Winnebago Tribe Environmental Protection Department

05/22/2026

Kurt Lyons, our Air Quality Specialist, has done an amazing job in conceptualizing, developing, and constructing the AQI Light that sits upon the Black Hawk Community Center in downtown Winnebago. This light is able to inform our Tribal community of the real-time air quality. The color of the light indicates the air quality. This is especially important for Tribal community members who may have COPD, asthma, or any other chronic health condition that is directly impacted by air quality.

Alright, this is pretty cool. The Winnebago Environmental Protection Department just launched a PM2.5 air-monitoring system on Tribal lands, thanks to EPA funding and some innovative thinking. The monitor checks the Air Quality Index hourly and lights up with colors inside a globe to show real-time air quality.

This provides individuals with immediate information about pollutant levels and allows the community to respond as necessary to hazardous conditions.

05/22/2026

🌊 Trisha Rivers, Water Resource Technician for the Tribe, was able to talk with EPA Region 7's Administrator Jim Macy about projects within the Tribe's Watershed-Based Plan such as the Kelly Projects Pond. The Watershed-Based Plan includes other bodies of water such as H-Lake and cultural springs. Ase Overfelt, Water Quality Specialist for the Tribe, has dedicated a lot of time and energy into developing the plan and coordinating with the U.S. EPA Heartland Region team in making that possible.

Thank you to US EPA for highlighting one the many projects that we are working hard on!

05/22/2026

ICYMI: Earlier this month, US EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator Jim Macy, Immediate Office Division Director Amanda Halstead, General Assistance Program Project Officer Tegan Vaughn, and Mark Hansen from the Public and Governmental Affairs Branch visited the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Our department was honored to help facilitate a Tribal Council meeting where environmental and human health priorities were discussed between EPA and the Winnebago Tribe.

Additionally, EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy signed the approval that recognizes the Tribe's continued authority to manage and protect water resources on these additional Tribal lands under federal environmental laws, supporting self-governance and future program development.

We look forward to future dialogue and continuing to reach major milestones for our Tribe's environment and human health.

05/20/2026

Have you noticed the yellow buoy-like devices floating on H-Lake and Kelly Pond lately? 👀🌊

Our Water Quality Program recently deployed two continuous data loggers to support ongoing surface water monitoring efforts. These instruments collect real time data that help us better understand changing water conditions over time.

Continuous monitoring strengthens our ability to track trends, identify potential concerns early, and support the long-term protection of our tribal waters and natural resources.

05/12/2026

Our TRP/Brownfields Specialist, Gerri Lyons, had a blast this afternoon with the Winnebago Public School 3rd grade students. Today Gerri announced the winner of the Hazardous Household Material Coloring Contest! The judges had such a difficult time choosing the winner because every student is truly an artist! The judges were able to finally choose the top four drawings to create stickers with.

Keep an eye out for a sticker distribution event happening this summer! 🫟

Winners are:
1st Place: Bernardo
Runner Ups: Mia, Laura and Gregory(unpictured)

Congratulations to the winners! EPD is always very proud to work with such wonderful students! I hope you all have a wonderful summer break! ☀️

05/07/2026

We would like to thank the EPA Region 7 Administrator, Jim Macy, and his chief staff for visiting our Tribe today. Our Tribal Leadership was able to engage government-to-government. Questions centered around areas of future federal budget priorities, funding, and compliance/enforcement. Other questions centered around specific programs such as the Tribal Response Program - Brownfields. Jim Macy also signed the Treatment as State (TAS) which is major step towards safeguarding our waters.

We were able to visit project sites including the AQI Light (measures air quality), Kelly Projects Pond, and H-Lake.

Thank you to the US EPA for engaging with us one-on-one. We appreciate the opportunity to communicate our wants and need and look forward to future opportunities!

05/07/2026

We would like to thank our EPA Region 7’s Pesticides Enforcement and Compliance team for coming. ❤️ Mike, Brenton, Kash, and Steve (not pictured) have spent the past few days on the Winnebago and Omaha Tribe’s homelands ensuring that pesticide applicators are compliant and safe during the growing season. We look forward to them coming back throughout the season!

05/05/2026

We are in the field today alongside the US EPA’s Pesticide staff to ensure compliance with pesticide applicators within the exterior boundaries of our reservation. This consists of conducting inspections and following up with applicators. Our mission is to help protect human health and the environment.

05/04/2026

Our TRP/Brownfields Specialist joined the TRP/Brownfields team at the Santee Sioux Nation for an inventory field day focused on identifying potential brownfields properties. We always appreciate the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge with fellow Tribal Nations across EPA Region 7 whenever we can! 📝📍

04/29/2026

If we stop buying crap, they'll stop making crap! Overconsumption is pushing our planet to its limits, and reducing the amount of stuff we buy is one seriously effective trick! Before replacing something that's broken, can you upcycle it into something new? Remember, recycling is the LAST step when it comes to protecting the environment. Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and in that order! 🌿
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