INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRMP) PROJECT

 
The mission of the Iowa Tribe is to improve the quality of life for all Native Americans residing on Iowa Tribal lands.  Natural resources are necessary for sustaining life and play a role in maintaining and developing the Tribe’s economic base.  One of the Iowa Tribal Council’s highest priorities is the restoration, preservation, and conservation of tribal natural resources.

 What are natural resources?

Natural resource is a material source that is found in nature and is valuable to humans.  The four general categories of natural resources include: air, water, land, and wildlife.  The Tribe will need to manage the natural resources found on tribal lands such that they are sustainable and available for future generations of Ioways.

 What is an IRMP?

An Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) is a strategic, vision-based, long-range management plan based on Tribal member’s interests, needs, and concerns for their lands and natural resources.

 Purpose of the IRMP Project

The IRMP will identify resources that are important to the Tribe and will provide a clear direction for how the Tribe will need to manage their lands in order to restore, preserve, and manage these resources for future generations.

 In calendar year 2004, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma received funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to develop the first volume of the IRMP, which addresses the following resources:  water (surface and ground); the Iowa Tribe’s Drinking Water Distribution System; air quality; solid waste; oil and gas minerals; wildlife; bison; cattle and agricultural operation; recreation; cultural resources; and outreach programs.  A draft is currently available for review at the Office of Environmental Services (OES) Department. 

In fiscal year 2006, BIA provided funding to expand and redefine a furtherance of Tribal resources (e.g., housing, roads, education, etc.), in order to (1) present a current profile of Tribal resources and assets, (2) provide a list of departmental goals, and (3) memorialize the Tribe’s vision for their resources.

 
The Iowa Tribe was recently awarded another year of funding from BIA (for fiscal year 2007) to complete the third and final volume of the IRMP.  The three IRMP volumes will provide the Iowa Tribe with a comprehensive plan for their valuable resources, and will be the product of a planning process that presents both historical and current information and will include recommendations for future community activities. 

Benefits of an IRMP

·Tribal members will have an input on the use and management of Tribal resources, and their vision for those resources will be documented.

· The Tribe will have written goal statements addressing social and economic issues that impact land and resource use.

· The Tribe will have a collection of information which resource managers and the Business Committee can use in the planning of future projects or programs.

· The IRMP will provide management direction to the current and future staff members, and will support annual and long-range planning.

 Ways to Participate

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma will need public input to shape the priorities of the IRMP.  It is essential for Tribal members to share their vision for their resources and for the management of resources.  There will be several ways to participate with the development of the IRMP:

·      Public meetings will be held to discuss vision for resources, identify resource priorities, etc.

·      Outreach activities will be conducted with Tribal members and the community.

·      Call or stop by the Office of Environmental Services.

For more information, please contact:

Joy Yoshioka, IRMP Coordinator/ Natural Resource Scientist

Office of Environmental Services

Phone:  405.547.2402, Ext. 231

Email:   jyoshioka@iowanation.org