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Conservation Districts Bureau Notes
Things you need to know
April 2020
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COVID-19 Update
by Laurie Zeller, CD Bureau Chief
I have rewritten this guidance to CDs three times over the last few days, so rather than try to keep up with the changing news about how the governor’s “sheltering in place” directives affect CDs here is a link (https://mt.gov) that specifically addresses what to do and how CD boards can determine what essential services are. This main Montana government page includes links for COVID updates and others links that provide important information about how to make determinations regarding essential services. For those of you that are in offices paid for by USDA, follow their directive regarding office closures; however, CD boards must make determinations for its employees independently whether to work remotely if the USDA offices remain open. For those of you that are in your own buildings or paying for your own space, your board should be making these determinations based on the governor’s guidance. Please know that things change quickly, so the links above should help keep you current.
Here are some questions regarding 310 processing and other CD questions we recently answered.
We have heard that we have to have ID or some sort of documentation to travel to work that proves we are providing essential services. Is that true?
Currently, that’s not covered in the governor’s directives.
Can we postpone reviewing 310 applications?
Yes. If you don’t “accept” an application, the time frame does not start, so you would remain in compliance with the law. Be sure to keep in contact with the applicant and FWP to determine if the application can be approved without an inspection. Consider holding a virtual inspection via google earth or using other aerial photography if necessary.
FWP is the entity that actually determines if an inspection is warranted. If they don’t want an inspection, the board can approve the application without one and stay within the statutory authority. If FWP determines they want to do an inspection (within the governor’s directives), then the CD and the applicant can waive participation. FWP would submit the team inspection form to the CD, and the board can make a decision based on the team recommendation. The waiver in participation should be in writing (which can be an e-mail).
To summarize, during “shelter in place,” the board should first determine if the application can wait. If not, determine if can it be approved without an inspection (FWP consultation required). If not, can it be approved via a virtual inspection (FWP consultation required). The board and FWP should use the governor’s guidelines to determine if the inspection would be considered essential.
Can we make 310 decisions over the phone?
Statutory provisions still apply regarding public notice and participation. If your board has need to meet, those meetings must be via conference call, skype, zoom, or other virtual meeting software. Public notice and opportunity to participate must be provided, so give a little more notice so they can either send in comments, or participate on the call.
How do we get 310 decisions signed if the board members can’t come to the office or travel isn’t considered essential?
The board can delegate signatory authority for CD employees to sign the 310 forms. Just make sure this authority has a definite time limit and is documented in the minutes.
As of today, March 27, DNRC remains open for essential services with limited staff, however, most CDB employees are working from home. Staff are still providing services via email and phone.
Please stay well & safe!
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FY21 Administrative Grants
by Karl Christians, CD Specialist
Attached is an application form as well as a spreadsheet for you to use in applying for FY21 Administrative Grant funding. Please be sure to fill everything out as best you can and return them to me by May 1. You will need to send me a hard copy since a supervisor must sign it.
A few notes to consider:
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PROPOSED Column…. Please estimate your budget for 2021.
- On the excel spreadsheet, if you need to add additional line items, or rename them in the income or expense category to match your budgets, please feel free to do so.
- There are a number of “comment” boxes with little instructions or hints. However, if I missed something, or something is confusing, please contact me.
- Cell B21.. This amount should be equal to the balance of the June 30, 2019 (FY 2019) profit and loss statement. The figure needed here is the balance of FY 2019 funding that was available for operating expenses in FY 2020.
- Assets (Cells B8-11)..If you have assets, please explain your plan for those funds (termination account, reserved operating expenses, equipment purchases, building repair fund, building purchase fund, etc.).
- Permissive levy…Not all of you have worked through this process. If you have implemented it, please make note of the income on line 26 and the expense on lines 47 or 48.
- Line 52… 310 expenses. Please keep track of your 310 expenses, for this information will be helpful for future planning purposes.
Webinar: I am struggling with a webinar venue for the last few days, and not sure it’ll get figured out in time. So I’m canceling the March 31 webinar. In place of that, until I get a system figured out, please review last year’s webinar, located on our training site, at http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/cardd/docs/cd-new/cd-new-documents-folder/2019032809.33NavigatingtheFY20AdministrativeGrant.mp4 not a lot has changed so this should provide the help you need to work thru the application. I’m working from home so please feel free to call me at 431-1580, anytime day or night with questions. Thank you, Karl
Our tentative schedule this year will be this:
- May 1… Applications due back to me
- May 12.. Proposed allocations approved/modified by RCAC
- June 20 … Estimated date of when contracts are sent out
- July 1 … Start paying out contracts that have been signed (however, this is always slow due to our state fiscal year end)
If you have any questions, please give me a shout, 444-3022 or email me.
Documents: Hello Administrators Admin Grant Workshop 2021 Draft FY21 Admin Grant Application
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Water Programs: Annual Work Plan (AWP) and Long Range Plans (LRP)
by Lance Clark, CD Specialist
If your conservation district has not added Water related programs to your AWP and LRP, you might want to consider amending your plans. Having your plans updated to fully reflect the amount of time, work and activities may surprise you--with this area of CD work!
- Water Quality; Water Quantity; 310 Program; and Watersheds
Establishing a water quality program can be important and invaluable for your conservation district. Having locally generated water quality information empowers your conservation district, your watershed groups, local landowners and land managers. Knowing the health of your streams and water bodies is important as you monitor waters and the health of your watershed as a whole. Years ago, the EPA and state DEQ organizations established Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL's). Often TMDL's were associated with Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)) and proximity adjacent to streams and water bodies, as well as any other point / non-point sources that impacted water quality. Conservation districts nationwide began gathering water samples at upper reaches of streams and water bodies, mid-point and lower stretches to begin gathering data on water quality. The effort has helped in knowing the water quality data sets and working with land owners and land managers with technical and funding resources to improve the water quality county and conservation district jurisdiction wide.
Read the full article here
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CD Administrator -- NRCS District Conservation Partnerships
by Lance Clark, CD Specialist
Relationships are important in life; both in the workplace and our personal lives. How well we communicate, coordinate and deliver our natural resources programming strengthens the working rapport we have in the Field Office as well as with our working partners and the success of our short and long term objectives in the conservation and natural resources communities.
We know the basics of developing and cultivating strong working relationships between the conservation district administrator and board chairperson. However, we don't often discuss how important the CD administrator and the USDA--District Conservationist working relationship is and the importance of effective communication and coordination. This topic is important and worthy for discussion. Perhaps your conservation district and USDA NRCS service center have an equally great story to tell. Perhaps there are differences in your Field Office and there is an opportunity to improve communication and coordination. Either way, it can be a helpful exercise for the Conservation District to further discuss healthy working relationships. Ultimately, we all deserve a great place to work that is positively functioning and fully meets the needs of our customers--land owner, land managers and natural resource partners.
Lower Musselshell Conservation District and USDA NRCS--Roundup Service Center
Wendy Jones, Lower Musselshell CD Administrator, "It's important to support each other (DC and CD Administrator), share natural resource ideas and program generation to see how project ideas can be advanced to proposal, grant and/or other funding. We are a valued team with similar visions meeting the needs of our land owners, land managers and natural resource partners.
Austin Shero, USDA NRCS District Conservationist-Roundup Service Center, "It's important for NRCS staff to engage with the CD administrator and the CD board of supervisors. I feel its important to attend and participate in the monthly meetings / conservation meetings & events and gather conservation district input on natural resource issues, Farm Bill programs, as well as gather input and guidance to the NRCS local work group meetings and Targeted Implementation Planning (TIP)."
Richland County Conservation District and USDA NRCS--Sidney Service Center
Julie Goss, Richland County CD administrator, said, "We respect each others jobs / work positions and work together as a team on behalf of our agricultural producers."
Jamie Selting, USDA District Conservationist--Sidney Service Center, "It's important to have an enjoyable work place with professional perspectives while understanding the roles of what USDA and what the conservation district does in advancing our separate missions but yet the united objective of meeting our customer's technical and funding sources that result in conservation practices on the ground."
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NACD Pollinator Field Day Curriculum Guide
This is a free, downloadable PDF for local printing. The guide is designed to provide interactive learning experiences for grades K-8, engaging them in habitat-focused, pollinator-themed activities for the classroom and outdoors. Each activity has been correlated to education standards. The guide provides resources and tools needed to conduct a successful pollinator field day, including planning and implementation guidelines, materials and evaluation strategies. You must complete a survey to download the document.
Download at this NACD link
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