Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Comments on Boyne River Hydroelectric Project

The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) have submitted comments on the Boyne River Hydroelectric Project, citing concerns about public access, fish stocking, and dam safety. The tribe highlights the importance of preserving public access to the project reservoir, which is essential for their traditional way of life and rights to hunt, fish, and gather in the 1836 Ceded Territory. The tribe also expresses concerns about the impact of the dam on fish species, including the warming effects on the river, which inhibit the passage of migratory species and natural reproduction of coldwater species.

Key Takeaways:

• LTBB is concerned about the restriction of public access to the project reservoir, which is necessary for their traditional way of life and rights to hunt, fish, and gather in the 1836 Ceded Territory.
• The tribe believes that public access should be provided through a boat/canoe launch and/or a portage route around the dam, which would be a comparatively minimal investment given the private developments planned by Boyne USA.
• The warming effects of the dam inhibit the natural reproduction of coldwater species and prevent migratory species from spawning in the Boyne River.
• Brown trout and steelhead stocking efforts below the dam do not adequately address the impacts on tribally-significant species, such as lake trout, lake whitefish, and lake sturgeon.
• LTBB suggests that additional mitigation efforts, including rehabilitation efforts for native species within the Boyne River Watershed, are necessary to address these issues.
• The tribe expresses concerns about the safety of the dam, citing visible signs of erosion and potential earthflow or creep, which could lead to dam failure.
• LTBB believes that further study of the integrity of the dam is necessary prior to any relicensing decision.
• The tribe appreciates the opportunity to consult on the project and provide comment, and believes that a weighed and judicious account of these concerns will help protect LTBB's treaty reserved rights.

Statistics:

• The Boyne River meets the criteria of a navigable river as established in Moore v. Sanborne (2 Mich. 519, 523-24 (Mich. 1853)).
• The construction of the dam does not alter the navigability of the waterway.
• The reservoir has a capacity of [ unknown ] acres.
• The dam is [unknown ] years old.
• The tribe mentions a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, The Landslide Handbook--A Guide to Understanding Landslides (Circular 1325), which suggests that slow earthflow may lead to infrastructure failure.

Sources:

• LTBB (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) Comments on Boyne River Hydroelectric Project, July 18th, 2025.
• Moore v. Sanborne, 2 Mich. 519, 523-24 (Mich. 1853).
• U.S. Geological Survey. 2008. The Landslide Handbook--A Guide to Understanding Landslides (Circular 1325).