13-11: Montana Conservation Practices Month
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Montana CDs and Watershed Groups work to establish August as Montana Conservation Promotion Month starting August 2014. Participants will work with Montana Association of Conservation Districts and Montana Watershed Coordination Council to develop marketing materials (press release, logo, etc) and promote their own local event. Participants agree to organize and host a tour of a successful project or program in their area during the year.
Read full resolution13-10: Conservation District Group Benefit Plan
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Conservation District, in consultation with the Conservation Districts Bureau, Conservation & Resource Development Division, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, develop legislation for the 2015 legislative assembly to adopt a specific law for codification in Title 15, chapter 10, part 4 and Title 76, chapter 15, Montana Code Annotated, to provide permanent funding of a group benefit plan for all conservation district employees by means of the conservation district’s annual regular levy.
Read full resolution13–09: Invasive Species Advisory Council
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that MACD supports the formation of an Invasive Species Advisory Council attached to the Governor’s office. This would more closely align Montana’s invasive species management efforts with surrounding states such as Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and improve coordination among private, state, and federal stakeholders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Invasive Species Advisory Council be comprised of members representing a cross-section of Montana agricultural, environmental, governmental, and business interests.
Read full resolution13–08: CBMPA Scope Expansion
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts approach the next Montana Legislature to request expanding the existing CBMPA law to include development of baseline and long-term monitoring data for all natural energy resources that impact water quality and quantity.
Read full resolution13–07: Legal Clarification of Reserved Water Rights
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) shall encourage, through contact and monitoring feedback reports, the Montana Department of Natural Resources to adhere to Section 89-8-107 of the Act, and Section 85-2-316(8)(a) M.C.A. and assist conservation districts in their efforts to promote beneficial use of Montana’s waters by allowing use of conservation district reserved water to be exempt from the DNRC change process if:
1) The source was identified on the original reserved water application;
2) The original public notice of the CD reflects correct information of proposed use;
3) The place of use, township, and range are listed on the original reserved water
application;
4) The proposed use does not exceed 10.0 cfs or 1,000 ac/ft per year; and
5) The purpose is for agricultural irrigation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts working jointly with DNRC to adhere to M.C.A. 85-2-316(8)(a) to approach the Montana legislature to provide sufficient funding and staff to timely process approved conservation district reserved water applications.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Montana Association of Conservation Districts seek legal clarification that a conservation district reserved water right is a conditional water right protected by law as is a permit to appropriate water, and as such is not subject to the same requirements of a new water right permit application.
Read full resolution13–06: MACD Mitigation Banks
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts create a mitigation bank and/or create partnerships with other organizations that would be available to producers in Montana that need to do a project and can’t because of mitigation requirements.
Read full resolution13–05: Fuels Mitigation and Reduction Plan
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts encourage local, state, and federal governments to assist in creating a market based approach to fuels mitigation and land management to promote a more sustainable method of reducing fuels and preventing catastrophic damage.
Read full resolution13-04: Increase Competitive Bidding Limitation on Conservation District Projects
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts sponsor a bill in the 2015 Montana Legislature to amend Montana Law to establish a minimum dollar amount exemption in the competitive bidding process for conservation districts consistent with the amount established for municipal governments.
Read full resolution13-03: Wild & Free Roaming Bison
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Montana Association of Conservation Districts stand is opposed to free roaming wild buffalo or bison.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Montana Association of Conservation Districts identify a sponsor for a bill in the 2015 Montana Legislature to amend Montana Law to prohibit the establishment of any free roaming wild buffalo or bison within the state of Montana.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts identify a sponsor for a bill in the 2015 Montana Legislature to amend Montana Law to clearly define that any bison or buffalo that has been captive, corralled, fenced in, or transported is no longer considered free roaming and/or wild.
FINALLY BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts identify a sponsor for a bill in the 2015 Montana Legislature to amend Montana Law to clearly state that bison or buffalo that are not kept in the confines of those wishing to house them will be defined as domestic livestock and subject to Montana laws.
Read full resolution13-02: Maintenance of Crested Wheatgrass and Smooth Brome Grass in Existing, Environmentally Sensitive, Stands of CRP
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) request the Montana Farm Service Agency to allow existing stands of crested wheatgrass, smooth brome grass and Kentucky bluegrass in environmentally sensitive areas of CRP to earn enough points to stay in “as is” as resource-conserving grasses with some wildlife value.
Read full resolution13-01: Notification and Participation of Conservation Districts in addressing Natural Resource Issues
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, related to State and Federal planning projects and their implementation that the Montana Association of Conservation Districts takes the necessary measures to promote and encourage active participation between conservation districts, governmental agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and concerned citizens who work cooperatively to address these issues.
Read full resolution