2024 was a busy year for the Friends of Lake Sakakawea-North Dakota (FOLS-ND) organization.
FOLS-ND continued to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), ND Game & Fish Department and other water related agencies. A FOLS-ND Director serves on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Aquatic Invasive Species Committee. Two FOLS-ND Directors also represent you on the Board of Directors of the ND Sport Fishing Congress (NDSFC) and work closely with NDSFC on fishing and water related issues. A FOLS-ND Director also is a member of the North Dakota Water Users Board. Additionally, Chair Terry Fleck serves on the USACE Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee. This committee was formed in 2007 to make recommendations and provide guidance on a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries and on the existing Missouri River recovery and mitigation plan. There are approximately 70 members serving on this committee representing the USACE and 8 states.
As previously reported, the Three Affiliated Tribes (TAT), Fort Berthold, submitted a resolution to the Interior Department requesting the USACE transfer nine (9) recreational sites around Lake Sakakawea to the TAT for their control and management. The nine (9) requested sites total 1,278 acres. The land transfer request is still pending within the USACE and the Department of The Interior. FOLS-ND will continue to track and report on this resolution.
2025 legislation of interest involves license fee increases for almost all categories of licenses issued by the ND Game & Fish Department. Governor Armstrong included an additional $400,000 in his recommended budget for Aquatic Nuisance Species funding for the ND Game & Fish Department. North Dakota currently has the following bodies of water as infested with zebra mussels: Lake LaMoure, James River, Lake Ashtabula, Sheyenne River, North Golden Lake, South Golden Lake, Lake Elsie, Ryan Pond, Twin Lake and the Red River. The ND Game and Fish Department is currently working on new/additional bait bucket water rules.
During the 2023 legislative session, FOLS-ND worked diligently against a bill that would have eliminated the conservation fee for fishing tournaments. While the bill eventually passed, a conservation fee component was introduced into the bill which levied a $5 conservation fee on every non-resident fishing license sold in ND. For fishing license year 04/01/2024 through 03/31/2025, approximately 56,000 non-resident fishing licenses were sold resulting in $280,000 flowing into this new Fishing Conservation Fund. This fund was set up as a continuing appropriation for the ND Game & Fish. The 56,000 number of non-resident fishing licenses was an 8% increase of the previous year’s non-resident license numbers with the ND Game & Fish Department indicating more non-residents were buying the seasonal license versus the short term licenses.
There are other areas and issues the FOLS-ND continue to be involved in.
Unfortunately, too many state leaders don’t appreciate Lake Sakakawea or understand the complexities involved with management of the lake. We need your help to carry our message to them. We invite you to join us in this critical work. You may join with us by responding to this letter or online at www.lakesakakawea.com. You can select from four tax-deductible Friendship levels…
⦁ Lifetime Membership Opportunity: $1,805
⦁ Business Membership: $300
⦁ Family Membership: $100
⦁ Individual Membership: $50
Our lifetime membership level recognizes Lake Sakakawea’s lowest ever lake level and our determination to NOT return to those days where Lake Sakakawea was sacrificed and abandoned.
Please complete the enclosed membership form and return in the enclosed envelope.
Yours in Conservation,
Terry Fleck
Chair