fax - (218) rldnr@redlakenation.org Visit us on the web! Mazina igan onji Odaakewigima (Letter from Director) Boozhoo! Winter has finally arrived and as the deer hunting season nears its end on December 31st, the fishing season is beginning to pick up. This year was a record walleye harvest year at Red Lake, and the walleye population continues to thrive. If the weather and ice cooperate, we may break that record next year. Access to the lake should be easier and will cause less damage with the new lake access stabilization projects that the RL DNR Water Resources Program has completed. The entire Red Lake Reservation remains in an extreme drought situation. It would be difficult not to notice the changing water levels in Red Lake. Snow will eliminate some fire danger, but so far the amount of snow we have received doesn t begin to compare with the water deficit in the area. While low water levels in the lake are not expected to significantly affect current walleye populations, long term success of walleye and whitefish spawning may be affected. Other species may be affected if conditions persist as well. Drought in the watershed results in lower water quality in streams and wetlands which may be important spawning areas for northern pike and rough fish as well as the amphibians and invertebrates that many species rely on for food. Wolves continue to be in the headlines since early spring after they were officially removed from the federal Endangered Species list in the state, and the Minnesota DNR announced their plans for holding a wolf hunting and trapping season this fall. The Red Lake DNR Wildlife Program is continuing work on their wolf tracking project. A major stream restoration project is underway in Redby. The dam beneath the bridge is scheduled to be removed next year. In preparation for its removal, the RL DNR Water Resources Program has been working this fall to restore Mud River to its original streambed. As you pass by, take the time to notice all of the streambank stabilization work that was completed with the assistance of RL DNR Forestry. Willow and dogwood were placed along the new bank and special grass mats were laid out to prevent erosion in the spring. This project will eventually allow fish from the lake to swim to historic spawning areas that they have been unable to access for decades. It should also allow other organisms such as freshwater mussels to repopulate the upstream area resulting in a much more stable ecosystem. I would like to thank all of those individuals who contributed deer heads to the CWD/TB testing program so far. The drawing will be held on Jan. 2nd. If you are interested in trapping, furbearer (CITES) tags for fishers, martens, otters, and bobcats can be picked up from the conservation officers. Everyone at the Red Lake DNR would like to thank you for your support and sincerely hopes that you have a great holiday season. Miigwech! Al Pemberton RL DNR Director RL DNR Mussel Survey Red Lake River Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 1

2 Ezhi-Ganawenjigaadeg-Nibi (Water Resources Program) What is a mussel and what do they do? You may know them as clams or bivalves. Mussels are long-lived animals living for several decades and sometimes a century. Most of their life is spent in a small area of a river or stream. They have a hard external shell with two hinged halves or valves. Mussels have a large organ called a foot which is used to pull them through the sand or gravel. They gather food and oxygen from the water by drawing water through their siphon. Some species of mussels are dependent on particular fish species in order to reproduce. The glochidia (or young) are released from the female and attach to fish gills where they are transported in the lake or stream. In order to attract fish, the female mussels display their Figure 1. Fatmucket crawling (note extended foot). mantle which often looks like a fish. The fish try to bite the lure, and the glochidia become attached to the fish s gills. An example of a mussel that requires a specific fish species is the pink heelsplitter (found in the Mud River). It is dependent on freshwater drum (sheepshead) to disperse its glochidia. Currently, the dam in Redby is blocking passage of fish, so these mussel species are only found below the dam. Once the dam is removed next year, freshwater drum will be able to swim upstream carrying pink heelsplitter glochidia which will allow the mussels to repopulate further upstream. Figure 2. Plain pocketbook mantle display. Figure 3. Pink heelsplitter. Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 2

3 Mussels are important to ecosystems because they filter the water capturing organic matter and then excrete nutrients available to plant life and other invertebrates and fish. This also makes the water cleaner. Mussels are a food source for several species of fish as well as otters, muskrats, and raccoons. Historically, humans used mussel shells for manufacturing pearl buttons. Shells were used by many tribes as food and in the making of tools, utensils, and jewelry. Today, mussels are threatened by commercial harvest, the presence of invasive species such as zebra mussels, and dams prohibiting travel upstream. Determining mussel distribution and abundance can tell us how humans have impacted streams and lakes, what areas we need to protect, and indicate areas that can be improved. In October, the Red Lake DNR Water Resources Program (RL DNR Waters) spent time working with the Minnesota DNR mussel survey crew learning how to sample and identify mussel species of the Red Lake Reservation. Several stream sites were visited including some on the Mud, Sandy, Clearwater, and Red Lake Rivers. So far, of the fourteen species found throughout the state of Minnesota, eleven species were found in reservation waters. RL DNR Waters plans to sample many of the reservation waterbodies over the next few years to establish baseline data of what species currently exist. Monitoring will continue in future years to determine any possible changes to waterbody health. Low Lake Level Concern Why is the lake so low? This is the question we are asked at the Red Lake DNR almost daily this fall. The simple answer is drought. Too much water is lost due to evaporation and not enough is returned to the lake by precipitation (rain or snow). Because the lake is large but shallow, it warms quickly and in a hot dry summer month, Red Lake can lose as much as 6 inches of water due to evaporation. That s nearly 50 billion gallons of water in one month! Can t we close the dam to save water? The amount of water we would save would be around 1-2% of the total that is lost due to evaporation in a summer month so it would have nearly no effect. Also, the many fish, waterfowl, mammals and other people living downstream of the lake would suffer severely if the dam were closed completely. What about farmers, firefighters, and other water users pulling water out of the lake for use? The impact of all the farmers, firefighters, and other uses together is even less than the water coming out at the dam (around 0.01 percent). To keep it in perspective that s like removing 9 drops of water from a gallon. Also, all of that water is poured back into the watershed and will work its way back to the lake. What can we do to bring lake levels up? Drought is a natural, though not always desirable, part of the ecosystem. Precipitation is the only cure. Figure 5. Red Lake DNR Water Resources L to R: Kyle Hanson, Shane Bowe, Kayla Bowe, Kayln Sargent. Mussels collected at the Red Lake River by the Rock Dam. Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 3

4 Mud River Restoration Project As you drive through Redby, you might notice quite a few changes as you cross the Mud River. Over 90 years ago, the stream flowed freely to the lake. Once the dam was constructed, the upstream area slowly filled in with over 9 ft of sediment. A few years ago, the RL DNR Fisheries program removed the stop logs to slowly lower the reservoir water level. This allowed the sediments to consolidate and the stream to recut a channel. Because the reservoir was full of sediment, the stream still needed a little work to improve water quality and fish habitat. RL DNR Water Resources Nonpoint Source Pollution Specialist, Jenilynn Bohm, with assistance from MN DNR Stream Restoration Specialist, Luther Aadland, and Northern Engineering and Consulting, Inc. (NECI) put together the stream restoration design, construction specifications, and permit applications. Red Lake Pictured above (left to right): Jenilynn Bohm (RL DNR), Shane Builders, NECI, RL DNR, and MN DNR staff worked together Bowe, (RL DNR ) Kyle Hanson (RL DNR), Tony Arola (RL DNR), on the construction of a new meandering stream channel in Luther Aadland and Neil Haugerud (MNDNR). the Mud River. The river now flows through its historic channel. Additional bank stabilization also took place north of the hatchery. This project was made possible by an Environmental Protection Agency grant. RL DNR Forestry Program (including fire and fuels) was a major contributor to the project by supplying over 11,000 ft 3 of woody material used for bank stabilization. Additional RL DNR partners include Water Resources, Forest Development, and Wildlife as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff for collection of over 1,000 willow cuttings for bank stabilization which were stored at the greenhouse. One goal of the project is to make the stream restoration look as natural as possible, as if we were never there. Other goals include enhancing water quality and fish passage. The stream restoration won t be complete until the dam is removed which is scheduled for Rock arch rapids will be placed to maintain water slope as well as fish passage and spawning. The RL DNR Water Resources program is monitoring the effects of the stream restoration through water quality sampling, bioassessment, mussel surveys, and vegetation assessments. Willow, dogwood, and alder cuttings that were staked during the stream restoration which will sprout in the spring. The yellow excavator was placing tree trunks and root wads into the bank. The red excavator was moving dirt to fill in the old channel. Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 4

5 Lake Access Stabilization on the Red Lake Reservation The stabilization work at Blackduck River, Red Lake Fishery, Hallet, and McKenzie s lake accesses has been completed. The goal of the project was to reduce runoff from the access roads and boat ramps. Each site had concrete ramps installed to prevent erosion and protect the shoreline. All sites were seeded with a native seed mix of flowers, grasses, and some sedge. These projects were made possible by an Environmental Protection Agency grant and cost sharing by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Blackduck River access construction included sloping the boat ramp to divert stormwater to a rock check that slows and soaks in the water before it enters the river. Dirt fill was used to fill in the eroded banks. RL DNR Fisheries Program plans to fix the dock this winter. The Red Lake Fishery lake access was a partnership opportunity between RL Roads, RL DNR, and the Red Lake Fishery. The lake access road was upgraded with curb and asphalt to prevent erosion as stormwater flows towards the lake. The old (east) lake access was converted into a stormwater infiltration basin to capture storm water draining from the fishery parking lot. The infiltration basin slows down and filters the water, removing the sediment before it enters the Mud River and Lower Red Lake. Coconut biorolls were used in the basin to slow the flow, and they will naturally degrade over time. The parking area was graded, sloped, and filled with gravel. Berms were placed to help control stormwater from reaching the lake. Hallet lake access was sloped and a berm created to keep the parking lot stormwater from reaching the lake. A protective layer of geotextile, then fill material, and gravel was placed in the turnaround. Instead of clearing the whole space and increasing runoff from impervious surface, a green space was left to soak up runoff. Abandoned Well Sealing This photo shows Blackduck s boat ramp, rock check, silt fence, gently sloped river bank, and the erosion control blanket and straw which cover the newly seeded banks. This photo shows the old (east) fishery lake access that was converted into a stormwater infiltration basin. RED LAKE DNR is sealing abandoned wells at NO COST to the owner while funding is available. Contact: Water Resources Program: This photo shows Hallet s green space within the parking area Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 5

6 Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga iganing Mitigokewin (Red Lake Forestry) In the previous newsletter we looked at recent developments in the local logging industry, in particular the impact the 2007 housing market crash had on logging and lumber markets. For the most part the overall situation isn t good, but there is some encouraging news on the horizon. In August 2012, Verso Paper mill in Sartell, and the Georgia-Pacific hardboard mill in Duluth shut down, with the loss of 400 jobs. The Sartell paper mill provided a large market for balsam fir, and that closing reduced demand for all species of wood by 140,000 cords a year, virtually eliminating the balsam fir market in Minnesota. On November 15, 2012, Wausau Paper in Brainerd, MN, announced the layoffs of 48 hourly and 7 salaried employees, due in large part to the world becoming a paperless society. Grapple Skidder Barton s Camp Road, Red Lake Reservation Wausau Paper is no longer going to produce print paper, but will shift production to technical and specialty paper grades for tape and industrial papers for use in healthcare, food service, and other packaging applications. Food service products include sandwich wraps and carry-out containers. Closer to home there is some better news for the logging industry. Norbord, the last remaining oriented strand board (OSB) plant in Minnesota, recently invested millions of dollars to modernize its plant in near Solway, which is the primary market for most of Red Lake s aspen and birch pulpwood. After an investment like that, it would appear that Norbord intends to remain in the OSB business for the long term, assuring Red Lake tribal loggers of a steady market. Also, though beyond the market range of Red Lake timber, the SAPPI paper mill in Cloquet, MN, is undergoing a $170 million expansion to convert wood pulp into cellulose fiber for use in rayon textiles and other products. The cellulose expansion is expected to come online in spring In the Minnesota state DNR Forestry s December issue of The Market Place, new forest product market possibilities are discussed, including nano-cellulose, which can be as tough as steel; and black liquor, which is a byproduct of wood pulping. Nano-cellulose can be used for lightweight body armor for the military, and for lower weight materials in the auto industry. Black liquor contains the tree s lignin and other extracts, and can be processed to use as automotive fuel. Presently both nano-cellulose and black liquor are considered in the development stage, a wave of the future technology, but that technology exists, and might provide a future market for forest products. Red Lake timber production has shown slow but steady increases for the last two years despite continued poor market conditions. Harvest in 2009 and 2010 was around 20,000 cords, but increased to 22,598 in 2011 and 2012 has seen 30,550 cords cut. The annual allowable cut is 42,000 cords per year in aspen. Red Lake Tribal Logger (Mike Schoenborn) Aspen pulpwood Red Lake Reservation Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 6

7 Ezhi-ayaag-gidakiiminaan (Environmental Program) Ambient (Outdoor) Air - The smoky day we experienced in early October as a result of wildfires NW of Upper Red Lake was a good reminder that air quality affects all of us. Microscopic particles in smoke can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, coughing, scratchy throat, headaches and illnesses such as bronchitis. These particles may also act as an asthma trigger for some and can aggravate chronic heart and lung disease. Because the effects of smoke exposure can be serious, it is recommended that we take steps to protect ourselves and our families. General recommendations for smoky days include: Remain indoors as much as possible with doors and windows shut Do not exercise or do other strenuous activities outdoors Extra precaution should be taken with children and other sensitive groups Keep windows and vents closed in the car Note: The Risk Management Plan (RMP) Tabletop Exercise that was scheduled to be held in mid-october has been rescheduled by the Red Lake Tribal Emergency Response Committee (TERC) for February 5, Indoor Air - We spend much of our time indoors during cold winter months, so it is important for us to keep our indoor air clean and healthy for our families to breathe. There are some actions we can all take to help improve the air in our homes: Replace furnace filter with a new clean filter about every 3 months Clean air exchange filters Use kitchen and bathroom fans (to avoid mold) Do not smoke indoors Keep home clean (to avoid pest infestations) Test home for radon levels For more tips, visit Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 7

8 Awesiinhyag (Wildlife Program) Red Lake Band of Chippewa s Wolf Management Activities Update: In late 2011, the Red Lake DNR Wildlife Program was awarded a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant to study the habitat usage and territories of Red Lake s wolves. In May 2012, trapping efforts were initiated using #7 EZ Grip traps baited with various types of lures. These leg-hold traps have rubber teeth with offset jaws and do minimal damage to the leg of the wolf. Once caught, the wolf is sedated, weighed, measured, blood drawn for DNA testing, fitted with an ear tag and a GPS collar, given shots to prevent potential infection and released. Despite intensive efforts trapping several areas on the diminished reservation, as well as the Northwest Angle this past summer and fall, wildlife personnel were only able to capture two wolves: a 78 pound Collared adult male grey wolf. male and a 28 pound male pup. The pup was captured two days in a row, but had slipped the collar between captures (it wasn t meant for such a small neck), so he was let go and not collared after being recaptured. We have been tracking the adult male since June 5 th with the GPS collar sending locations by satellite and to the Wildlife Program. By mapping these locations, we have been able to show this male s home range over the last 6 months and what habitats he has been utilizing. Efforts to improve trapping success and collaring of wolves will continue next spring. Current home range of radio (GPS) collared wolf - RL DNR Wildlife Program Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 8

9 Pounds per Acre Percent of Catch Pounds Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga iganiing Aki-genawendamowaad Biboon Giigoonyikewin (Fishery) Red Lake Walleye Population Remains Healthy for 2012 The 2012 walleye harvest on the reservation was the highest since the reopening of the lake in 2006, but remained under the biological safe harvest level of 829,500 pounds (Figure 1). Anglers on the reservation caught approximately 37,000 pounds this year, with the majority of that being caught during January and February. The commercial net crews caught approximately 710,000 pounds during this same time to help supplement the catch at the processing plant. The current system is working very well, by allowing everyone the opportunity to catch and turn in fish at the plant and providing employment opportunities for up to 80 or more people during the year at the plant. Fall test netting results indicate that the walleye population is doing very well and current population levels are highest on record since 1987 (Figure 2). This is despite fairly heavy walleye harvest between 2008 and 2012, and suggests that the current harvest level is sustainable. The fish are in very good condition and the stomachs examined were packed full of shiners and young yellow perch, which makes up the majority of the walleye diet. The potential for an excellent ice fishing season exists, if the walleyes cooperate, and are not full of natural forage like they have been the last several years. The walleye population is in good shape and is dominated by smaller fish under 20 inches in size (Figure 3). Currently, the population is dominated by two age classes of walleye: 2011, which are currently between 9 and 10-inches long, and 2009, which are between 14 and 15-inches long. These are two of the strongest year classes of walleye that we have seen in nearly 20 years. In addition, these year classes were naturally produced, and were not dependent on stocking. It is estimated that less than 5% of the walleye population in the Red Lakes is over 20 inches. The current 20 to 28 inch protective slot limit is designed to protect larger fish. We are also working with the Red Lake Fisheries to implement methods which will reduce their harvest of these larger fish. We need to continue to work together to increase the number of larger walleyes in the lake to fully recovery the Red Lake walleye population. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the walleye effort and compliance with enacted regulations. Working together, we will be able to sustain, protect and enjoy the Red Lake Walleye well into the future. Lake depth maps are available at the DNR along with the stick-on fish rulers. 800, , , , , , , ,000 0 Safe Harvest < 829,500 Lbs Figure 1. Total pounds of walleye harvested from the reservation waters of Red Lake, Length (inches) Figure 2. Estimated walleye biomass in the Red Lakes from Figure 3. Estimated length frequency of walleye in the Red Lakes, Fall Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 9

10 Red Lake DNR High School Drive Red Lake, MN Phone - (218) Fax - (218) rldnr@redlakenation.org Red Lake DNR High School Drive Red Lake, MN BOXHOLDER Minwaajimo - (Tell a Good Story) 10