TO EAsTERN MONTANA WETLANDS AND GRASSLANDS
-' . Fo r e w o r d : To Eastern Montana Landowners: This guide encourages conservation, provides information about the value of wetlands and grasslands, describes how some Montana landowners have sustained their agricultural operations in an economically beneficial manner while protecting or restoring these valuable areas, and offers a reference guide for assistance to help you achieve your goals. We invite you to consider the long-term management of your farm or ranch in ways that support the land, water, wildlife, and your agricultural heritage. It is up to you to research the options, make a plan, and initiate action. Persistence will pay off! Landowners who take the first step will find help available from many agency and conservation partners.
“It comes down to cooperation and wanting it to work. If you are open-minded, it becomes a win-win situation.” —Jim Brady, Petroleum County rancher, on working with government agencies
cover photo: Lynda Saul, Montana DEQ Se c t i o n 1 Im p o r t a n c e o f We t l a n d s , Gr a s s l a n d s , Jim Stutzman, USFWS a n d Ri p a r i a n Ar e a s
Th e Va l u e o f We t l a n d s
For many years, wetlands Healthy wetlands: were considered wastelands Provide improved range and because the land was too wet to water supply for livestock plant crops, raise livestock, build Recharge aquifers to replenish roads, or construct buildings. groundwater supplies The federal government Store and gradually release encouraged converting wetlands water throughout the year to dry land by granting subsidies to fill and drain them. About 30% Prevent shoreline erosion of Montana’s wetlands were lost Slow water to control flooding to agriculture and development Improve water quality by between the 1880s and 1990s. filtering sediments and toxins Today we know that Montana’s Purify water by absorbing remaining wetlands are an excess nutrients important natural resource Re-cycle decomposed organic for maintaining water quality, nutrients into the food chain for flood control, and for Store carbon to help mitigate waterfowl and other wildlife greenhouse gases habitat. Federal, state, and tribal Provide recreational governments, as well as private opportunities for hunters, organizations, provide technical wildlife watchers, and others assistance and funding to protect Provide habitat for migratory remaining wetlands and restore birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, lost or degraded wetlands. insects, and amphibians
3 Th e Va l u e o f Gr a s s l a n d s
Grasslands constitute the Healthy grasslands: largest land cover on America’s • Provide forage for livestock private lands. They contribute • Resist invasive species and significantly to the economy and noxious weeds play a key role in environmental quality. Grasslands are vital for • Protect land from water and wind producing forage for livestock erosion as well as habitat for healthy • Protect water quality by catching wildlife populations. Today, and filtering precipitation and U.S. grasslands support an runoff estimated 20 million deer, 500,000 pronghorn antelope, 400,000 • Provide recreational elk, and many other wildlife opportunities for hunters, wildlife species. Prairie grasslands provide watchers, and others nesting habitat for waterfowl, • Provide wildlife habitat and grassland songbirds, shorebirds, important nesting habitat for and are home to a variety of birds small mammals. The Missouri Coteau’s prairie pothole region • Store carbon to help mitigate of northeast Montana offers high greenhouse gases wildlife habitat value. According • Improve the aesthetic character to the USDA, 1.1 million acres of of the landscape, providing scenic Montana grasslands have been vistas and open space converted to other uses since 1982. Fortunately, several state and federal agencies as well as private organizations offer programs and services to assist landowners in maintaining these valuable areas.
MT Natural Heritage Program
4 Th e Va l u e o f Ri p a r i a n Ar e a s
Riparian areas are green Healthy riparian areas provide strips of land that border creeks, the same valuable functions as rivers, or other bodies of water. wetlands. In addition, riparian They represent an extremely areas: important component of the • Provide high forage areas for overall landscape, especially for livestock arid-land watersheds of eastern Montana. The woody draws • Provide windbreaks and of•• eastern Montana provide thermal cover for livestock •• valuable habitat for wildlife and and wildlife shade for{ livestock. Landowners • Provide a reliable water supply can access help to protect these areas through several programs • Provide resistance to invasive offered by federal, state, local species and noxious weeds and tribal agencies, and private • Store carbon to help mitigate organizations. greenhouse gases • Maintain cool water temperatures •
Tom Hinz, Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership Approximately 1% of the state is surface water.
5, Th r e a t s t o We t l a n d s , Gr a s s l a n d s , a n d Ri p a r i a n Ar e a s
Historically, the loss of Declining enrollment in programs these valuable areas has been such as Conservation Reserve greatest when the economic Program (CRP) can also have benefits of putting more land into a profound effect on ranching production have been the greatest. economies and associated wildlife As grassland cover decreases, populations. Of the 2.3 million acres ranching economies can suffer enrolled in CRP in 2007, USDA due to a reduced forage base estimates that 1.1 million acres and increasingly limited pasture (48%) will be returned to cropland management options. These by 2012. In eastern Montana, impacts are particularly evident in converting grasslands, wetlands, drought-prone areas such as and riparian areas to croplands eastern Montana. remains the largest threat to wildlife. Other threats include: Much of the remaining grasslands in eastern Montana are on • Drought – as wetlands dry out, moderate to highly erodible forage base and livestock water lands with soils that are poor for decrease. Windblown erosion growing crops. Montana’s farm/ increases in dry grasslands. ranch economy and many of our • Non-native and invasive species wildlife species are dependent on that compete with natives. these decreasing landscapes. At • Oil and gas exploration. current loss rates, approximately • Development and urban growth. one-half of the remaining native grasslands in Montana and the • Irresponsible recreational use. Dakotas will be converted to row crop agriculture in the next 27 years. In 2007 alone, nearly 10,000 acres of Montana native grasslands were converted to row crop agriculture. These losses continue to accelerate due to increasing commodity prices and demands for biofuels.
Ducks Unlimited Turning marginal soils into agricultural production 6 threatens habitat and water quantity and quality. The farm or ranch is the Se c t i o n 2 largest single economic asset for many landowners. Implementing Ec o n o m i c s o f conservation practices while maintaining the family’s agricultural Co n s e r v a t i o n heritage and improving habitat for a n d wildlife means a landowner can realize additional economic benefits. Ag r i c u l t u r a l Examples include increasing the Op e r a t i o n s livestock carrying capacity through grazing improvements or wetland vary widely based on the program restoration, receiving cash payment involved, the type of land, appraised for a term lease or conservation values, and other factors. We easement, tax incentives for strongly recommend securing the easement or land donation, and assistance of professional service estate tax benefits for permanently providers such as accountants and protecting land. attorneys when evaluating the The following hypothetical examples economic benefits and legal issues demonstrate how conservation surrounding program participation. practices may provide economic Conservation program benefits for landowners. Dollar professionals are available to assist values and programs listed here can you throughout the process. Conservation Option Landowner A Landowner B Landowner C No Conservation Term Lease, Perpetual Easement, Programs Fencing, and Fencing, and Wetland Restoration Wetland Restoration
Income from Livestock $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Net Increase with Fencing and $1,000 $1,000 Rest-Rotation Livestock Mgmt. (10% Increase) Cross Fencing Infrastructure Value $500 $500 (One Mile of Fence)* Wetland Restoration/Water $1,000 $1,000 Development* Term Conservation/Public Access $500 Lease* Perpetual Conservation Easement* $4,800 Total Gross Annual Income + Infrastructure Improvements $10,000 $13,000 $17,300 Total Gross Income – 10-Year Period $100,000 $130,000 $173,000 *Values prorated over 10-year period
Your economic scenario will differ from the above examples based upon your management goals, the unique features of your property, and your desired level of involvement in the conservation or restoration efforts. 7 Se c t i o n 3 La n d o w n e r s Sh a r e Th e i r St o r i e s of Land Management (BLM) and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) to create some The following stories come management changes. A three- from people who might be way partnership ensued that your neighbors. Each illustrates enabled the Bradys to create how partnerships can develop a rest-rotation program that between landowners, agencies, allowed the land to return to and organizations whose healthier conditions while common goals are to protect and supporting their livestock manage the land in a way that operation. Ten years later, balances landowners’ economic the benefits of the work are realities and environmental evident in more robust riparian considerations. and pasture habitats. Future Br a d y Ra n c h improvements will include further development to spread Jim Brady grew up along the water. banks of Box Elder Creek near Winnett, where he and his wife, Ac t i o n s Diana, now ranch over 9,700 • Developed a stock water well acres of private and public lands. away from the riparian zone. In the 1990s they added to their ranch holdings by purchasing a riparian area that had seen heavy grazing that resulted in trampled banks and impacted riparian vegetation, including shrubs and trees. Determined to improve that area, along with the upland native grass pastures, Jim worked with the Bureau BLM Improved riparian vegetation on Box Elder Creek as a result of a restoration grazing program, and the development of off-creek stock water system. 8 • Laid about ten miles of pipelines • Improved cover for nesting, and installed 10 stock water brooding, and winter habitat tanks. of upland birds. • Installed cross fencing for • Overall habitat improvement pasture rotation. for livestock and wildlife. • Initiated a two-pasture riparian • Maintained livestock rest-rotation, and a four-pasture operations while enhancing upland deferred program. recreational value of public lands. Wh o He l p e d • Good working relationship • BLM cost-shared for one well, with agency personnel. electricity, and materials for 6½ miles of cross fencing. La n d o w n e r ’s Co m m e n t s • Montana FWP cost-shared for “Improving habitat for livestock 7½ miles of pipelines. should improve habitat for wildlife. People get the idea they Be n e f i t s a n d Re w a r d s can’t work with government • Improved riparian area includes agencies. It comes down to regrowth of willows and cooperation and wanting it to cottonwoods. work. If you are open-minded, • Improved livestock distribution it becomes a win-win situation. on private and public lands. I have been very pleased with • Improved native grass forage what has been done so far. Now for livestock in pastures and we need more time to see more riparian areas. improvement.” ~ Jim Brady P.O. Box 145 Winnett, MT 59087 (406) 429-5281 [email protected]
Dan Brunkhorst, BLM 9 Box Elder Creek near Vogel Reservoir. Co t e a u Fa r m s
The Joyes Family manages Coteau • Seeded cropland back• to grass on Farms in Sheridan County. Brothers over 100 acres of owned and leased Al and Dennis Joyes, along with land. other family members, are protecting • Partnered with TNC in a land wetland and grassland habitat on over purchase/swap to secure a key piece 5,000 acres of land while continuing of rangeland for the grazing system, a successful agricultural operation. and to protect it through easement. Situated in Missouri•> Coteau country, • Implemented rest-rotation grazing the land is dotted with wetlands and that included drilling wells, installing includes 1,400 acres of cultivated( and pipelines, and building cross fences. hay lands as well as plenty of native • Participated in USDA’s range—prime habitat for a variety of Environmental Quality Incentives plants and birds. Moved by a desire Program (EQIP) for startup of a no- to preserve native grassland and till system. improve grazing lands, Dennis and Al investigated alternatives. Looking back, • Entered into a “Grazing Al understands that deciding what Management Agreement” with to do is often the hardest part. “You, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks the landowner, have to take the first (FWP) for financial and technical aid step in conservation and management in the start-up of the grazing system. issues, but nine out of ten times the • Enhanced habitat for piping plovers partnerships you build will be beneficial (a federally threatened species). to the landowner and the environment.” Added gravel on Coteau Farms’ property along the shores of Salt Ac t i o n s Lake to create additional nesting • Enrolled 36 acres of marginal habitat. farmland into Conservation Reserve • Created a waterfowl nesting island Program (CRP). on another permanent lake. • Donated an initial easement on Wh o He l p e d 280 acres of their best native • Farm Service Agency (FSA) range, including one permanent administered CRP, with technical lake, to The Nature Conservancy support from Natural Resources (TNC) for perpetual protection Conservation Service (NRCS). from development..> The amount of protected land has increased to • NRCS provided technical support about 900 acres. ( and cost-share for the grazing system improvements. ~10o • TNC tailored conservation easements to protect and improve the areas while allowing private property rights. • Ducks Unlimited (DU) provided Bill Martin, TNC technical support and funding Lonetree Lake with native range provides for construction of a waterfowl habitat for livestock, waterfowl, and other .>nesting island. wildlife. • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Neighboring farmers and (USFWS) provided technical ranchers are restoring marginal support to develop the grazing cropland to native grasslands and system, and funding to construct a developing grazing systems. waterfowl nesting island. • TNC easement allows landowner • USFWS’s Partners for Fish and the freedom to control hunting. Wildlife (PFW) completed permit La n d o w n e r ’s Co m m e n t s applications, provided funding for “It is important to work to hammer gravel, and supervised construction out differences while watching out of the piping plover habitat for your own interests. We learned enhancement project. to figure out a way to make money • Montana FWP provided planning and at the same time demonstrate and financial assistance through its that we can keep some of the land Migratory Bird Stamp Program. native. Neighbors are building Be n e f i t s a n d Re w a r d s partnerships with government • Improved grazing patterns, land agencies and conservation groups. use, and rangeland conditions. Maybe this is the most gratifying • Increased amount of fall grazing aspect, and most beneficial for after “turn-out.” conservation in the long run.” • Increased carrying capacity and ~ Al Joyes 366 Ueland Road livestock numbers. Westby, MT 59275 • Enhanced habitat for Sprague’s (406) 385-2579 pipits, Baird’s sparrows, other [email protected] upland birds, and wildlife. • Good agency contacts; built a team that works together.
11 Ch e r r y Cr e e k Ra n c h Third-generation rancher Ac t i o n s Lon Reukauf, owner of Cherry • Developed a grazing system that Creek Ranch, manages the 1,100 included fencing pastures for acres purchased by his parents rotation and spreading of water in 1958, as well as 7,900 acres supply. of deeded plus 16,000 acres of • Developed the water resource leased land purchased through with use of windmills, storage the years. The ranch is located tanks, and pipelines to draw in the eastern rolling plains cattle away from riparian areas. and badlands of Prairie County, west of Terry. Native grassland • Hand planted cottonwood, ash, comprises the majority of this buffaloberry, chokecherry, and cattle ranch where Lon acquired plum trees along Cherry Creek his enjoyment of wildlife from and assorted tributaries. his father, an avid birder, angler, • Entered 25,000 acres into the and hunter. This prairie region Block Management Hunting is cut through with intermittent Access Program. streams and cottonwood and ash • Enrolled 8,000 acres into the draws. Riparian areas make up Conservation Security Program only about 7-8% of the land. Lon’s (CSP). management goal has been to • Supported 200 acres of alfalfa increase the productivity of the through water spreading and summer-grazed range through diking. Systems utilize water one six-pasture rest-rotation from spring runoff and summer grazing system, and two three- flooding. pasture deferred-rotation grazing Wh o He l p e d systems, non-summer-only use of some riparian areas, and wise • Natural Resources Conservation water management. The plan has Service (NRCS) cost-shared paid off, the result of years of hard water development for off- work and of taking advantage of riparian water storage and management programs offered by improvements, gravity-fed several agencies. pipelines, 13 windmills, water spreading through series of dikes, and a rotation grazing program.
12 • Montana Fish, Wildlife • Improved habitat for birds & Parks (FWP) provided and other insect predators financial incentive for healthy helps control grasshopper wildlife habitat through Block populations. Management Program. • Higher percentage of cows • Bureau of Land Management bred in a shorter time span. (BLM) purchased materials La n d o w n e r ’s Co m m e n t s for cross fencing and one mile of pipeline. “Resting a pasture for twelve to eighteen continuous months • MSU Professors Don Ryerson, every few years is magical. Non- Jack Taylor, and Bob Ross summer use of riparian areas provided information about is wonderful. Search out and grazing management practices. be aware of the options open • Gus Hormay, the originator of to you. I have found NRCS to Rest Rotation Grazing ideas. be easy to work with and most • 90 years of family diaries helpful.” and stories chronicling their ~ Lon Reukauf experiences ranching and P.O. Box 956 farming in eastern Montana. Terry, MT 59349 Be n e f i t s a n d Re w a r d s (406) 486-5600 • Improved wildlife habitat, increased hunting revenue from Montana FWP. • Greater riparian forage. • 10–15% increase in total carrying capacity. • Greater diversity of mammal and bird species. • Increased nesting cover resulting in increase of songbirds, wild turkeys, nesting geese and game Vicki Reufauf birds. Non-summer use of riparian areas results in improved wildlife habitat and riparian forage.
13 Me y e r Co r p o r a t i o n
Brothers Vance, Myron, this important grassland/• and Kim Meyer are second- wetland complex is perpetually generation landowners who protected, while still retaining manage a ranching and farming the right to graze, and grow and operation on over 2,700 acres harvest hay on the land. on the Missouri Coteau in c t i o n s Sheridan County. Approximately A one third of the property is • Enrolled 1,335 acres of •> rangeland and two thirds have marginal farmland in the CRP been farmed at one time. Many in 1988. Re-enrolled the land wetlands on the property( had in 1998. been drained and farmed, as was • Restored 48 drained wetlands normal practice in the 1950s and totaling over 140 surface ’60s when farmers were paid to acres. drain the sloughs to put more grassland into production. By the • Perpetually protected 705 1980s, when drier years brought rangeland acres and 68 evidence of erosion problems on wetland acres in 54 basins the areas that were strip farmed, with USFWS easements. the Meyers turned to the Soil Wh o He l p e d Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation • FSA paid the owners for Service) and the Farm Service placing land into CRP and for Agency (FSA) for help in putting re-enrolling in the program this land into the Conservation ten years later. Reserve Program. (CRP) The • NRCS guided the range next step was to restore the many restoration process and drained wetlands. With help from provided seed mix for twice the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reseeding the marginal land (USFWS)’s Partners for Fish and into more productive grasses. Wildlife (PFW) program the drained wetlands were restored • USFWS designed and paid to hold water, help recharge for wetland restoration work, the groundwater, and provide and purchased perpetual wildlife habitat. The Meyers have grassland and wetland easements. placed most of.> the rangeland and associated wetlands into USFWS easements, assuring
14 Be n e f i t s a n d Re w a r d s La n d o w n e r ’s Co m m e n t s • Monetary benefits through the “I hate to see all the land broken CRP payments and USFWS up. Some of this fragile land is purchase of land easements. not made for farming so it is good for future generations if we • Erosion control due to planted restore the land. It is a long-term grasslands (grasses are holding deal. Breaking the ground for more water, resulting in less crops is short lived.” runoff). ~ Vance Meyer • Building the value of the P.O. Box 55 land over time because of an Westby, MT 59275 improved soil profile. (406) 385-2351 • Improved water table and water quality from the restored wetlands. • Improved habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Native mixed grass prairie in northeastern Montana.
USFWS
Ducks Unlimited 15 Prairie potholes of northeastern Montana. 66 Ra n c h
Bim and Janas Strauser benefit of the partnership efforts of northern Hill County have has been the development of done more than just talk about a successful rotational grazing their interest in improving the system that retains some of the wetland/grassland habitat for economic viability for traditional wildlife—they have created ranching activities while meeting partnerships to improve their the intent of the Wetlands Reserve land and to create a paradise Program conservation easement. for area wildlife. The Strausers Ac t i o n s have permanently protected approximately 3,200 upland and • Restored 514 wetland acres wetland acres on their 66 Ranch. through rehabilitated and Previous owners had established new dikes, 5 water-control a conservation easement on the structures, and 10 shallow- land. Following that lead, the water impoundments. Strausers worked with Natural • Established 901 acres of native Resources Conservation Service upland vegetation. (NRCS) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) by accepting the perpetual • Established a rotational grazing easement that came with the system to improve wildlife cover purchase of the land, developing through the use of livestock wildlife habitat on the property. grazing. Grazing adjustments Their restoration work that was are made following annual accomplished on wetlands at monitoring. Wild Horse Lake has corrected previous alterations to the natural water flow that depleted the wetland. The restoration, completed in 2005, has already proven to have positive effects on a diverse mix of upland and wetland wildlife. Additionally, the hydrology of the area has responded Matt Walker, NRCS well. A secondary Improved wetlands attract waterfowl and wildlife.
16 Wh o He l p e d La n d o w n e r ’s Co m m e n t s • NRCS paid easement “It’s been very exciting watching cost, provided wetland the project develop, the wildlife identification, planned increase, and we are pleased restoration, and paid with the project. We would also restoration costs. like to thank NRCS and Ducks Unlimited for their assistance • DU provided the design with getting this project lined and delivery of the wetland out and working.” .>restoration. ~ Bim Strauser Be n e f i t s a n d Re w a r d s 22654 Road 280 N • NRCS paid all costs of the Havre, MT 59501 wetland restoration work (406) 394-3519 through the perpetual [email protected] conservation easement. • Increase in all types of birds: ducks, geese, shorebirds, songbirds, upland game birds. • Increase in deer and pronghorn antelope in the area. • Improved wildlife in Matt Walker, NRCS all of the Water control structure in place in rehabilitated wetland. surrounding area.
Pe r m i t s /Pe r m i tt i n g Re v i e w Each situation is unique in terms of site location, conditions, and the scope of work. Prior to initiating a restoration project it is important to know which federal, tribal, state, or local permits may be required. The agencies or entities that you are working with can help you acquire the necessary permits for your project.
17 Se c t i o n 4 Pa r t n e r s a n d Op t i o n s
Landowners make new As illustrated by the stories management decisions about in Section 3, some Montana ·> their properties for a variety of landowners make a change in reasons. People drawing close order to increase the productivity to retirement often envision the of the land, simultaneously future of the property; some wish recognizing that the value it to remain as it was while they of protection of the natural lived and worked on the land. landscape may outweigh These landowners can carefully economic gain. Eastern Montana consider ensuring the long-term farmers and ranchers feel future of the property by putting responsible for maintaining the some land into conservation agricultural sustainability of the • status as a legacy. The choices are land as they pass the land to the more challenging when there are next generation. Increasingly, no family members to continue landowners realize that new the work. In some cases financial partnerships and opportunities need predominates and the land is are available to help provide simply sold with no parameters on income for their operations land use. When no decisions are and ensure the conservation of made1 for the future some of these Montana’s agricultural traditions. lands may become developed; open space, the rural nature, and aesthetics of the property may be altered forever.
.> 1 (.818 Wh e r e Do I St a r t ? No matter what factors motivate you to change management practices, or to restore or conserve your wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas, the next step is to examine options for moving ahead. Some landowners undertake projects at their own expense; other landowners participate in voluntary programs administered by S FW public agencies and private US organizations. The best place to start learning Learn about programs from about your conservation options a variety of sources. Your may be where you have already property may qualify for established a relationship with assistance from several agencies local personnel from the FSA, and organizations. Another NRCS, USFWS, Montana FWP, possibility is to contact the local Conservation District Montana Wetlands Legacy office, tribal government, or Partnership, which works with conservation organizations. Ask landowners and land managers questions such as: to conserve wetlands, riparian • How can I manage my land for areas, and associated uplands. conservation? Legacy Partners are excellent sources for ideas, programs, • What are the advantages and and resources that may help disadvantages of entering into landowners conserve their farm a particular type of project? and ranch lands. Whatever • What do I need to consider route you take, learn as much as before starting a restoration or possible about your options by other conservation project? continuing to make contacts • How can I pay for it? and asking questions. 19 So m e La n d o w n e r Op t i o n s property while some aspects of use of the property are controlled Landowners can choose J by the leasing agency or from" a wide range of options to organization. In all cases, leased restore and/or conserve wetlands, land remains the property of the grasslands, and riparian areas. original owner throughout the 1. Retain ownership and guide period of the lease. future use of the property, Conservation Easements choosing one or a combination of allow the property owner to options: retain ownership of the property Technical assistance and while potentially receiving education are the first, steps to income and estate tax reductions. determine what, if any, options Conservation easements may be you will pursue. It may be either term or perpetual; they run best to start with an agency or with the property’s deed for the organization you are familiar with, length of the easement. or contact Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership. The Reference 2. Sell the property Guide on pages 22–23 offers You can sell land to a conservation suggestions for assistance. organization at full market value or as a bargain sale (a price below Cost-Share/Management full market value), which could Agreementsr are tailored to result in tax benefits. Other sales fit each individual restoration options are installment sales, or and conservation project. selling with a right of first refusal. These agreements are worked out between the landowner, 3. Donate the land conservation organizations, If you donate land (transfer of and agencies. Landowners may title ,without compensation) to enter into several cost-share/ a conservation organization management,I agreements with (land trust), you ensure that the several conservation entities for property will be totally protected, the same property. maintained and enhanced. This Term Leases are agreements may entitle you to a reduction in by a landowner to rent land to a income and/or estate taxes. private conservation organization or agency for a specified period of time. The landowner receives periodic payments for the leased i
20 Wo r k i n g La n d s c a p e s , The RSA is working to Wo r k i n g t o Su c c e e d accomplish this through one or more of the following We close this guide with an programs: inspiring story of ranch families in southern Phillips County. In • Beginning Rancher program 2003, about 30 ranching families came together to spearhead • Community grassbank stewardship of rich biodiversity • Community-held through sustaining their strong conservation easements ranching.> heritage and family values. Since then, the group— • Private conservation investors the Ranchers{ Stewardship • Individual ranch planning Alliance (RSA)—has improved communication and relationships • Value-added programs with government agencies and • Entrepreneurial conservation groups while collaborations for the protecting ranching traditions. purchase and management of The RSA is dedicated to building ranchlands that incorporate a sustainable future for wildlife livestock and wildlife-derived and people in this working income with low- or no- landscape. They recognize the interest loan programs from need to be strong financially, conservation nonprofits with the management flexibility to meet changing conditions For more information, visit of ranch families, the weather, their website: http://www. economics, and sociopolitical RanchersStewardshipAlliance. agendas while sustaining the org/ biodiversity and integrity of America’s northern mixed grass prairie. An open, ongoing dialogue between ranchers and other stakeholders has been one key to reaching these -goals. Another key is to find ways to make conservation affordable and, ideally, profit-positive for ranchers.
21 Reference Guide to Assistance
Financial Assistance Technical Assistance Other
Conservation Easements Agency /Organization Name (Purchase / Donation) Restoration / Enhancement Determination / DMonitoringelineation Permitting Restoration Contact E-mail or Website U.S. Department of Agriculture cost share & annual Farm Service Agency rental and farm loans Local FSA Office http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA Natural Resources Conservation x x x x x x Local NRCS Office http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/ locator/app Service U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management x x x (406) 895-5041 [email protected]
gencie s Montana Interagency Riparian Cadre x x (406) 895-5041 [email protected] F e d eral A U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish & Wildlife x x x x x x (406) 727-7400 x224 [email protected] Realty x x (406) 727-7400 x225 [email protected] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers x (406) 441-1375 http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/odmt/mthome.htm Montana Assoc. of Conservation Dist. (406) 443-5711 (or contact local Conservation District) x x (or contact local C.D.) [email protected] Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Habitat Programs x x x x x x x Local FWP Office http://fwp.mt.gov/habitat/ landowner.asp
TATE S TATE Migratory Bird Stamp Program x x x x (406) 994-7889 [email protected] S AGENCIE Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership x x x x x x x x x (406) 994-7889 http://www.wetlandslegacy.org Blackfeet Reservation x x (406) 388-7421 [email protected] Crow Reservation x x x x (406) 638-3748 [email protected] Fort Belknap Reservation x x x x (406) 353-8412 [email protected] Fort Peck Reservation x x x x x (406) 768-5155 x325 [email protected] T ribal
v ernment s Northern Cheyenne Reservation x x x x x (406) 477-6503 x102 [email protected]
G o Rocky Boy’s Reservation x x x x x (406) 395-4225 (ask for Wetland Coordinator) Ducks Unlimited x x x x x x x x x (406) 492-2002 [email protected] Mid-Yellowstone Land Trust x (406) 252-2606 [email protected] Montana Audubon x x (406) 443-3949 [email protected] Montana Land Reliance x (406) 259-1328 [email protected] Montana State University - Extension x x (406) 994-1750 http://extn.msu.montana.edu/ N. Rocky Mountain Science Ctr x x (406) 994-7544 http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/about S OTHER Pheasants Forever x x x (406) 465- 8126 [email protected]
S / ORGANIZATION ATE Ranchers Stewardship Alliance x x x x x (406) 658-2504 [email protected] The Nature Conservancy x x (406) 443-0303 [email protected] PRI V Trust for Public Land x x x x (406) 522-7450 www.tpl.org
22 Reference Guide to Assistance
Financial Assistance Technical Assistance Other
Conservation Easements Agency /Organization Name Permitting Restoration Research Education (Holding)* Contact E-mail or Website U.S. Department of Agriculture cost share & annual Farm Service Agency rental and farm loans Local FSA Office http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA Natural Resources Conservation x x x x x x Local NRCS Office http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/ locator/app Service U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management x x x (406) 895-5041 [email protected] Montana Interagency Riparian Cadre x x (406) 895-5041 [email protected] U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish & Wildlife x x x x x x (406) 727-7400 x224 [email protected] Realty x x (406) 727-7400 x225 [email protected] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers x (406) 441-1375 http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/odmt/mthome.htm Montana Assoc. of Conservation Dist. (406) 443-5711 (or contact local Conservation District) x x (or contact local C.D.) [email protected] Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Habitat Programs x x x x x x x Local FWP Office http://fwp.mt.gov/habitat/ landowner.asp Migratory Bird Stamp Program x x x x (406) 994-7889 [email protected] Montana Wetlands Legacy Partnership x x x x x x x x x (406) 994-7889 http://www.wetlandslegacy.org Blackfeet Reservation x x (406) 388-7421 [email protected] Crow Reservation x x x x (406) 638-3748 [email protected] Fort Belknap Reservation x x x x (406) 353-8412 [email protected] Fort Peck Reservation x x x x x (406) 768-5155 x325 [email protected] Northern Cheyenne Reservation x x x x x (406) 477-6503 x102 [email protected] Rocky Boy’s Reservation x x x x x (406) 395-4225 (ask for Wetland Coordinator) Ducks Unlimited x x x x x x x x x (406) 492-2002 [email protected] Mid-Yellowstone Land Trust x (406) 252-2606 [email protected] Montana Audubon x x (406) 443-3949 [email protected] Montana Land Reliance x (406) 259-1328 [email protected] Montana State University - Extension x x (406) 994-1750 http://extn.msu.montana.edu/ N. Rocky Mountain Science Ctr x x (406) 994-7544 http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/about Pheasants Forever x x x (406) 465- 8126 [email protected] Ranchers Stewardship Alliance x x x x x (406) 658-2504 [email protected] The Nature Conservancy x x (406) 443-0303 [email protected] Trust for Public Land x x x x (406) 522-7450 www.tpl.org
* Holders of conservation easements sometimes do not purchase an easement from a landowner, but they do have the legal right and responsibility to enforce the restrictions of the easement in order to ensure protection of the land’s conservation values. 23 Ac k n o w l e d g m e n t s a n d Printed by: Co n t r i b u t o r s Thomas Printing, Kalispell, MT Special thanks to the landowners The following individuals profiled in Section 2: provided valuable assistance, Jim and Diana Brady – Brady guidance, and/or data. Ranch, Petroleum County Advisory Committee: Al and Dennis Joyes – Coteau William Birch, Three Bar Ranch Farms, Sheridan County Landowner Lon and Vicki Reukauf – Cherry Jeff Combs, NRCS Creek Ranch, Prairie County Tim Connolly, USFWS/Partners Vance, Myron and Kim Meyer – for Fish and Wildlife Program Meyer Corporation, Sheridan Tom Hinz, Montana Wetlands County Legacy Partnership Bim and Janas Strauser – 66 Mike Philbin, BLM Ranch, Hill County Jerry Rodriguez, USFWS/ Funded by: Medicine Lake National Wildlife U.S. Environmental Protection Refuge Agency Region 8/Montana Bob Sanders, DU DEQ Wetland Program Lynda Saul, Montana DEQ Development Grant Jeanne Spaur, Ft. Peck Tribes Fish Bureau of Land Management and Game Department Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks/ Review Committee: Migratory Bird Stamp Program Debbie Earl, Montana Watercourse U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Jim Hansen, Montana FWP Ducks Unlimited Tim Solberg, NRCS This document available Written and Coordinated by: electronically at http://www. Janet Bender-Keigley, Montana mtwatercourse.org/Publications/ Watercourse Publications.htm Copy Editor: See also “A Landowners’ Guide Beverly Magley, Edit-Write LLC, to Montana Wetlands,” available Helena, Montana electronically at the same location. Graphic Design: Kathy Lange, Graphic Designer Photos: Copyright held by Martha Lonner, Production individuals or organizations cited Manager on photos. Media Works, Bozeman, MT
Printed in the United States of America, July 2008. You may reproduce or copy any portion of this booklet by contacting Montana Watercourse at (406) 994-6671. Please acknowledge this publication as the source.