Chippewa and Leech Lake: Working Together for a Cleaner Environment

The work of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe / Chippewa National Forest Dumpsite Clean Up Group is an outstanding example of positive impact on a cleaner environment.

Chippewa National Forest is in the unique position of its land base overlaying the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. With 90% of the Indian reservation affecting national forest management, the need for good relations and natural resource champions within tribal government is critical to maintaining resources for future generations.

The work of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe / Chippewa National Forest Dumpsite Clean Up Group is an outstanding example of positive impact, and support for forest management and sustainability in both the national forest and the Indian community. Their shared persistence to develop an inter-governmental agreement and education to residences and seasonal guests regarding the safe disposal of trash at approved solid waste collection stations demonstrates a mutual commitment to Protecting Ecosystems across Boundaries.

The problem of illegal dumping is widespread on the Chippewa National Forest and within the Leech Lake Reservation boundary. Not only does unsightly trash affect tourism and community behavior, it also increases health risks to humans when dump sites are near homes, wetlands and open water. The land shared by Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Reservation is nearly half water and wetlands, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River and 3 of Minnesota's largest lakes. The household trash of today often contains toxic materials that can threaten wildlife, plant growth and even private water wells.

The first step to remedy the problem was to inventory the illegal dumps. This was done using a federal grant obtained by the Leech Lake Department of Resource Management (DRM) to identify illegal dumpsites within the reservation. Seventy-seven sites were found, many of which were on U.S. Forest Service, county or state land.

Leech Lake DRM staff brought these findings to the Forest Service to talk about the best way to work together and clean up the sites. The Forest Service, Leech Lake DRM and Leech Lake Public Works Agencies formed an alliance to encourage people not to throw trash in the forests as well as help clean up the sites. Together, this newly formed group pinpointed the dump sites that posed the greatest risk to humans, those nearest homes, wetlands and open water. Tribal Chairmen George Goggleye and Forest Supervisor Rob Harper signed the Dumpsite Cleanup Agreement in June 2007 and again in June 2008.

The problem of illegal dumping is widespread and the group knew that to clean up the sites it would be better to focus their efforts in key locations and publicize those successful efforts. The challenges were building trust and understanding especially as staff changes occurred, educating both internal organizations of the problem's significance, establishing how to involve and educate people in nearby rural Indian communities, and establishing a system where old batteries, appliances, shingles and TV sets in ditches and clearings are brought to waste transfer sites for proper disposal.

Using a GIS map overlaying the illegal dumpsites, soil, wetlands, roads and communities, the two governments focused on jointly cleaning sites near three Indian communities: Inger, Bena and Ball Club. In 2007, twenty-one sites were cleaned up. In 2008, their focus is on the Mission Lake area and twenty sites are in the process of being cleaned. A database to track the sites is established. The agreement also includes cooperative law enforcement, site monitoring and rehabilitation, educating and providing outreach to residents and seasonal guests regarding the safe disposal of trash at approved solid waste collection stations. The sites cleaned up thus far have been on county, tribal and federal land.

Three entities worked persistently together to get this effort "on the ground": John Persell, environmental analyst for the Leech Lake DRM and Don Headbird, supervisor of the Leech Lake Solid Waste Dept., and Jim Barott, Soil Scientist of Chippewa National Forest. The group has learned that by working together agencies can accomplish much more than by working alone. A seemingly overwhelming task became possible. The first clean up event took place August 10, 2007 and made a huge visual difference.

Through the actions of this group, future generations will benefit from a cleaner environment and from the new behaviors and cooperation practiced in this relationship.