MISSION: PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE RED LAKE BAND
The Red Lake DNR Water Resources Program was established in 1989 to monitor Red Lake Nation’s streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. The program has grown from one full-time biologist and technician to our current staff of six including biologists, technicians, graduate students, and seasonal student interns. The program is funded by grants administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
The Water Resources Program monitors surface water quality of more than 240,000 acres of lakes, 466,000 acres of wetlands, and over 371 miles of rivers and streams. Current monitoring efforts include 78 small lakes, Upper and Lower Red Lake, 18 streams, and five flowing wells. By monitoring physical data, nutrients, bacteria, and biological data, we are ensuring the quality of the water and health of the lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands on Tribal lands extending all the way up to the NW Angle.
Partnerships: The program participates in partnerships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), the Red Lake Watershed District (RLWD), and other water quality related organizations.
Current projects:
- Water Quality Standards Development
- Water Quality Monitoring
- Lake of the Woods Monitoring
- Contaminants in Fish Study (Mercury Advisory)
- Invasive Species Prevention
- WRAPS