The Southeast
Region is
committed
to working
with Federally-recognized
Native American
Tribe to conserve
and manage
fish and wildlife
resources.
The Native
American
Liaison provides
communication
and support
to Tribes
and Tribal
organizations
to promote
cooperative
fish and
wildlife activities.
The liaison
works with
Service staff
in our field
offices to
facilitate
government-to-government
consultation
under the
U.S.
Fish & Wildlife
Service’s
Native American
Policy
,
Secretarial
Order
3206 (American
Indian
Tribal
Rights,
Federal-Tribal
Trust
Responsibilities,
and
the
Endangered
Species
Act),
Executive
Order
13175 (Consultation
and Coordination
with Indian
Tribal Governments),
and other
relevant Federal
laws.
The liaison
also works
with the
Service’s
regional
archeologist on issues
of cultural
significance
to Tribes.
Service
helps Eastern
Band of Cherokee
Repair and
Manage Trout
Hatchery
Photo
by USFWS
The Cherokee
Reservation
is known for
its trout
fishing due
to the extremely
well-stocked
streams and
rivers. Nearly
45,000 people,
tourists and
trophy-anglers
alike, fished
in Cherokee
in 2007.
Now
the Cherokee
Tribal
Trout Hatchery
is embarking
on $500,000
renovation
project
that will
more than
double its
already
impressive
capacity
for raising
trout. These
improvements
are in
addition
to raceways
reconstruction
work completed
under a
$250,000
Tribal
Wildlife
Grant provided
by the
Fish and
Wildlife
Service.
The
most recent
hatchery
renovations
will increase
trout production
from 150,000
pounds
annually
to 350,000
pounds
at
the 25-year
old hatchery.
The
Service
has
worked
closely
with the
Tribe since
the hatchery
was established
to provide
technical
assistance
and to
provide
trout eggs.
So far
in
2008, the
Service
has
provided
440,000
trout
eggs to
the
hatchery.