A Year of Change

by Laurie Zeller,CD Bureau Chief

The year 2020 has brought us change. Some good. Some . . . well, not so good, but as usual, conservation districts have risen to the occasion. Projects get done, conservation districts and their employees continually find creative ways to provide services to customers, and most have adapted to the changes in how we meet and get our business done. For us at CDB, we too, continue to find ways to meet your needs in an ever changing environment.

At the end of this year, we will be saying goodbye to some of our dedicated staff. Duane Claypool, who has faithfully served conservation districts in administering water reservations, will be retiring. The good news is that Randell Hopkins will be taking over for him. We are happy to have him. 

Linda Brander, who has managed the 223 grant program and our pass-through contracts, will also be retiring. She has been a creative force on our staff, finding ways to tell our story and to reach new audiences with the conservation district message.

Please join us in wishing them the best in their retirement.

Our popular zoom series provides a way to stay connected and learn some of the finer points of CD business. Upcoming November 10, we will have a CD idea share, with Flathead, Gallatin, Lake, and Madison CDs sharing ideas that can be incorporated as is, or they can be modified to meet local needs. Look for a zoom invite soon. Also on the horizon, we will host sessions on grasshopper management with APHIS, open meetings, new supervisor orientation, grant management, local work group successes, 310 basics, and another round or two of CD idea share.  If you have ideas on topics you would like covered, please be sure to let the staff know.

Lastly, you may hear about dire budget predictions and that some of our programs may be reduced or eliminated due to a reduction in income. Please remember, we have weathered all these storms before and came out as stronger than ever. Don’t let the fear of these unknowns stop you from dreaming big. Conservation districts are resourceful and have been able to provide conservation programs, even in the toughest times. You have proven how resourceful you can be and know how to tighten your belts when necessary. Please know that CDB and MACD will protect the most critical funding for conservation districts, but your voices need to be heard.

Thank you for everything 

by Linda Brander, CD Specialist

I started employment at DNRC in 2010. Prior to that I worked at the Montana Department of Commerce. When I first arrived at DNRC, I worked in the Director’s office to create and execute the Restoration Program. Within a year Mary Sexton, the director at that time, closed the program. Lucky for me; within that first year, I must have made a good impression because Mary transferred me to CARDD.

Before I was transferred, I had a heart-to-heart discussion with my immediate supervisor, Joe Lamson, Deputy Director, and asked him to assign me to Laurie Zeller’s program. My request was not fulfilled.

When I arrived in CARDD, the leadership was unsure what to do with me, so they temporarily assigned me to Laurie (secretly I’m saying yea😊) where I remained in a limbo not-for-sure boss status for several months. During that time, I would frequently say to Laurie, “I like your management style and I want you to be my supervisor.”

As time moved forward and without official declaration, Laurie became my supervisor.

I have loved this job from the beginning. I get to be part of a bigger picture, work with people, and use my creativity to help all Montanans witness the power of local conservation efforts. Working with CD administrators, supervisor, and partner agencies has been great, because each and everyone of you have been so willing to make things work, make things better, and resolve problems. Some highlights include (just scratching the surface):

• Each PR story that DNRC published was made possible because of help from the local CD. They established connections into the agriculture community, worked with partner agencies, and helped schedule the interviews.
• The book, Montana Women, From the Ground Up, Passionate Voices in Agriculture and Land Conservation sold more than 2000 copies within the CD network; a success story made possible by conservation districts.
• Your on-the-ground efforts for local conservation whether it be through a dirt project, education program, or feasibility study have demonstrated the power of the people at the local level. As the manager of the 223 program, I got to play a small role in making Montana a better place.

I am unsure what my retirement plans are. Before the virus, I wanted to audit a Carroll College class, participate in a dog agility classes, and take an art class.

The one thing I know for sure, I am going to appreciate and relish the gift of time.

I will stay in touch with the network of conservation districts. Please feel free to keep in touch with me mysticmoonbeam@montana.com. 

 Hello Everyone!

by Randell Hopkins, Water Reservation Technician

Hi! My name is Randell Hopkins and I am the new Water Reservation Technician with DNRC in Miles City.  I graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology. I enjoy spending as much time as I can hunting, fishing, and camping in our beautiful state.

My wife and I are excited to be in Miles City and are eagerly anticipating the adventures we can share in this part of the state. I have worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Big Horn County for the last few years. I look forward to applying the knowledge gained there to help the Conservation Districts and producers of our wonderful state of Montana.

Environmental Contingency Grants

by Karl Christians, CD Specialist

In response to the fire and flood damage over the past few years, Governor Bullock has committed up to $200,000 from the Environmental Contingency Grant fund to help local efforts to restore and reclaim lands damaged by fire and associated flooding in the years 2017 through 2020. These funds are available to conservation districts to address rehabilitation and reclamation efforts on private lands.

Funds are available for immediate and long-range conservation efforts to protect soil and water, control weeds, and enhance wildlife habitat including pollinator habitat. Eligible restoration activities include, but are not limited to, weed control, re-seeding, contour tree felling, tree seedling planting, personnel (conservation crews) to conduct work, and other measures necessary to protect the natural resources of the area. Funds are also available for flood damage rehabilitation activities that can be attributed to fires that are not normally covered under other funding sources. Activities would include river and stream restoration, bank restoration, debris removal, activities to prevent physical failure of a project, and other natural resource related activities as long as they can be attributed to fires. 

All activities should be coordinated with local agencies such as the NRCS, FWP, DNRC foresters, county offices and local conservation groups to avoid duplicate activities/efforts. 

Some of you have talked with Laurie Zeller regarding potential funds/contracts as well, and this may help answer questions you have. If your local land stewards have a need and your board is interested, a simple application and a plan is all that is needed to apply. There is no funding limit, but funds are limited. Applications will be reviewed for public benefit and local coordination.

Contact either Laurie or me if you have questions or need help getting started.

Environmental Contingency Grant Application

Montana Stream Permitting Guide

by Jason Garber, Stream Permitting Coordinator

^{Photo: FWP fishing access site, Prickly Pear Creek by Jason Garber}

The Montana Stream Permitting Guide was recently updated for 2020. This guide is a comprehensive tool for both stream permitting agencies and the public. District staff and supervisors will find plenty of useful information on project design concepts and as well as discussion of stream form and function and the role other agencies play in the stream permitting world of Montana. The Conservation Districts Bureau at DNRC has enough hard copies available for each District to receive one copy for their office. An electronic copy is also available at the link below. If you have not yet picked up or received a hard copy of the guide, please contact me and I will have one mailed to your office.

Electronic version of Stream Permitting guide: http://dnrc.mt.gov/licenses-and-permits/stream-permitting/StreamPermittingBinderBook2020.pdf

Sage Grouse Oversight Team Accepting Public Comment through November 10

HELENA, Mont -- The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) met on October 27 and heard a summary of the Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program's 2019 Annual Report. The Program also shared some preliminary suggestions for future adaptive management.

The 2019 Annual Report and the Program's presentation are now available on MSGOT's meeting archive web page under the October 27 Notes link. The summary presentation starts on page 35 and the full report begins on page 55. The audio file is expected to be published sometime during the week of November 9.

The Oversight Team will meet next on November 30 and is expected to continue discussing the 2019 Report and adaptive management. It will also consider applications for Stewardship Account grants for the 2020 grant cycle. The virtual meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m.

The Oversight Team will continue accepting written public comment on the 2019 Annual Report, adaptive management, or any other matter through November 10, 2020. Comments should be emailed directly to csime2@mt.gov and received by 5:00 p.m.

All MSGOT meetings are open to the public. Public participation is welcomed and encouraged. Interested members of the public who wish to participate may join the webinar by emailing your name and a request to Shawna.Swanz@mt.gov. You will be sent information and specific log-in instructions. Public participants will be able to see and hear the entire meeting using your own device. Opportunities for oral public comment will be provided periodically during the webinar. At that time, those who wish to provide public comment will be recognized individually.  

The final virtual MSGOT meeting of 2020 is set for December 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Conservation Districts Idea Share 

You asked for it . . . you got it! At the area meeting last year, many of you asked for a way to share good project ideas with each other.

In light of this request, we are excited for our next CD zoom series, which will cover some conservation district projects that are not your typical projects or approaches.

This idea share session will cover four conservation districts that developed projects that meet their community’s needs – and all during the crazy times we are in.

Flathead CD will cover their evening adult conservation education series and outdoor garden; Madison CD will cover how they involve community in all of their projects to create excitement about the work they do; Lake County CD will cover their soil health and pollinator projects; and Gallatin CD will cover a great community project involving a garden, outdoor education, and farmers market.

All these projects can be replicated by any conservation district with little money and modified to meet the needs of your own land stewards.

The Zoom presentation will be held on Tuesday, November 10th, at 11:00 am. The Zoom invite will be sent out next week.

Grasshoppers and Potential Control Opportunities for 2021

I sat in on a presentation by Gary Adams, State Plant Health Director, USDA APHIS regarding the grasshopper infestations in Montana this past summer. It was very informative and alarming! I learned that AHPIS has a program where they can help with hopper control. My thoughts immediately came together that CDs could possibly help organize efforts with landowners. Gary mentioned he would greatly appreciate CDs helping coordinate (Wyoming CDs help with coordinating landowners) - Karl Christians

To learn more about this, plan on attending a Zoom presentation by Gary Adams, November 30, 1:00 pm.  Please invite supervisors to sit in on this as well. I will send out Zoom info shortly. Attached below is a note from Gary as well as the national and Montana maps.

Gary Adams

2021 Rangeland Grasshopper Hazard Map

Montana 2021 Rangeland Grasshopper Hazard