This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to LAC courte oreilles band of lake superior chippewa specifically, the purpose of this agreement is…

This Project Grant award of $491,882 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Non-State Member Support for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan program (CFDA 66.487) provides funding to the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. The purpose is to support the implementation of the tribe's nutrient reduction strategy and build capacity to manage non-point source pollution within the Mississippi River/Atchafalaya River Basin. Key activities include developing a non-point source assessment report and management plan, obtaining Treatment as a State (TAS) status for the Clean Water Act Sections 319, 303(c), and 401 programs, establishing federally approved water quality standards, and conducting water quality monitoring. The anticipated outcomes are to provide the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe with the programmatic capacity to effectively manage non-point source pollution and help restore and protect tribal waterways.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to LAC courte oreilles band of lake superior chippewa specifically, the purpose of this agreement is to support and advance the gulf hypoxia action plan through implementation of LAC courte oreilles band of lake superior chippew nutrient reduction strategy. Strategic plan goal 5: ensure clean and safe water for all communities, objective 5.2: protect and restore waterbodies and watersheds by providing the resources necessary for the LAC courte oreilles band to accurately assess and manage non-point source pollution to tribal waters within the mississippi river/atchafalaya river basin (marb). Funding under this proposal will support the strategic outcomes and activities identified in the bipartisan infrastructure law: gulf hypoxia program FY 23 implementation memorandum for tribal cooperative agreements dated december 2, 2022. This primarily includes strategic outcome 4: increase capacity building for nutrient reduction activities. A significant portion of this project is focused on the LAC courte oreilles band to build the capacity to manage nonpoint sources and protect tribal water quality and designated uses. This will be achieved through the development of a treatment in a manner similar to a state (TAS) application for the clean water act section 319 program. By obtaining treatment as a state (TAS) for the CWA section 319, the tribe will be able to apply for funding to advance the coastal action plan goal of reducing nutrient loading in the marb. TAS for 319 will also allow the tribe to implement on the ground projects or take direct actions in the marb to improve the local water quality and progress towards the within basin action plan goal. GHP funding will be used to draft the key components of the 319 TAS including the watershed assessment report and NPS management program plan. To further strengthen the capacity to protect tribal water quality, funding will also be used to develop water quality standards and site-specific criteria to protect existing uses of tribal waters. TAS for 303(c) and 401 certification will allow the tribe to directly regulate and set nutrient standards for tribal waters which are in the marb which will improve and further protect the local water quality and help progress towards the within basin action plan goal. GHP funding will also build capacity through monitoring of tribal waters within the marb. Activities:the activities include: - develop an NPS assessment report and management plan - develop a TAS application in accordance with CWA section 518(e) for the CWA section 319 program and with CWA section 518(e) for the CWA section 303(c) and section 401 program - establish federally approved site-specific criteria (SSC) standards - chemical and physical monitoring of surface waters on the chippewa flowage - study and evaluate factors affecting hypolimnetic oxygen demand (HOD) for the 2 story fishery lakes on the reservation - continuous temperature and dissolved oxygen vertical monitoring arrays for cold water two-story lakes subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: - federally approved NPS assessment report and management plan - CWA section 319 TAS - federally approved water quality standards - field and lab data entered into WQX the expected outcomes include: - provide LCO with the programmatic capacity IT needs to effectively manage non-point source pollution and help to restore and protect water ways on the reservation - obtaining treatment as a state (TAS) for the CWA section 319 along with 303(c) and 401 certification the intended beneficiaries include: - LAC courte orielles residents