LOCATION:
The Spirit Lake Reservation is located in east – central North Dakota on the southern shores of Devils Lake.
The closest cities are Minot (approximately 115 miles/185 km) and Fargo (approximately 120 miles/193 km), North Dakota.
COMMUNITY DETAILS:
The Spirit Lake Tribe is a Native American tribe with approximately 4,300 members living on the reservation.
The community has been experiencing 20 years of rising water from Devils Lake, which has caused flooding and consequent environmental and economic impacts. In April 2013, the Spirit Lake Tribe was officially declared as a disaster area and the community was working with FEMA to implement the Tribe’s emergency plan.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The Tokio Pantry, which had previously served as a community and food distribution center was demolished due to an insufficient septic system and due to mold issues as a result of flooding. A new community center was proposed in the surrounding rural area as the pantry played a key role in the community, therefore it was a tribal priority to replace it.
The Spirit Lake Tribal Council therefore sought engineering design support for the construction of a new building which would provide adequate food services in a safe and healthy environment as well as a central place for the community to be used for meetings, seminars, training sessions etc.
Through EWB-USA’s Community Engineering Corps (CECorps) program (now known as U.S. Community Program – USCP), the chapter was selected to provide engineering for the construction of a new metal structure to be built. The building would be used as a community center as well as for adequate food services in a safe and healthy environment. The Spirit Lake Tribe owns the land where the proposed structure would be located and a Work Plan and Engineering Service Agreement were rendered for the design and construction of this new addition.
Left: Reviewing preliminary design work with tribal community leadership. Right: Site for the proposed new building location adjacent to the Tokio Community Center.
Due to a combination of membership transition within the EWB-USA team as well as a change in tribal leadership, it was determined by the tribe that there was no further interest in continuing the project beyond development of the preliminary designs.
PROJECT ADOPTION DATE:
September 2013 (Central Houston Professional Chapter)
PROJECT STATUS:
Closed
TEAM LEADS:
- Sonali Vardhmane – Project/Communications Lead
- Paul Gordon – Design Lead
- Nick Cook – Cost/Fundraising Lead