The Leech Lake Conservation Department, now the Division of Resources Management (DRM), began enforcing a Conservation Code in 1976. The Land Leasing Office was made part of the division in 1982. In 1982 a water resources staff person was hired to coordinate water quality work on the reservation. Subsequently in 1984, a fisheries and wildlife management program and a tribal fish hatchery were added to the division. In 191, the band elected to contract its forestry functions from the BIA and subsequently our forestry Department came into being. An Environmental Protection component was added to the Division in 1990, funded by the RTC and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Botany/Exotic Species Section was added to the Fish and Wildlife Program in 1994.
Environmental Priorities
Wild Rice, a native grass that is unique to Michigan , Minnesota , Wisconsin and the lower portions of Ontario and Manitoba Canada, is abundant on the Leech Lake Reservation. There are approximately 13,000 acres of natural wild rice stands, some of which are among the largest natural stands in the world. Wild Rice has a very significant cultural, spiritual role in Anishinabe culture. Tribal members, resource managers and researchers have expressed concern about the losses of wild rive on many of Minnesota 's water bodies. The Band has invested considerable time and expense to continue sampling and monitoring wild rice ecosystems to assure that Leech Lake wild rive productivity does not decline.
In addition, there are numerous other environmental concerns with regard to groundwater, wetlands and surface water quality. The following is an overview of the Band's environmental goals and priorities; this should not be considered and exhaustive list, nor should this enumeration of needs and goals be considered to be in priority order.