Communication, Newsletter, NRCS, Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs, Publications, Tour

Autumn 2021 Explorer

The latest issue of the The Explorer is out on electronic form, and should be hitting mailboxes in hardcopy format soon! This issue has information on: the retirement of Supervisor Steve Granzow and appointment of Karl Christians A follow up with links to slide presentations for the Riparian Management Workshop that took place in Augusta in September A testimonial for the Working Lands Internship Conservation District report and Program information New Targeted Implementation Plans for NRCS EQIP funding-with maps! A report on a project that the Conservation District assisted on in Meagher County a few years ago.
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Noxious Weeds, Plant materials

Testing Indaziflam for Restoring Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) Infested Montana Rangelands

By Ben Hauptman, Granite County Extension, Email Ben Hauptman Introduction In summer 2020 the active ingredient indaziflam (RejuvraTM) was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on rangelands, CRP, and natural areas. Indaziflam’s mode of action inhibits cellulose biosynthesis in seedlings, making it an effective pre-emergent herbicide for annuals such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), a non-native winter annual grass. Cheatgrass is the most widespread invasive plant in the western U.S., and it is problematic for many range managers throughout Montana. Ranchers and other land managers in Montana are interested in indaziflam as another tool for controlling cheatgrass. This project…
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310 Permits, Agriculture, Communication, Flooding, Forestry, Monitoring, Noxious Weeds, Planning, Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs, Water Quality

New Landowner Resource Concern Survey

As part of our annual planning operations, the Conservation District has a new survey for landowners to report natural resource concerns to us.   Residents of Lewis and Clark County are asked to take this short survey, giving feedback on new concerns about our natural resources in the county or ongoing concerns.   The Conservation District will utilize the feedback we receive as we look at program development, budgeting,  collaboration with other partner organizations such as the NRCS, and in our planning revisions for our long-range-plan. Please take just a minute or so to fill this out for us!
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Plant materials, Pollinator

Fall Photo Contest

I know that right now it looks more like winter out there than autumn, but the Lewis and Clark CD is hosting a fall photo contest!  We'll probably be doing this several times a year, so keep your eyes peeled! Please refer to the Rules for the Contest, but generally they are that: the photo needs to be taken in Lewis and Clark County One entry per contestant a second entry for following the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages for the CD a third entry if you share the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages Photos submitted can be used by…
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Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs

Save the Bees!

This morning at the CD office, we were busy bagging up the pollinator seed that we recently got as part of an Area 6 effort.  Our two new employees, Andrew Kretschmer and Connor Mertz, were busy scooping and bagging and weighing.   We have native and non-native mixes (non-native mix is better competition with weeds).   Non-Native Seed Mix With packages for 100 square feet to 2500 square feet, we should be able to provide a packet of seed for your needs. This seed is being provided free of charge to landowners in Lewis & Clark County.  Please give us a…
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Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs

Pollinator Initiative

As part of the Area 6 Conservation Districts (mostly south west Montana), the Lewis & Clark Conservation District is participating in a Pollinator Effort.   We have free pollinator seed (with a few strings attached and a few limits) that landowners can use to create pollinator gardens.   We have a seed mix for all native pollinators and a non-native seed mix.  The native mix has 7 pollinator plant species, 6 of which are native to SW Montana.  They are perfect for a backyard pollinator garden that doesn't have to compete with noxious weeds.  The non-native seed mix includes 6 pollinator species,…
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Events, Plant materials, Programs, Students

Montana Youth Range Camp

Montana Youth Range Camp will be hosted by the Lewis & Clark Conservation District in 2020.  The camp will be held on the beautiful Dearborn River at the C Bar N Mission, August 3-6. Students aged 11-17 will be introduced to 25 of Montana's important range plants; grasses, forbs and shrubs.  They will learn about the interaction of soils, water, plants, wildlife and livestock on the range.  The camp provides and excellent opportunity for youth of varying backgrounds to become more aware of the value and potential of Montana's rangelands. This education program brings together range professionals and interested students…
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Flooding, Forestry, Noxious Weeds, Plant materials, Publications

From Flooding to Fire

It seems to be a typical transition anymore at the Conservation District.  My desk is a mountain of paperwork responding to spring/summer flooding--some even from last year! And now the hills are alive with the crackling of wildfires! Post fire concerns for landowners include--what else?--Flooding!  The organic material at the ground surface often burns in a fire, removing a layer of water absorbable materials, from duff and leaves, to the soil itself, depending on the heat from the fire.  Areas that burned primarily as tree/crown fires aren't generally as severely affected, but if there was a ground fire, especially if…
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