Staff from the Land and Natural Resources Department conduct forest and prairie monitoring over the span of more than 100 plots, and began monitoring waterfowl populations on Pike Lake in 2020, observing more than 475 birds. To help reduce invasive buckthorn from SMSC lands, goats were dispatched in fall 2020 to remove more than 22 acres of buckthorn (equivalent to 60 tons) on SMSC lands. In 2020, staff planted more than 1,500 pots of native flowers, grasses, and shrubs on SMSC lands and helped restore 156 acres of prairie-bringing total restored prairie to nearly 1,200 acres since 1999. The tribe uses environmentally friendly land management tools, such as prescribed burns that mimic naturally occurring wildfires or herds of goats that eat invasive species, to help return these areas to high-functioning habitats and protect and preserve the region’s ecosystems. The Land and Natural Resources Department works to conserve and restore hundreds of acres of forests, woodlands, prairies, and wetlands each year.

In 2019, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness partnered with Mazopiya to donate nearly 3,000 meals to neighbors in need. The enterprise’s deli staff work with MealConnect for food rescue, connecting surplus meals with food-insecure neighbors.

LED lighting inside means energy usage is even further minimized. From atop its green roof, you can see the many skylights built to maximize natural light. The rain gardens surrounding Dakotah! Sport and Fitness prevent stormwater runoff and provide a habitat for butterflies and other pollinators. Inside the ice center, waste heat is captured and reused to warm the ice rink seating.

All VAST permeable composite pavers can also be removed if needed, and recycled into new pavers. The pavers are made from 95% recycled tire rubber and plastics-every 1,000 square feet of VAST permeable composite pavers saves 500 scrap tires and 15,000 plastic bottles from landfills.

Dakotah! Sport and Fitness hosts a 32,000-square-foot green roof, 16 solar panels for solar water heating, rain gardens, and recycled benches, as well as 14,000 square feet of VAST permeable composite pavers installed along the parking lot center aisle and at the entrance of the facility.

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