Chris Holm, Bois Forte Water Resource Program Manager, requested the Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservatino Office (NFWCO) review a 2009 Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) proposal.  Staff biologist Frank Stone and Pam Dryer read the draft document and provided comments back to the tribe.  Additional comments were also provided by Darienne McNamara Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

This proposed project is a survey of aquatic plant communities and an assessment of risk from aquatic invasive plants into Nett Lake if a fish passage system is installed at the Nett River dam. This initial survey is essential to complete prior to installation of a fish passage structure through or around the Nett River dam, so as not to allow potentially invasive plant species from being introduced into Nett Lake. Pending the outcome of survey results, a feasibility/design study would then be carried out to identify engineering costs associated with construction of a fish passage structure around Nett River dam.  This structure would allow the currently excluded fish assemblage in Nett River to access Nett Lake and provide for fish populations resembling the historic accounts.

Tribal resource programs throughout the United States will receive financial help in 2009 to initiate projects ranging from base line data collection and habitat restoration to the control of invasive plant species.  The TWG program provides new funding opportunities to Tribes for activities that protect and restore habitats that will benefit fish and wildlife species of Tribal significance.  TWG grants also support the efforts of tribal governments to develop or augment the capacity to manage, conserve or protect fish and wildlife species of concern through the provision of additional funding and technical support.