Mike LaVoie was born in Western New York and lives in Sylva, North Carolina. He coordinates all environmental and natural resource issues related to rivers and streams within the tribal reservation as well as determines and designates all of the conservation project work for the rivers running through the Reservation for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.
He is responsible for storm water management and watershed planning for the rapidly growing town of Cherokee. Mike works closely with Swain County and local entities. His work on the reservation trout waters brings a significant economic impact on tourism and the local economies.
Mike graduated from Wake Fores tin 1999 and earned a Masters in Biology from Western Carolina in 2006. Prior to his tenure with the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Mike worked for a variety of agencies and tribal organization on conservation projects in the southern United States, New York, and Alaska. Mike is the Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, the EBCI Natural Resources Department Director and the Vice President of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society.
Over the past 5+ years Mike‘s dedication to finding and coordinating funding partners for multiple stream restoration projects within the Raven Fork watershed, has proven instrumental in raising $11.5 million. Specific commitments from the EBCI Tribal leadership of $5 million, NC Legislators appropriation of $3 million for Swain County, and partnering with Resource Institute to use a $3.5 million grant RI received fromUSDS/ Resource Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The first of many future projects within the Raven Fork watershed are currently being implemented under these funding initiatives. Mike’s steadfast and determined efforts have been instrumental to these and future partnerships with the Tribe.
Mike LaVoie — Inducted in the Conservation category for his many years of conservation oversight of the Eastern Band Cherokee India tribal waters and both Indian and public fisheries programs. Mike exemplifies a true “Conservation Hero” worthy of recognition.
