Montana Association of Conservation Districts

Wildlife Speaker Series: Snake Savvy
2022-08-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
Wildlife Speaker Series: Songbirds | June 1
Join the Ruby Habitat Foundation on the evening of June 1st for a free presentation on songbirds!
Wildlife Speaker Series: Scaup | June 8
Join the Centennial Valley Association for a free presentation on scaup. Jeff Warren of the US FWS will present.
Wildlife Speaker Series: Stoats and Mink | July 1
Join the Ruby Valley Conservation District for a free presentation on stoats and mink. The Montana Trappers Association will present.
Wildlife Speaker Series: Snake Savvy | Aug 3
Join the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group for a free presentation on snakes. Dr Jared Beaver (MSU) and Stephen M. Vantassell (MT Dept of Ag) will present.
Wildlife Speaker Series: Pika | July 9
Join the Jack Creek Preserve for a free presentation on pika. Dr. Eric Beever (USGS) will present.
Wildlife Speaker Series: Beavers | July 14
Join the Big Hole Watershed Committee for a free presentation on beavers. Torrey Ritter (FWP) and Elissa Chott (Clark Fork Coalition) will present.

MACD Board Meeting
2022-08-08 07:30 - 09:00 | Zoom
Monday, August 8th at 7:30am via zoom
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85142078080?pwd=[REDACTED]

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Mini-Grant Opportunity
2022-08-15
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Mini-Grant Opportunity
The application for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Mini-Grant program is now open! This program was created to address mental health needs in rural communities and the agriculture industry through the use of mental health speakers, workshops and new or expanding trainings that support emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Learn More

Employee Roundtable
2022-08-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Employee Roundtable | Aug 17 @ 10 am
DNRC will be rolling out their new CD Project Grants and you will be able to get all (or at least most) of the details that day.
EO Roundtable Meetings usually meet on the third Wednesday of the month. For this month’s zoom information contact Chris Evans (chris@lewisandclarkcd.org).

CD Admin Exit Procedures
2022-08-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
Don’t forget that there’s a meeting at 10 am on Thursday the 18th for this topic. I’m attaching my list to-date. Whether you can be on the zoom or not, if you have input, please feel free to forward it to me.
We were supposed to have had an IT person from the USDA on this meeting, but they apparently couldn’t make it to this one. We’ll have another one of these meetings and hopefully, they can make that one.
Dusty Olsen prompted me recently to consider what the CD supervisors are responsible for. If you want to forward this to your supervisors, please feel free to do so! If anyone has guidance on that, I’d appreciate it. I asked my board and they have no idea what they have to do when there’s an admin change.
Zoom Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81770492909?pwd=[REDACTED]

Soil Team Office Hours
2022-08-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
BSWC Soils Team Funding Available:
MACD and Little Beaver CD, with the support of the DNRC Conservation Districts Bureau, have funding for conservation districts and partners to host BSWC members focused on soils-related programs and projects as part of a ‘Soils Team’ pilot.
Meeting Information
Soils Team Info Session – Monday, August 22nd at 10:00am
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81392961567?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 813 9296 1567 Passcode: [REDACTED] Call-in Number: +12532158782 or +13462487799

BSWC Intro Call
2022-08-24 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
This will be an introduction/orientation webinar for anyone interested in potentially hosting a BSWC member(s) for the first time. This one-hour virtual meeting will cover the basics of the BSWC program and address questions of potential first-time host sites and supervisors. It is NOT required but highly recommended for any first time host site partners/supervisors.
BSWC Intro Call – Wednesday, August 24th @ 9:00am
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86735831500
Call-in Number: (669)-900-6833
Meeting ID: 867 3583 1500

Education Committee Meeting
2022-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Education Committee Meeting
The MACD Education Committee meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday of each month. For zoom information and other meeting information, contact Chris Evans (chris@lewisandclarkcd.org). For additional information about the education committee such as previous meeting minutes and agenda items, visit the education committee blog: education.macdnet.org.
August 24, 2022 Draft Agenda for the Education Committee

Call to order
Approval of past meeting minutes (April)
Resolutions

New format for resolutions
Discussion about any resolutions pertinent to Education Committee

Poster Contest
Updates:

DNRC
MACD
MCDEO
CDOWG
Rolling Rivers Trailers

Quarterly reporting/Annual report for MACD
Continuity document for transitions
What’s next as the Ed Committee transitions to a work group

Zoom Information
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcrf-CurTwiGtWbsLvBE6TiTl6CRWGD_HG-/ics?icsToken=[REDACTED]
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83689637801?pwd=[REDACTED]

Soil Team Office Hours
2022-08-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
BSWC Soils Team Funding Available:
MACD and Little Beaver CD, with the support of the DNRC Conservation Districts Bureau, have funding for conservation districts and partners to host BSWC members focused on soils-related programs and projects as part of a ‘Soils Team’ pilot.
Meeting Information
Soils Team Info Session – Wednesday, August 24th at 1:00pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83854270571?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 838 5427 0571 Passcode: [REDACTED] Call-in Number: +12532158782 or +13462487799

Leadership Training Series: Working with Volunteers
2022-08-25 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Leadership Training Series
MACD 2022 Virtual Leadership Training Series for Conservation District Supervisors, Employees, and Partners.
The 2022 MACD Leadership Training series will consist of five, 75-minute sessions surrounding leadership topics relevant to conservation district staff. board, and officials.
Sessions will be delivered live by Shannon Stober and recorded for viewing.
Recorded sessions will be housed on the MACD membership website.

Working with the Community | June 23
Working with Projects | July 21
Working with Volunteers | August 25
Working with Staff | September 22
Working with Boards | October 20

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6536456726
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Montana Tree Worker Academy
2022-08-29 - 2022-09-01 | Helena, Montana, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
Montana Tree Worker Academy

The Montana Urban and Community Forestry Association (MUCFA), City of Helena, and ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter are offering four-days of hands on Tree Worker training.
August 29 – September 1, 2022
Brochure | Website

Memorial Park, Helena, Montana

Goal: To help prepare arborists to take the ISA Tree Worker Specialist practical exam.
Who Should Attend: Anyone who works with trees in the field. (Grounds person, beginning arborist, advanced arborist)
Instructors: We will have two instructors on site. Combined they have over 40 years of experience in tree work. Training will include indoor and outdoor hands-on experience.

2022 Range Tour
2022-08-30 - 2022-08-31 | Great Falls, Great Falls, MT, United States
2022 Range Tour
Attached is the registration form for this years Montana Range Tour. If you would like to register online by use of a credit/debit card, please email: secretary@cascadecd.com and an invoice will be sent to you for payment. You can also send in your registration form with a check to Cascade Conservation District at 600 6th Street NW Suite 1, Great Falls MT 59404.

2022 RANGE TOUR POSTER
Range Tour Registration

If you have any questions please call 406-403-3767.
We look forward to seeing you August 30th & 31st, 2022 at Great Falls International Airport.

BSWC Hosting Application Deadline
2022-09-02
A reminder THIS FRIDAY is the BSWC Hosting Application DEADLINE!
If you need more time, this can be extended, if you contact Rebecca (rebecca@macdnet.org) or Kay Webb (littlebeavercd@macdnet.org) BEFORE the deadline!

NOTE: Kay Webb has a Board meeting on Thursday, September 1st – and I only work until NOON the day after a Board Meeting. Reach out if you need help or have questions, but please do not wait until the last minute!

BSWC Hosting Application Site** DUE SEPTEMBER 2nd!

BSWC FAQs

Informational resources on the funding opportunity:

Outreach Informational Letter

Funding Application Letter **this is a guide, not the actual application

Soils Team Funding Application ** this is the APPLICATION, DUE SEPTEMBER 16th

Big Sky Watershed Corps – Introduction Webinar
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Recording from the Soils Corp Pilot Info Session

Program Overview Slideshow – feel free to use this for review, or to share with your Board

List of Soil Health Outreach Ideas

Information Session for Carbon Outcome Report Participants
2022-09-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
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RCAC Meeting
2022-09-07 10:00 - 16:00
Resource Conservation Advisory Council Meets September 7
HELENA, Mont — The former Resource Conservation Advisory Council (RCAC) sunsetted July 1 and the Conservation District Advisory Council (CDAC) has been established in its place to advise the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) Conservation Districts Bureau (CDB). CDAC will have its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Montana Wild in Helena. The meeting will take place from 10-4 pm. Click here to view the agenda.
The purpose of the newly established Council is to advise and assist the CDB on programs, activities, and programs relating to conservation districts. Specifically, the Council will:

Advise and assist the Conservation Districts Bureau on district operations and conservation-related issues including impending conservation matters.
Facilitate communication between the Conservation Districts Bureau and districts.
Advocate about the importance of the work and value of the districts to the public, partners, and stakeholders.
Actively participate in recruiting, training, and engaging district supervisors.

To participate via zoom, email Katherine Certalic at Kcertalic@mt.gov with your name and a request. Instructions will be sent for joining and participating in the meeting by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to CDB staff and forwarded to the Council.

Nutrient Work Group
2022-09-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
DEQ Response to EPA Action Letter
As discussed at the August 24, 2022 Nutrient Work Group meeting, linked below is DEQ’s response to EPA’s May 2022 action letter. The response letter has also been posted to the DEQ website under the “Agendas, Meeting Summaries and Materials” accordion of the Nutrient Work Group. As a reminder, EPA’s Action letter can also be found at the same location on DEQ’s website under the May 17, 2022 meeting.
The next Nutrient Work Group meeting is September 14, 2022 from 9 to 11 a.m. An agenda with Zoom links will be provided the week prior to the meeting. Please contact Christina Staten with any questions: CStaten@mt.gov or (406) 444-2836

2022_DEQResponse_EPASB358Action_8_22-22.pdf

Nutrient Work Group Meeting Schedule
As discussed at this week’s meeting, Nutrient Work Group meetings will be held every two weeks starting in August. A monthly meeting will be held in June and July. The July meeting time has been adjusted to help with scheduling conflicts. Please see the schedule below. Agendas with Zoom links will be provided in advance of each meeting. Meetings will be added to the calendar, according to the schedule below, as discussions with the Nutrient Work Group progress. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please reach out to Christina using the contact information below.

Wednesday, June 22: 9 – 11 a.m.
Wednesday, July 20: 8:30 – 10 a.m.
2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month beginning August 2022 from 9 to 11 a.m.

First regular meeting Wednesday, August 10: 9-11 a.m.

The DEQ website will be updated with the above dates. Please contact Christina Staten with any questions: CStaten@mt.gov, (406) 444-2836

MISC Webinar: Predicting suitable habitat
2022-09-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
BRYCE MAXELL
MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Predicting suitable habitat for both weeds and biocontrol species – tools resources managers can use to measure risk, save time, and allocate resources.
This webinar will provide an overview of how natural resource managers and weed control specialists can access the information online for prioritizing survey and control efforts, and how the model output should be interpreted and used, including limitations. With authorization, natural resource managers are able to view model output on the Montana Natural Heritage Program’s Natural Heritage Map Viewer and anyone can view model write ups on the program’s Predicted Suitable Habitat Models web page.
Register Here

Leadership Training Series: Working with Staff
2022-09-22 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Leadership Training Series
MACD 2022 Virtual Leadership Training Series for Conservation District Supervisors, Employees, and Partners.
The 2022 MACD Leadership Training series will consist of five, 75-minute sessions surrounding leadership topics relevant to conservation district staff. board, and officials.
Sessions will be delivered live by Shannon Stober and recorded for viewing.
Recorded sessions will be housed on the MACD membership website.

Working with the Community | June 23
Working with Projects | July 21
Working with Volunteers | August 25
Working with Staff | September 22
Working with Boards | October 20

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/i/6536456726
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Low-Tech Restoration Workshop
2022-09-23 | Winnet, MT, Winnet, MT, United States
Low-Tech Restoration Workshop
The Winnett ACES and their partners are hosting a Low-Tech, Process-Based Restoration (LTPBR) Workshop and Field Day on Friday, September 23, in Winnett. Hosted in partnership with Pheasants Forever, the Montana Conservation Corps, the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, the Bureau of Land Management, and the MWCC Watershed Fund, this event will feature the practice of adding simple, low-cost structures to riverscapes to mimic the functions and processes of healthy watersheds. It will also include information on what LTPBR resources may be available in other communities. Travel stipends available, and lunch will be provided. More details to come! RSVP with winnett.aces.education@gmail.com.

2022 Area Meetings
2022-09-27 - 2022-10-05
Fall 2022 Area Meetings
09/27 – Area 1 Mtg McCone
09/28 – Area 2 Mtg – Custer
09/29 – Area 4 Mtg – Stillwater
09/30 – Area 6 Mtg – Gallatin
10/04 – Area 3 Mtg – Pondera
10/05 – Area 5 Mtg – Flathead

MISC Webinar: Plant invasions at multiple spatial scales
2022-09-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
Plant invasions at multiple spatial scales: assessment, prevention, and management
Presenter: Tim Seipel – Montana State University
This webinar will share how invasive species spread across multiple spatial scale, discuss their biogeography and how the past, present, and future affect our management decisions. Much of this will be put in context through research conducted by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN). The aim of MIREN is to understand the effects of global change on species’ distributions and biodiversity in mountainous areas.
Register Here

Workshop Principles of Biological Systems
2022-09-29 - 2022-09-30
Dan Kittredge, teaching his first Montana class, is leading his signature workshop “Principles of Biological Systems” at Arrowpeak Lodge, Sept 29-Sep 30. This is a rare, not-to-be-missed opportunity, affordably priced because Dan is also keynoting at Expo. The class is designed for all participants in the food system community—experienced farmers, ranchers and gardeners, as well as nutritionists, students, researchers, chefs, and advocates—to learn current research and proven methods for producing healthier, better tasting food crops.

“My goal is that, by the end, you see everything as being part of a biological system and use that to inform your choices….When you learn to see what’s going on through the perspective of the microbes, then you can make intelligent management decisions accordingly.” —Dan Kittredge

Registration includes meals and lodging. Learn more and register here: https://aeromt.org/dan-kittredge-workshop/

Got questions? Contact Gillian at getintouch@aeromt.org

Planning Grants Due
2022-09-29
Reclamation and Development Grants Program
Planning Grants Available!
DNRC Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) is now accepting applications for RDGP Planning Grants. Grants are available to any city, county, Tribe, conservation district or other political subdivision in Montana.
Applications are due Thursday September 29, 2022 by 5:00 pm
The RDG Program funds planning for the following project types:

Mineral Development: Projects that repair, reclaim, and/or mitigate environmental damage to public resources from non-renewable resource extraction (mining, hazardous waste, and oil and gas)
Crucial State Need: Projects that identify clear measurable benefits to natural resources across a watershed or region of the state. The primary goal of the project must be to improve natural resources in the State. Eligible project types include:

Drought Mitigation – Projects that identify and mitigate drought and develop management plans in line with the State Water Plan. The primary purpose of the project must be to address drought and have a benefit to natural resources across a watershed or region of the state. Examples include:

Development of drought plans that lead to project implementation and address drought management or mitigation.
Planning for specific projects that address drought across a watershed or region of the State, as the main purpose of the project.

Flood Assessment and Mitigation – Projects addressing natural resource impacts to a watershed or region of the State. Examples include:

Planning for large-scale flood assessment and mitigation projects that identify clear benefits to natural resources across a watershed.

Other projects that meet a crucial State need to protect Montana’s resources

Please call if you have questions about project eligibility or would like your application reviewed prior to submitting.
For more information: RDG Planning Grants
Find this application and more at grants.dnrc.mt.gov Look below for more funding opportunities from the Resource Development Bureau.
Please contact us with any questions on the project grants and application process. Apply Now

2022 AERO Expo
2022-09-30 - 2022-10-02 | Great Falls, Great Falls, MT, United States
CULTIVATING RESILIENCY
This is the theme of the 2022 AERO Expo taking place at Arrowpeak Lodge outside Great Falls, Sep 30-Oct 02. Keynotes by Liz Carlisle (author of Lentil Underground) and Dan Kittredge (organic farmer and founder of the Bionutrient Food Association). 12 sessions divided into 3 tracks focusing on supporting purpose-driven Montana food and farming businesses in their stewardship efforts. Session tracks:

Reimagining the Economy of Stewardship Agriculture
Food Sovereignty and Food Culture
Access Routes to Resilient Stewardship

Registration includes meals and lodging.

Learn more and register here: https://aeromt.org/event/expo-2022/

MISC Webinar: Climate-smart regulations across jurisdictions
2022-10-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
The case for consistent climate-smart regulations across jurisdictions.
Presenters: Dr. Emily Fusco and Dr. Eve Beaury
Invasive plant regulations are most likely to reduce invasive species spread if they are consistently enacted across political borders and proactively restrict species early in the invasion process. In this talk, we’ll discuss list consistency with a focus on Montana and neighboring states. We’ll also examine list proactivity based on current distributions and potential range shifts with climate change.
Register Here

Little Beaver CD Meeting
2022-10-04 17:30 - 19:30
Please see the Little Beaver CD website for more info.

Flathead Basin Commission Fall Meeting
2022-10-06 10:00 - 17:30 | Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 Second Ave E., Kalispell, MT, United States
Flathead Basin Commission Fall Meeting
Thursday, October 6th | 10:00am – 5:30pm
Northwest Montana History Museum
124 Second Ave E. Kalispell, MT
Join the Flathead Basin Commission (FBC) for a fall meeting featuring FBC project updates and a special panel presentation discussing Growth & Development in the Flathead Basin, followed by a walking field trip in downtown Kalispell to see the Flathead Rain Garden Initiative in action!
All meetings are open to the public. See the DRAFT agenda below. To participate in the meeting virtually please register in advance with the button below.

Register for Zoom Participation

MACD Finance Committee
2022-10-18 07:30 - 09:00 | Zoom
The MACD Finance Committee will at 7:30am via Zoom. Contact Rebecca Boslough (rebecca@macdnet.org) for meeting details.

MRCDC CMR Community Working Group
2022-10-20 10:00 - 14:00
CMR Community Working Group

CMR Community Working Group - Revitilization meeting
2022-10-20 10:00 - 14:00
CMR Community Working Group – Revitilization meeting
