To Safeguard the health of the Tule River Reservation community, through enhancement and protection of the natural environment.

The Tule River Reservation is approximately 85 square miles of oak woodlands, conifer forest and nearly the entire watershed of the South Fork Tule River.  Most of the acreage on the reservation is undeveloped and the Tribal community has always enjoyed the serene quality of natural rivers, enormous mountain ranges, and variety of wildlife and vegetation types that are abundant on the Reservation.

The Environmental Department is responsible for safeguarding these assets through development and execution of various programs.  To date, these programs include Water Quality, Solid Waste Disposal and Waste Reduction, Cultural Resource Protection, Geographic Information System and Grant Management.

Our water program supports annual water quality sampling and watershed restoration and enhancement activities, along the 30 miles of river and streams winding through the Reservation.  Surface water quality for recreational purposes.

The Environmental Department manage a community Solid Waste transfer station where household waste and recyclable material is collected.  Community members sort and deposit glass, plastic, cardboard and newspaper and bring it to the transfer station for transport.  They also collect used tires and waste oil for proper disposal.  The Environmental Department is involved in community events such as roadside cleanup, National River Cleanup and Traditional Gatherings where they promote recycling.

The Tribe's Cultural Protection program is also administered by the Environmental Department through Archaeological monitoring and the Yokuts Archaeological Advisory Team.  They work closely with Tribal Management as well as outside agencies in a combined effort to protect and preserve Traditional Yokuts cultural resources.

The Environmental Department is supported mostly by Federal grants funds from agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service.  The Tribal government supplements the program as well.

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