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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] The Lewis and Clark Conservation District is proposing a change in how Supervisors are elected in the district. Due to ongoing challenges in filling supervisor positions, the District is considering a shift from 7 residency areas to 4 residency areas, along with 3 additional "at-large" supervisor positions that could be filled by individuals from anywhere in the county (outside the 1948 municipal boundaries). This change is aimed at increasing flexibility and improving the ability to fill vacant positions. Key Details: Current structure: 7 residency-based supervisor positions Proposed structure: 4 residency-based + 3 at-large positions Reason: Difficulty in filling certain area seats, particularly Dearborn (Area 3) Supervisor role: Elected, unpaid (reimbursable expenses), helps direct the district mission within state law limitations How to Get Involved: View the draft resolution…

There will be an opportunity for people to get involved in the Montana Screech Owl Surveys in March.Training will take place February 27th at 6:30 pm over zoom. Survey dates will be March 1 through April 30 and will be anywhere in Montana!

Just a reminder that Conservation Districts across the state follow the state holiday calendar, so the Conservation District Office is CLOSED today, November 3, 2020.  

USDA wants to know — what's working and how can we improve? In August 2020, USDA is sending a customer experience survey to 28,000 farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners. This new, annual survey will evaluate USDA customer service and help us identify areas for improvement. Even if it's not sent to you as a farmer or rancher or private forestland owner, please feel free to fill it out!  

For those who don't know, a CMZ is a Channel Migration Zone for a stream or river, identified using Lidar (light detection and ranging) imagery to identify former stream channels and helping to identify where streams and rivers are likely to migrate naturally to. The Sun River Channel Migration Zone report is now available on the SRWG website: https://sunriverwatershed.org/app/news-events/ The Sun River Watershed Group conveyed their thanks to Cascade CD for being their partner, DNRC and DEQ for funding, Al Rollo for igniting the idea, and everyone else for being great partners in making this happen. Great work by Applied Geomorphology and DTM Consulting. Most exciting for Lewis & Clark Conservation District, the next steps include a Phase II to this project, in partnership with Lewis & Clark CD, to…

Those of you who follow these things, know that in 2019--between May and October--the Helena NRCS Field Office had a mass exodus of staff, including our District Conservationist.  All left for good reasons and I think people are happy with their moves.  What it meant for Lewis & Clark County though, was some major instability in program delivery from NRCS.Since the former DC, John George, moved to Spokane, we've had acting DCs and some detailed employees covering the office.  After Diane Fitzgerald moved to the Whitehall office in December, the office has been pretty empty.So I'm happy to say that we finally have a new District Conservationist in the office!  Rebecka, Becky, Ayre started in the office on Monday.  In her words: "I was born in Helena, MT and grew…

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 to learn in the great outdoors.  Evening programs and activities allow campers an opportunity to meet new friends and develop lasting friendships. Cost is $200 per student and most Conservation…

  Due to the COVID-19 virus, as of 3/20/2020 and at least through 4/3/2020, the doors to the USDA Service Center, where the Lewis & Clark Conservation District is located, will be locked. Customers will need to make an appointment with any of the agency staff and will need to be screened before entering the building. The Lewis & Clark Conservation District continues to provide service to our customers. District Staff has been allowed to work from home since Monday March 23, is returning calls, answering emails, processing 310 permits and doing other work. If the scheduled April 9,2020 board meeting is not canceled, a conference call in line will be available for all. The meeting agenda will be published earlier than normal, by March 26th, so that if the…

The Lewis & Clark Conservation District is still operating, but we are working remotely.  If you need to get in touch with us, please call 406-449-5000 ext. 5 and leave a voice mail, or email at lccd@mt.net.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but as someone potentially in the high-risk group for coronavirus, have opted to be as careful as possible.

Every legislative session there is the potential for mandated rule changes.  That's what happened in the 2019 session. The Lewis & Clark Conservation District has officially updated our rules for permitting on the streams in Lewis & Clark County. The process has largely not changed, just the time that is allowed for a landowner to appeal the Board's decision. Click here to see the new rules for permitting.