Programs

Big Sky Watershed Corps is an Americorps program that places young professionals in Montana watershed communities where they make a measurable difference in local conservation efforts. BSWC began in 2011 and has been a huge success within the state, with members making strides in watershed research, project planning and implementation, watershed education and outreach, and community engagement.

The Ranching for Rivers program is a cost-share program designed to assist landowners in protecting riparian health through improved ranching practices. Through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ranching for Rivers offers 50% cost-share for fencing material, off-site water infrastructure, and developing grazing management plans. Funding is also available for Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups to provide technical assistance on ranching management projects to local landowners in their area.

MACD, in partnership with Montana DNRC, offers communications assistance to Montana’s conservation districts such as website assistance, design assistance, communications training, resources and toolkits, technology assistance, and more.

MACD offers mini-grants to help fund local education and outreach efforts that address non-point source water quality issues. Funding for these mini-grants is made available through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s federally funded 319 program. Mini-grants are available on an annual basis and funded projects need to occur within a year of being awarded.

The Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) is a partnership of ranchers, agencies, nonprofit groups, and others that embrace a common vision: what is good for rangelands is good for sage grouse. Working in conjunction with USDA Farm Bill programs and NRCS Field Offices, SGI provides for 24 range conservationists in 11 western states to assist private landowners with planning and implementing rangeland practices to conserve sage grouse habitat.

Established in 1959, the Bridger Plant Materials Center has served as an important on-farm research center for both native and crop plants important to Montana and Wyoming for nearly 60 years. Montana and Wyoming’s conservation districts co-own the Center and lease it to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the purpose of maintaining a research facility for the development of plant materials to help solve conservation problems throughout Montana and Wyoming.

The Rolling Rivers Trailer Program is an exciting education tool used to teach Montana’s youth and adults about how rivers work and why they are such an important natural resource.