CONSERVATION CREDITS Local Common Sense Conservation Newslet ter of the Madison Conservat ion Distr ict

June 2014

The function of the Conservation District is to take available technical, financial, and educational resources,

whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land user for conser-

vation of soil, water, and related resources. Adapted from Pete Nowak

Madison Conservation District | www.madisoncd.org | (406) 682-7289

Greener Pastures, by John White, one of the submissions in our Facebook photo contest.

Madison Stream

Team Spring Training Volunteers Needed!

C itizen science is alive and well in

the Madison, and we are looking

for a couple awesome new volunteers.

The Madison Stream Team will be

holding the annual volunteer training

on June 5th, from 10 AM until 3:30 PM

at the Ennis Elementary School. The

event will initiate new members into an

elite group of stream monitors, and

educate attendees on the methods used

to measure the health of our streams,

and why they are important. Please

RSVP to reserve lunch.

I f you attended this year’s Conserva-

tion Districts’ Banquet, you’re in

good company. 230 people came out to

celebrate the conservation work &

stewardship winners of the past year.

That’s 40% more than last year’s total

of 165!

We’d especially like to thank the major

sponsors for helping make this com-

munity celebration possible: Watson

Irrigation, Sitz Angus, Harrison Eleva-

tor, RE Miller & Sons, Dyk Ranches,

First Madison Valley Bank, Willies Dis-

tillery, Feeds n Needs, Rice Ranches,

Town Haul Diner, Granger Ranch, &

Sun Mountain Lumber.

Conservation

Districts’ Banquet

hosts largest crowd

ever

State of the Water

M ost things in the Madison re-

volve around one common ele-

ment: water. Anglers depend on it to

sustain healthy fish populations, agri-

cultural producers rely on it for raising

livestock and crops, and recreational-

ists find solace in such simple things as

the sight and sound of moving water.

As part of this common interest in our

streams and rivers, there is a large

amount of energy being put into evalu-

ating how they are doing. The upcom-

ing State of the Water Address will pre-

sent this information, at 4:00 PM, May

29 at the Ennis Elementary Cafeteria.

The presentation will give a “report

card” on our waterways so communi-

ty members can understand how our

streams currently rank to meet our

community needs.

There are over 15 streams that are

currently tracked, and the presenta-

tion will cover the data collected as

well as ideas for a community process

to improve or maintain conditions.

While all community members have a

stewardship role, landowners along

streams and rivers play a key part for

the future. Contact the MCD office

with any questions on the event.

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MCD

Directors & Staff

Mel McKitrick, Co-Chair (1995)

Janet Endecott, Co-Chair (2002)

Kevin Boltz (1992)

Bob Sitz (2002)

Nick Dyk (2013)

Neil Kent,

Urban Super. (2009)

Kaye Suzuki, Urban Super. (2010)

Sunni Heikes-Knapton Watershed Coordinator

Ethan Kunard

Big Sky Watershed Corps Member

Kate Arpin

Administrator

Attend our Summer Field Tours

A s many of you know, one of our

favorite ongoing traditions is our

Winter Workshop Series. This sum-

mer, as a response to numerous re-

quests from WW attendees, we’d like to

continue the tradition of learning into

months where we can actually stand

outside and take a look at what we’re

learning about. Which is why we’d like

to invite you to attend our Summer

Field Tours.

As with our Winter Workshops, tour

topics will be determined based on in-

terest from attendees of prior work-

2014 Stewardship Award: Bar K Ranch

T aking a risk on a ranch is never easy. It can be unfamiliar, uncer-

tain, and downright chancy. Managing a ranch differently takes people who

are willing to put their hesitancy aside and lean on faith. They do their home-

work, get creative, and thicken their skin against folks who don’t share their belief in the good that can come. When

it’s done, they stand back and watch with patience to see how it turns out--

waiting to learn from both successes and failures. Always remembering that if you never take a risk, you’ll never

know if it was worth taking. Nominated by CB Ranch neighbors,

Kate & Eric Roberts, MCD was proud

to award The Bar K Ranch the 2014

Madison Stewardship Award for their

stewardship ethic and conservation

projects. Owner David Kelly, manager

Luke Todd, and grazer Lloyd Mann

have taken risks on all kinds of new &

innovative approaches, from bale graz-

ing for club moss reduction, and an

intensive grazing system complete with

temporary fencing and remote water

tanks to allow longer rest periods on

forage grounds.

Long term results on some of their ef-

forts are not yet available, but already

the land in their care has seen dramatic

improvement. We hope that they will

long continue to be an inspiration to

others looking for the courage to

change.

shops. First on the list is Plant Identi-

fication, led by board member Kaye

Suzuki and Dan Durham from NRCS.

What: Plant ID Tour

When: June 19, 10 am-2pm

Cost: Free, bring your own lunch

Where: Meet at the top of the Virginia

City Hill on the road to Axolotl Lakes.

Our July & August tours are TBA, so

keep a watch on our website & email

newsletters for information on tours

throughout the summer.

Madison

Conservation District

www.MadisonCD.org

406.682.7289

Prefer to get

news from us

by email?

Let us know by emailing

admin@madisoncd.org

S ummer is just around the bend, but

that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop

learning. No one knows this better than

Avery Oliver.

Avery, who will be entering the sixth grade

next fall, is one of our outstanding students

here in the Madison Valley. In addition to

her academic excellence, she has also been

exceptionally active out of school, where

she participates in several educational pro-

grams, many of which have been supported

or sponsored by local organizations. These

include: Ag Days; Good Thymes Camp; the

Jack Creek Project; and the 4th Grade Wa-

tershed Curriculum. Together, these op-

portunities have exposed Avery to the nat-

ural resource sciences, and have intro-

duced the concept of conservation into her

education.

Using her knowledge of resource conserva-

tion, Avery designed a science fair project

this past year that received a blue ribbon,

and earned an award from MCD. This pro-

ject focused on the effects of soil erosion in

the Bear Trap Canyon after the recent fire.

When asked what inspired this project,

Avery said she was curious to know what

might be done to help restore the former

beauty of the canyon so that people could

enjoy it as they did before the fire.

While speaking to Ms. Oliver, it is very

clear that she is inspired by the outdoors,

and she loves spending every available

opportunity outside. When asked about

her favorite place to spend time outdoors

she simply replied, “I like everywhere. I

just like being outside.” Among the many

activities she enjoys outdoors her favorites

include: hiking; camping; snowshoeing;

snowmobiling; and four-wheeling.

When she’s not spending time enjoying the

fresh snow, or the warm sunshine, Avery is

actively involved in the local 4H club and

taekwondo. In fact, Avery says her proud-

est accomplishment so far was during her

first year of 4H when she was awarded

grand champion in cooking and dog show-

manship.

Avery is an ambitious learner with high aspirations. She hopes that in the coming

years she can add several more things to her list of accomplishments. Some of these include: becoming a black belt; improving her horse riding abilities; enhancing her

dog training skills; and becoming a more advanced snowmobile rider.

Though she doesn’t quite yet know what she wants to be when she grows up, she surely will find something great to which

she can apply her bright personality, ad-venturous spirit, and unyielding dedica-tion. We wish Avery the best of luck in her

future (hopefully conservation-oriented!) endeavors.

By Ethan Kunard

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Avery Oliver, 5th Grade Scientist

Mayor’s Day of

Recognition

B right green paint was starting to show up everywhere as AmeriCorps Service

Members, Ennis Mayor Becky Vujovich, parents, staff and even students of Ennis Community Children’s School (ECCS), spent a few hours on Monday doing much needed painting at ECCS .

Vujovich, who along with 36 other Mayors in Montana, took the time to recognize the service of AmeriCorps members working in our communities. This statewide honor was part of the 2nd annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service.

According to Sunni Heikes-Knapton, “This service project was a great fit. ECCS had a need, and 3 local AmeriCorps members had the skills and the time. Becky’s words were so meaningful, and it was nice to hear that encouragement for the work the mem-bers are doing”.

Service Members honored by the Mayor for their impact and commitment includ-ed: Demetrius Fassas (Food Corps mem-ber serving Ennis School District and Mad-ison Farm to Fork), Ethan Kunard (Big Sky Watershed Corps) and Matt Piper (Big Sky Watershed Corps, serving Jack Creek Pre-serve Foundation).

The Mayors Day event is held to recognize the value of national service to communi-ties around the country and is sponsored primarily by the League of Cities and the US Conference of Mayors.

Avery won one of MCD’s Natural Re-

source Awards at the science fair.

Madison Conservation District | www.madisoncd.org | (406) 682-7289

Ethan Kunard takes part in a day

of service at ECCS.

Don’t forget the permit! Montana ’s Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act is a state law which requires a permit for

any work in or near a perennial stream or river. The law ensures that projects will not negatively affect area streams, their banks or adjoining landowners. To apply for a 310 permit, please visit www.madisoncd.org. Equipment for rent: Agricultural equipment is available through the equipment rental program. For additional information or to request use, please contact the MCD office. All equipment must be returned in the same working condition as when it was received, and the user is re-sponsible for providing any products needed (chemicals, fabric, trees, etc).

PO Box 606

222 E Main Street Suite 2B

Ennis, MT 59729

www.madisoncd.org

406-682-7289: Administrator

406-682-3181: Watershed Coordinator

406-682-3272: Fax

Board: madisoncd@3rivers.net

Administrator: mcdadmin@3rivers.net

Watershed Coordinator: mwc@3rivers.net

Equipment Use/Special Instructions

110 and 200 gallon sprayers and 300 gallon 3-point sprayer.

Sprayers are on utility trailers for use in weed control. User is required to provide own chemi-cals. Equipment is to be returned with chemical reservoir empty. $25 per day

Fabric layer mounted on utility trailer Fabric layer is a complement piece to the tree planting equipment owned by Ruby Valley Conser-vation District. Fabric layer requires three point hitch for use. $25 per day

Wheel track filler The wheel track filler is used to reclaim areas where center pivot tracks have caused significant ruts in irrigated acreage. $100 per day.

Heavy harrow The heavy harrow is used for several applications. Contact us with questions. $100 per day.

Madison Conservation District | www.madisoncd.org | (406) 682-7289