22Apr 2021 by lccd2

Do you want to do a project?

Cost Share, Programs
Do you have an erosion issue? Or a culvert that needs to be replaced? Or do you need some fencing changes to improve your grazing rotation? If you're a landowner in Lewis & Clark County, and you have a project that you'd like to complete that has natural resource benefits, consider signing up for the Conservation District's Cost Share Program! We've had applications for irrigation improvements, planting projects, culvert repairs/replacements and more over the last few years. This is a small program, so is very competitive and the limit is $2500 for a 50/50 project (so up to $5000 for the project total, or $2500 from the Conservation District). Please take a look at the application package to see if your project might qualify!  
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08Apr 2021 by lccd2

New Landowner Resource Concern Survey

310 Permits, Agriculture, Communication, Flooding, Forestry, Monitoring, Noxious Weeds, Planning, Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs, Water Quality
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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05Apr 2021 by lccd2

Lake Helena Shoreline Project

Programs, willow projects, Willow Projects
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The attached video is from a KTVH news report.  We thank them for their interest and for coming out to see the project. [/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGRFFzU0V5M1U4bU0lMjIlMjB0aXRsZSUzRCUyMllvdVR1YmUlMjB2aWRlbyUyMHBsYXllciUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMCUyMiUyMGFsbG93JTNEJTIyYWNjZWxlcm9tZXRlciUzQiUyMGF1dG9wbGF5JTNCJTIwY2xpcGJvYXJkLXdyaXRlJTNCJTIwZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhJTNCJTIwZ3lyb3Njb3BlJTNCJTIwcGljdHVyZS1pbi1waWN0dXJlJTIyJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNF[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text] Several months ago, the CD was approached by a landowner on the north shore of Lake Helena.  He had purchased the property and realized that he was losing a considerable amount of bank every year--that he is essentially paying taxes on about 4 acres of property that are now underwater. He was so interested in doing a different type of project, that he drove over to Musselshell County to help out on a Willow Soil Lift Project on the Musselshell River.  After he helped out on that, he applied to the Conservation District's Cost Share Program and received approval for partial funding for his project.…
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05Jan 2021 by lccd2

USDA Sets Agricultural Conservation Easement Application Cutoff Date!

Education, NRCS, Programs
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] BOZEMAN, Mont., January 4, 2021 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). While NRCS accepts easement applications on a continuous basis, applications for the next funding consideration must be submitted by February 5, 2021. “Easements are sometimes a perfect fit for a landowner who is looking to protect his or her land from future development or to protect and improve wetlands or provide critical habitat for wildlife,” said Allen Persinger, NRCS assistant state conservationist for easement programs in Montana. If you are or know a landowner in Lewis and Clark County who is interested in learning more about ACEP (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), please call the USDA Service Center, Helena Field Office at 406-449-5000 ext. 3 to…
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22Oct 2020 by lccd2

November 12, 2020 Regular Board Meeting

310 Permits, Meeting Minutes, Meeting Notices, Meetings, Programs
The next regular meeting of the Lewis & Clark Conservation District Board of Supervisors will be Thursday November 12, 2020 at 1 pm.  Due to the ongoing pandemic, the meeting will be held virtually on Zoom Conferencing. Meeting Packet with updated Agenda Draft Long Range Plan NRCS Helena Field Office Long Range Plan for reference Meeting Minutes-October meeting Meeting Notice-November Meeting All meetings of the Conservation District are open to the public.  To join the meeting, you can click the "Join Zoom Meeting" link shown below on any device capable of microphone/video, or you can call in on any of the phone numbers.  Please be warned, the phone numbers are long-distance numbers. Chris Evans lccd@mt.net is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Lewis & Clark Conservation District November…
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15Oct 2020 by lccd2

Save the Bees!

Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs
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).   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="758"] Native Seed Mix[/caption] 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 call at 406-449-5000 ext. 5 to get more information!  If you would like some seed, please fill out the Interest Form and get…
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30Sep 2020 by lccd2

Autumn 2020 Newsletter

Employees, Newsletter, Programs
The latest issue of the CD's quarterly newsletter is out in its digital version.  The hardcopies will be out in the mail before long! In this issue: New faces in the Conservation District Office, new District Conservationist, information on living with beavers, a fascine project, Conservation District Programs, and more! Autumn 2020 The Explorer For information on anything in the newsletter, contact the CD office at 406-449-5000 ext. 5.
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28Sep 2020 by lccd2

2021 Practices Cost Share Program

Cost Share, Programs
The Lewis & Clark Conservation District Board welcomes applications for our 2021 Cost Share Program within Lewis & Clark County.  All projects have to be done within Lewis & Clark County and with private landowners only (no agencies will qualify). Application deadline for 2021 is November 13, 2020.  Projects must be implemented between January 1 2021 and December 31, 2021. The Cost-Share program is available to any private sector landowner with property within Lewis & Clark County.  There is a limit of one project per person or group per year.  All projects must be completed within one year of approval.  Projects may be composed of multiple practices.  Only on the ground projects are eligible.  No studies or research projects will be funded.  The CD has $7500 set aside for this…
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03Sep 2020 by lccd2

Pollinator Initiative

Plant materials, Pollinator, Programs
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, 5 of which are not native to SW Montana but still grow well here.  The purpose of this mix is to create beneficial pollinator habitat in fields where the mix…
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17Jun 2020 by lccd2

Summer Newsletter

Communication, Coronavirus, FSA, Newsletter, NRCS, Publications, Willow Projects
The Summer Issue of the Lewis & Clark Conservation District Newsletter, The Explorer, is out in e-form and will be hitting mailboxes in hard copy form soon! This newsletter has: an update and photos of a recent willow project on a local stream a story re-published from the Montana Outdoors Magazine (with permission) information about the Helena Field Office and how we are operating during the Covid-19 pandemic (hint: Phase 2 reopening!) Tips on improving garden soils a link to the Stream Gage Survey;and new faces in the Helena Field Office
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