Purposethe tribe utilizes many water-related resources from the smith river and its tributaries including clean water for drinking water, ceremonies, native riparian species for cooking, medicines,…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded $242,500 to the Tolowa Dee-Ni Nation under the Indian Tribal Water Resources Development, Management, and Protection program (CFDA 15.519) on September 15, 2025, to develop the Lower Smith River Pollution Exposure Assessment and Mitigation Plan. The project, with a completion date of September 30, 2027, will investigate potential impacts to water quality, aquatic organisms, and human health in the Lower Smith River watershed, tributaries, and adjacent creeks, with specific focus on pesticide, nutrient, and sediment contamination from upstream agricultural activities. The award supports the tribe's efforts to develop, manage, and protect water and related resources essential to tribal cultural, ceremonial, and subsistence practices.

Deliverables include a comprehensive sampling plan, water quality sampling activities with associated data sheets, chain of custody documentation, and laboratory analysis reports. The project will produce an exposure assessment and water quality pollutant mitigation plan, along with community outreach and education materials including presentations and workshop handouts. Through these products and services, the tribe will build capacity to address future water safety and health issues stemming from changes in water quality and quantity, thereby enhancing tribal self-sufficiency and sustainability in managing critical water resources for the benefit of the broader public.

Purposethe tribe utilizes many water-related resources from the smith river and its tributaries including clean water for drinking water, ceremonies, native riparian species for cooking, medicines, and musical instruments. There is a concern over the past decade about changes in the water quality and quantity due to upstream activities and water uses. The proposed project will assist the tribe to develop, manage, and protect their water and related resources, as authorized by public law. Also, making funding available to the tribe for the project, reclamation is helping the tribe become more self-sufficient and sustainable.activities to be performed-task 1.0 project initiation: meeting minutes site visit documentation-task 2.0 development of a sampling plan: planning document-task 3.0 sampling activities: sampling event datasheets sample chain of custody forms laboratory reports and results -task 4.0 exposure assessment and mitigation plan: exposure assessment and water quality pollutant mitigation plan final report -task 5.0 community outreach and education: education materials powerpoint presentation workshop handoutsoutcomethe lower smith river pollution exposure assessment and mitigation plan investigate impacts to the lower smith river watershed, tributaries, and adjacent creeks. There are concerns about pesticides, nutrients, and sediment impacts from agricultural land uses and the potential impacts to water quality, aquatic organisms, and human health. This project will involve the development of a sampling plan, sampling activities, an exposure assessment and mitigation plan, and community outreach and education.beneficiary: the publicthe proposed improvements will allow the tribe to address future occurrences of potential water safety and health issues stemming from the changes in the water quality and quantity due to upstream activities and water uses.