Buffalo Slough Island

Buffalo Slough Island in Sturgeon Lake is home to important cultural resources for the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC). The island was experiencing erosion and habitat loss, until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the PIIC signed a project partnership agreement to restore the island. The project built a rock bullnose and rock vanes to prevent erosion and serve as nesting and shelter habitat for birds, reptiles, and mammals. Dredged material was also placed on the island to increase elevation and support floodplain forest growth. This project preserves tribal resources such as vegetation for food and medicine, and fisheries for recreation and cultural purposes.