The agreement provides funding to spirit lake tribe

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $250,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Spirit Lake Tribe under the Regional Wetland Program Development Grants program (CFDA 66.461). The purpose of the agreement is to assist the Spirit Lake Tribe in developing a comprehensive Wetland Program Plan (WPP) to inventory, monitor, and assess wetland resources on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota. Key activities include developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), conducting wetland inventory and surface water connectivity assessments, establishing water quality trend analysis and threats evaluation programs, and creating outreach materials. The anticipated deliverables include the QAPP, bi-annual reports, and the WPP. The project aims to increase understanding of wetland locations, types, conditions, and threats in order to refine wetland protection and restoration strategies for the benefit of tribal members and the surrounding community. The period of performance is from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027.

Wetland program development grants (wpdgs) assist state, tribal, territory (insular areas), local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities in developing or refining state, tribal, territory, or local programs which protect, manage, and restore wetlands. Specifically, the recipient will develop a comprehensive wetland program plan (WPP) to inventory, monitor and assess wetland resources. The WPP will be the foundation of wetland protection strategies.activities:the activities include developing a quality assurance project plan (qapp), a wetland program plan, conducting wetland inventory on the spirit lake reservation, conducting a surface drainage and wetland connectivity assessment, establishing a wetland water quality trend analysis program, and establishing wetland water resources threats evaluation and reports, developing outreach materials, and completing grant reporting requirements.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a qapp, BI-annual reports, and a wetland program plan. The expected outcomes include increased understanding of wetland locations, types, delineation, surface water flow and quality, and baseline conditions of wetlands and changes in wetlands on the sprit lake reservation as well as refinement of wetland protection and restoration strategies based on information obtained in the assessments and inventory (e.g., threats). Outreach materials will improve support for wetlands protection and aid in decision making for mitigation approaches. The intended beneficiaries include tribal members and surrounding areas of north dakota.