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Spring Newsletter 2022
Madison Conservation District News provides updates and articles specific to projects and programs from the area.
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Core Office Hours: Mon-Wed. 10am-3pm
Lone Elk Mall
222 E Main St. Suite 2B
Ennis MT 59729
406-682-3181
info@madisoncd.org
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Madison Watershed Speaker Series
Photo by Jon Malovich, Executive Director of the Madison River Foundation
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Starting this May, the Madison River Foundation (MRF) and Madison Conservation District (MCD) will be collaborating to host a Watershed Speaker series. The series will highlight guests with different areas of expertise who can speak on the current state of the Madison Watershed, and related resources in the area. The series will be an educational celebration of conservation in the Madison Watershed.
There will be one speaker the last Tuesday of each month at the Madison Valley Public Library. The first one will be Tuesday, May 31st at 5:00pm. We will be posting more information about each event as they approach, check the MCD website for details.
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Equipment Rental
The Madison Conservation District is adding new equipment to their rental program. Equipment from previous years is available, including a Heavy Harrow, Harrow and Air Seeder, and a Pivot Track Filler. As of this spring, a portable corral and a Honey extractor (including necessary extraction supplies) will be available. The portable corral allows farmers and ranchers to move their cattle for various tasks, utilize smaller and unique pasture opportunities and avoid excessive trampling of one area. The 4-frame extractor will be used by the Ennis School and the GROWW program to extract honey from their bee hives. It will also be a great resource for bee keepers in the area with a small number of hives, and will make bee keeping more accessible to anyone who’s interested. Details about the rental equipment will be added to our website in the coming months, and feel free to reach out to MCD ( info@madisoncd.org ) with any questions. |
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Madison Stream Team Training
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The Madison Stream Team is MCD's citizen science monitoring program, supported by a committed group of local volunteers. The Stream Team does regular weekly monitoring of three tributaries of the Madison River (Moore’s Creek, South Meadow Creek, and Jack Creek) from June to September. Toward the end of the summer, the Stream Team holds the Tributary Blitz, during which we monitor 16 tributaries of the Madison in one morning. For an overview of the Madison watershed and the tributaries monitored, you can explore the Story Map on the MCD Website: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=ebbfd33d94ad4c7da0557bd97f6cd2d7
A primary goal of the program is to create a comprehensive dataset for streams in the Madison watershed and monitor water quality and quantity trends over time. |
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As a citizen science program, the Stream Team also aims to engage volunteers and community members through education and outreach opportunities that demonstrate the importance of healthy watersheds.
In Early June, MCD will be hosting a training for Madison Stream Team Volunteers, or anyone interested in our citizen science monitoring program. We will have a classroom section with some background on the Stream Team and an overview of last year’s sampling and this year’s goals. After, we’ll head outside and go through our sampling and monitoring techniques to provide a refresher for experienced volunteers and an introduction for anyone new. If you’re interested in attending the training and possibly volunteering this summer, please reach out to MCD (406-682-3181 or info@madisoncd.org). We will keep you updated about the coming training!
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Photo by Jon Malovich, Executive Director of the Madison River Foundation
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Local Working Group Meeting
Tuesday, April 26th 2022 1:00 PM at the Madison Valley Public Library
The Madison Conservation District (MCD), Ruby Valley Conservation District (RVCD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sheridan Field Office (NRCS) are hosting a Local Working Group Meeting later this month to discuss resource concerns in Madison County.
MCD, RVCD and NRCS are seeking your input as a stakeholder in Madison County. The inception of NRCS’ Montana Focused Conservation approach began in 2019, with the intention of prioritizing the use of limited technical and financial assistance in each county. This approach relies on input from farmers, ranchers, conservation partners, and interested members of the community. The Local Working Group meeting is an opportunity to potentially modify the NRCS Long Range Plan for Madison County, and ultimately produce a new Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP). Stakeholder input will be used to identify three priority resource concerns and focused geographic area to develop TIP/ TIPs which will strategize EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) funding in the subsequent three to five years.
An example of a Targeted Implementation Plan is the East Tobacco Roots Riparian Health TIP, focused on tributaries of the Madison River. This program provides a pot of money from which landowners can apply for funding to complete work that will improve the health of riparian areas on their property. The conservation practices offered include fencing, tree/shrub establishment, forage and biomass planting, watering facility, prescribed grazing, water well, etc.
The funding available for resource conservation will be most useful to Madison County residents if we know where and in what capacity it is needed. By attending the Local Working Group Meeting, you can help us focus funding toward work that will benefit landowners and Madison County as a whole. If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP (406-682-3181, or info@madisoncd.org) and fill out this brief survey to help guide the focus of the meeting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1HW0RNfQs_9WnPmBJxE6dkFithOiBys_ILoJQNJL-2kdIVg/viewform?usp=sf_link.
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The Madison Conservation District is continuing their Pollinator Initiative! The pollinator initiative provides seed for community members who would like to grow flowers to support our pollinator populations. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, flies, birds, beetles, etc. They are vital for food production and all of the beautiful flowers we enjoy each summer. We had many wonderful participants the last couple of years, and hope to continue growing food and habitat for our pollinators. If you’re interested in participating this year, please stop by the office and pick up wildflower seed!
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New 310 Specialist
The Natural Streambed and Land P reservation Act of 1975 (also known as the 310 Law) is a free application process, and a permit is required anytime a private individual or entity is planning on conducting work in (e.g., installing or replacing a culvert or bridge, conducting stream restoration work, etc.) or near (e.g., building a structure, road, etc.) a perennial stream in the state. In general, the eastern half of Madison County is the jurisdiction of the Madison Conservation District and the western is the Ruby Valley Conservation District, but not always. If in doubt, you are welcome to contact our offices or check online. The Department of Natural Resources has a useful interactive map that is linked from our website ( https://madisoncd.net/) under “310 Permitting” and “Additional Resources.” It can also be found here: DNRC District Boundary Map. Blank applicants can be found on our website or by stopping by our offices on the second story of the Lone Elk Mall (if we’re not around, there’s always blank forms in a hanger next to the door). The deadline for 310 applications is the first Tuesday of each month, in order to be reviewed at that month’s board meeting. If you have questions, our staff can help answer them.
A new 310 Specialist, Stephen Ore, recently joined the MCD team. Steve hails from the Pony area and has a background in fisheries and heavy equipment. We are happy to have him join the MCD team. If you have 310 related questions or apply for a 310 permit, Stephen will be your point of contact (310@madisoncd.org).
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Climate Update
The Madison Valley had a much needed snow event this week, after consistently having below average precipitation all winter. The snow was good for the snowpack, but the snow water equivalent (SWE) is still reported as below average on most of the surrounding SNOTEL sites. You can view current snowpack statistics and trends by visiting the NRCS interactive SNOTEL map. |
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 The National Drought Monitor is reporting 100% of Madison County as experiencing drought, with 96.57% of the county in D4, Extreme Drought. For the National Drought MAP, visit: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ and for details specific to Madison County, visit:
https://www.drought.gov/states/montana/county/madison
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Madison Valley Ranchlands Group
Help Wanted!
The MVRG Weed Committee is seeking a leader for the Madison County Biocontrol Program. Excellent wages, flexible hours and a rewarding work environment. Average 30 hrs/week May-August; optional 15 hrs/week May, September and October. This position leads a team of students to survey and map noxious weeds, communicate with landowners, collect and release desirable biological control insects. Some data entry and basic record keeping required. Please call Melissa at (406) 682-3731 or email mvrgweed@gmail.com for a full job description, questions, etc.
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Jack Creek Preserve - Wildlife Speaker
Jack Creek Preserve Foundation will be hosting a guided wildflower stroll and wildlife speaker on July 9th at the Outdoor Education Center. The wildflower stroll will start at 3:00pm and the speaker will begin at 7:00pm that evening. Dr. Erik Beever from USGS will be presenting on Pika.
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