A $196,148 grant awarded Friday to the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians will be the catalyst for a three year habitat restoration project in the Bear River watershed. The grant was part of five grants given through the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, totaling $1.8 million. Partnered closely with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Jackie Pillette, wetlands specialist for Little Traverse Bay Bands and Bear River habitat restoration coordinator, said funding will be used for erosion control projects, green belt development and the eradication of invasive species starting at Walloon Lake and following the Bear River. The project is scheduled to begin in 2011.