Natural Resources
NATURAL RESOURCES DIRECTOR
Mike Swan
41044 S. Ice Cracking Road
Ponsford, MN 56575
Phone: (218) 573-3007
Fax: (218) 573-3009
e-mail: mikes@whiteearth.com
Mike Swan Director of Natural Resources
Lita Doran Natural Resources Admin. Asst.
naturalresources@whiteearth.com
Programs include:
Wildlife Doug Mc Arthur Wildlife Manager
John Bekkerus Wildlife Technician
Wildlife
Office: (218) 983-3285 Ext. 5804
Fax: (218) 983-3719
The land within the boundaries of the Reservation contains three distinct natural biomes. The Prairie biome was once covered by vast plains of native grasses and numerous wetlands. The Deciduous Forest biome lies generally in the middle of the Reservation. This biome contains northern hardwood species of oak, maple, basswood, birch, elm, and aspen. The Coniferous Forest biome lies in the eastern portions of the Reservation. This region contains stands of pine fir, spruce, tamarack, aspen, birch and cedar. These regions are characterized by gently rolling hills with several lakes, wetlands, and streams. This biome is home to species like; white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse.
Wetlands/Prairie
Restoration
Dawn Kier
Agricultural Manager
Everett Goodwin III Agricultural Technician
Curt Bevins Agricultural Technician
Wetlands/Prairie Restoration
216 NE Main St.,
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Office: (218) 935-2488
Fax: (218) 935-2524
The western portion of the Reservation resides in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Most of the wetlands and native prairie have been destroyed or diminished by the intrusion of farm practices and development on the Reservation. The goal of the Wildlife Habitat Program is to restore, create, protect, and enhance the numerous wetlands and prairie habitat that has been degraded or lost.
Fisheries Randy Zortman Fisheries Manager
Curtis Uran
Fisheries Technician
Gerald Roberts
Fisheries Technician
Fisheries
Office: (218) 573-3007 Ext. 205
Fax: (218) 573-3009
Click on a link below to see seasons or regulations:
2009 Angling Seasons & 2009 Rough Fish Spearing Regulations & 2009 Fall Netting Seasons
The White Earth Reservation has 530 lakes and three river systems. Total water surface area is more than 48,000 acres. The total number of miles of rivers, creeks and streams is 300. The major species of fish are walleyes, northern pike and large mouth bass. Other species that are present are: sauger, muskellunge, small mouth bass, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, lake sturgeon, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, tulaby and white fish. A number of species of rough fish are also found on the Reservation including suckers, redhorse and carp. The most valuable species to the Tribe is walleye.
Sturgeon egg collection
Wild Rice
The gathering of wild rice for food and trade has been an integral part of this region’s history and culture for the thousands of years. Of the over 500 lakes and ponds on the Reservation, a 1983 survey located 53 beds covering over 3,000 acres. The largest area of wild rice beds is Lower Rice Lake with up to 1,400 acres of beds capable of producing about 300,000 pounds of green rice by hand harvesting.
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Conservation Alfred E. Fox Chief #881 alfredf@whiteearth.com
Richard E. Fox, Jr. #882 richardf@whiteearth.com
Sheila Lafriniere #883 sheilal@whiteearth.com
Ronald Warren #884 ronaldw@whiteearth.com
Click on a link below to see seasons or regulations:
2010 Hunting Seasons
White Earth Natural Resources Department
216 NE Main st.
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Office: (218) 935-2578
Fax: (218) 935-2587
The White Earth Reservation encompasses 1,296 square miles. This includes 530 lakes, 300 miles of rivers and streams, 951 miles of County, State, Federal and BIA roads (not including logging roads and trails) and 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails. The vastness of this area presents numerous challenges for the enforcement of conservation regulations and monitoring of game limits, seasons and illegal activities. These activities are regulated under the White Earth Conservation Code.
Land Department
Lorena Vogt Land Office Manager lorenav@whiteearth.com
Bob Howard Realty Specialist bobh@whiteearth.com
Janis Rock Realty Specialist janisr@whiteearth.com
Richard Heisler Survey Technician richardh@whiteearth.com
Kimberly St.Clair Admin Assistant kims@whiteearth.com
Land Department
PO Box 495
White Earth, MN 56591
Office: (218) 983-4650
Fax: (218) 983-3719
Click here to view a map of: White Earth
The White Earth Land Department was established to enable the White Earth Reservation Tribal Council to manage and regulate all uses of Tribal lands for the benefit of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. The Land Department’s primary functions are to issue and approve leases and to administer purchases and returns of land to be placed into trust for the use of the White Earth Band of Ojibwa. Leases are issued for home site, lakeshore, business and recreational leases.
Cultural Resources
Tom McCauley Tribal Archeologist/
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Cultural Resources
Phone: (218) 983-3285 Ext. 1375
Fax: (218) 983-4299
Cultural Resources are defined as prehistoric and historic archaeological or anthropological sites, objects, historic standing structures, sacred and burial locations, and areas where traditional practices resources or cultural properties are used, located or collected. All of these resources are important to the White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa.
Forestry
Mike Smith
Forestry
Manager
Dave Snetsinger Jr. Forestry Tech
White Earth Natural Resources Department
White Earth Forestry
P.O. Box 37
Naytahwaush, MN 56566
Office: (218) 935-5967
Fax: (218) 935-9129
The Reservation contains a diverse mixture of tree species and forest cover types. The forest is located in the north central hardwood region of Minnesota adjacent to the northern pine and conifer region. Aspen was once the predominant cover-type in the forest. Recent emphasis has been on the management of over-mature, decadent aspen, and hardwood management has been largely ignored. The White Earth Reservation Tribal Forestry Office in Naytahwaush, Minnesota is responsible for the management of approximately 55,000 acres of forested land on the White Earth Reservation.
Environmental Affairs
Monica Hedstrom Environmental Manager
Jamie Wark Environmental Assistant jamiew@whiteearth.com
Environmental Affairs
Phone: (218) 935-2488
Fax: (218) 935-2524
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Environmental affairs consists of five primary areas: Solid Waste, Emergency Management, Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks, Air Quality and Environmental Review. These programs are coordinated with Federal, State and local entities in a cooperative effort for the protection of the environment within the Reservation boundary.
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Pesticides Ed Snetsinger Pesticide Coordinator
Pesticides
Phone: (218) 935-2488
Fax: (218) 935-2524
Cell: (218) 849-2345
The White Earth Reservation Department of Natural Resources Pesticide Program was established in 1991 to develop an enforcement program and acquire information on the storage, distribution, disposal and manufacturing of pesticides. The Pesticide Program was developed to perform outreach activities to applicators, homeowners and residents of the White Earth Reservation. The program operates under a cooperative agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Water Quality Will Bement Water Quality Manager willb@whiteearth.com
Tim LaFriniere Water Quality Technician timl@whiteearth.com
Water Quality
Phone: (218) 935-2488
Fax: (218) 935-2524
Cell: Will Bement (218) 261-0725 or Tim La Friniere (218) 766-1031
The White Earth Reservation lies mainly in the Red River Drainage Basin, which is the headwaters area of the greater Hudson Bay Drainage Basin. Surface water on the Reservation consists of a number of lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams. There are approximately 530 bodies of water greater then 10 acres, covering 48, 362 acres, 53, 243 acres of wetlands and approximately 300 miles of rivers and streams. Many Reservation streams drain the headwaters of the Red River Basin and, to a lesser extent, the Mississippi River Basin. The Wild Rice River drains the largest basin (60%) on the Reservation.
Zoning
Katherine Warren Zoning Technician
White Earth Zoning Office
Office: 218-573-3007 Ext. 203
Fax: 218-573-3009
katherinew@whiteearth.com
Future tribal and non-tribal population growth will place increasing demands upon Reservation natural resources. An integrated system of land use controls pertaining to all Reservation lands is critically needed to protect fish and wildlife, their habitat, resources upon which they depend and natural resources of importance to the Bands economy and the economic well-being of its members and Reservation community. Continued protection and enhancement of the essential Native character of the Reservation and the Reservation community is of vital importance to the Tribe. Large areas of the Reservation remain undeveloped and retain their essential Native character. The limited development that has occurred on the Reservation has been consistent with and preserves the essential Native character of the developed areas of the Reservation and the Reservation community as a whole.
Building / Land Use Permits are required before any new construction or relocation of a structure (i.e., trailers new or used) for all tribal members within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. The Tribe also requires a septic permit before any installation of an Individual Septic Treatment System. Setbacks of structures and septic systems do apply.
For questions regarding these permits or others that may be required please contact the White Earth Zoning Office.
Download forms: Building / Land Use Permit , New Septic Permit