Montana Association ofConservation Districts

MACD ANNUAL REPORTMontana Association of Conservation Districts

2020

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Leadership Letter

The year 2020 included challenges for MACD and Conservation Districts, as well as the entire nation. Although 2020 began with the release of the previous ED, which temporarily slowed the Association’s activity, Jim Simpson, Stephanie Adams, and Melissa Downing stepped up to pick up the Executive’s responsibilities. In addition to significant effort by the Education and District Operations Committees, an ad-hoc committee on the potential merger was chaired by Gayla Wortman, and Jeff Tiberi was hired to lead an ad-hoc committee on updating he MACD and SWCDM Bylaws.

In August, Rebecca Boslough accepted the offer for the Executive Director position, and MACD’s pace started to pick back up. Despite the ongoing covid pandemic, Area Meetings were successfully held in-person and virtually, and the 2020 Annual Convention took place virtually with approximately 200 participants attending each day!

MACD also successfully advocated for Districts to receive funding from the CARES Act, which the State unfortunately left Districts out of to start. MACD’s efforts resulted in Dis-tricts receiving approximately $90k in technology and other covid-related costs through both the Business Adaptability Grant Program and the Local Government Reimburse-ment Program.

Starting in August, Jeff Tiberi began leading the Association’s efforts for the 2021 Legislative Session. With the support of DNRC, Communications Specialist Eric Rannestad joined MACD in December 2020. And last but not least, MACD and SWCDM officially merged on December 31st, 2020! The next steps and details of the merger will take place through-out 2021, with completion of all actions planned to take place by the 2021 Convention.

Although the year ended with significant uncertainty due to coal severance tax shortfalls and vacancies at DNRC, MACD has continued to advocate for and work closely with our partners to support Districts. 2021 is already showing significant signs of success, particularly in terms of funding for Districts and DNRC in the legislature… more on that in our next annual report!

MACD would like to thank all of the Districts that supported us this year. Our role of service to Conservation Districts remains foremost in our minds as we go about our daily business. Like all organizations, we will continue to change and react and hope-fully influence future events that set the stage we operate under. We remain open to suggestions and input from you as we progress through what is hopefully the final year of the virus that has changed much of what we do.

Rebecca Boslough MACD Executive Director

Dean Rogge MACD Board Vice-President

Jim Simpson MACD Board President

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Gary GiemBoard Treasurer Water Resources Committee Executive Committee Programs Committee Reorganization Committee

Mike HansenSoil and Land Use Committee Programs Committee Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee Reorganization Committee

Rick VanDykenEducation Committee

Board Members

Area 3 DirectorsArea 2 Directors

Bob PetermannEducation Committee Legislative Ad Hoc Committee Reorganization Committee

Roddy RostSoil Resources and Land Use Committee Personnel Committee Executive Committee Programs Committee

Tony BaroneEducation Committee

Area 1 Directors

Dean Rogge Board Vice President District Operations Committee NACD Alternate Representative Legislative Ad Hoc Committee Personnel Committee Executive Committee

Jeff Wivholm - term expired Nov 2020Water Resources Committee Programs Committee Reorganization Committee

Steve Wanderaas - elected Nov 2020Chair of Soil Resources and Land Use Committee

William BernardWater Resources Committee

Gayla Wortman2021 Convention Planning Committee Reorganization Committee

Mark SutaExecutive Committee

Steve HertelDistrict Operations Committee

Area 5 Directors Area 6 DirectorsArea 4 Directors

Don YoungbauerSoil Resources and Land Use Committee

Judi KnappExecutive Committee District Operations Committee

Steve SchanamanWater Resources Committee Legislative Ad Hoc Committee

Bill NaegeliEducation Committee

Jim SimpsonBoard President Convention Planning Committee Legislative Ad Hoc Committee Personnel Committee Executive Committee Reorganization Committee

Pete WollDistrict Operations Committee

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New Staff

Rebecca BosloughMACD Executive Director

Corinne SchroederSage Grouse Initiative Range Technician

Eric RannestadCommunications Specialist

Rebecca joined MACD as the new Executive Director in August 2020. She is a fourth-generation Montanan and has a strong sense of place and reverence for our state and its communities. Rebecca received her bachelor’s degree in natural resource conservation from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in conservation leadership from the University of Cambridge in England. She has worked in conservation both in Montana and farther afield, and she is excited to be working in her home state supporting locally-led natural resource conservation.

Eric joins us from Washington State where he worked to provide design and communications services to conservation groups across the west — including many conservation districts. Since graduating from Whitman College, Eric has worked with the Walla Walla County Conservation District, Wallowa Resources, and The Nature Conservancy. He received bachelor’s degrees in Art and Economics and maintains a fine art practice outside of his regular communications work.

Corinne grew up running around the woods in her home state of New Jersey and eventually ended up graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology from SUNY-ESF. Since then, she has lived in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and now Montana doing seasonal fieldwork for organizations like the BLM, USGS, and Chicago Botanic Gardens, to name a few. In her free time, she loves to hike, backpack, camp, listen to music, nerd out on plants, and read good books.

Note: This is a big picture view of the budget. Please reach out to MACD with any questions you may have.

MACD Total Revenue * $30k in savings from diminished travel due to the pandemic and vacancy savings. $18k was spent on administrative services from SWCDM staff and contracted services from Jeff Tiberi.

Staff & Financials

Financials

Membership Dues97% | $140,035.52

Covid Relief1% | $ 659.48

Covid Relief1% | $ 9,956.86

Staff43% | $ 44,895.17

Staff23% | $ 155,893.84

L&E Donations 1% | $2000

Travel 9% | $ 9,145.10

Bridger PMC 5% | $ 34,277.91

Office + Operations 30% | $ 31,481.30

Office + Operations 8% | $ 53,349.86

Events & Convention... < 1% | $895.35

Lobbying + Legislative10% | $ 10,300.00

Passthrough Funding39% | $ 266,283.63

NACD Technical Assistance1% | $2000

Scholarships + Memberships1% | $ 1,230.00

Technical Assistance24% | $ 168,062.42

Events + Meetings6% | $ 5,702.72

REVE

NU

E

Total Revenue: $ 144,930.87 * | Total Expenditure: $ 103,413.77 Total Revenue: $ 743,816.94 | Total Expenditure: $ 687,824.43

REVE

NU

E

EXPE

NDI

TURE

EXPE

NDI

TURE

MACD Financial Report SWCDM Financial Report

Office Rent/Management 4% | $ 29,820.63

Covid Relief + Interest and Donations 1% | $ 10,671.26

Bridger PMC15% | $ 108,467.26

Grants/Event Income80% | $ 594,857.79

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Sage Grouse Initiative

Big Sky Watershed Corps

Soil Health Symposium

Rolling Rivers Trailer

District TechnologyAssistance

Montana Conservation Partnership Initiative

Ranching For Rivers

DEQ Mini Grants

Bridger Plant Materials Center

Programs

Highlights

Mini-Grants Awarded

Big Sky Watershed Corps members placed with SWCDM cost-share

Ranching for Rivers projects funded

Owl Webcams provided to Montana’s conservation districts

In COVID Relief Funding Provided to Montana’s conservation districts

90k+

11

4

32

5

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Sage Grouse InitiativeRanching for Rivers

Soil Health SymposiumBridger Plant Materials Center

Big Sky Watershed CorpsMontana Conservation Partnership Initiative

Mini-GrantsDistrict Technology Assistance

Rolling Rivers Trailer

Montana ConservationPartnership Initiative

Primary Funder: NRCS

The Montana Conservation Partnership Initiative (MCPI) is a program that promotes and sustains long-term conservation partnerships in Montana by increasing capacity and leveraging existing resources to further deliver conservation services at the local level. MCPI brings together federal, state, conservation district, and non-government entities from across the state to provide timely, resource-based solutions in the following areas: range and cropland, forestry, water resources, soil health, wildlife, and general conservation technical assistance. In 2020, $431,530 in funding was awarded, of which $227,487 was awarded to districts.

Some of the current CD projects under the Montana Conservation Partnership Initiative include:Little Beaver Conservation District Soil Health PositionPetroleum Conservation District MRCDC Coordinator SupportValley Conservation District MRWA Coordinator SupportCuster County Conservation District YRCDC support

Other current projects under the Montana Conservation Partnership Initiative include:Pheasants Forever 4 Farm Biologist PositionsBird Conservancy of the Rockies 1 Farm Biologist PositionMT Forest Collaborative Network Coordinator Support

Above: credit NRCS

Mini GrantsPrimary Funder: DEQ, Federal 319

In 2020, the Fiscal Year 2018 Mini-Grant round was closed out. In all, 15 mini-grants were awarded, totalling $31,657.39, across two call for application periods.

Projects included:

1 conference scholarship fund 4 youth education projects/tours/camps 5 community education/outreach events 2 workshops/restoration projects 1 rain garden initiative program 2 newsletter/video/handout development

The FY18 MiniGrant program leveraged $75,411.04 in non-federal and in-kind match!

An additional 11 projects were awarded funding for the Spring 2020 call for applications. Above: A group tours Ruby CD’s Ramhorn Project.

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Big Sky Watershed CorpsBSWC is a partnership of SWCDM, NRCS, MCC,

MWCC with NRCS as the primary funder.

In 2020, 30 Big Sky Watershed Corps members served with conservation districts, watershed groups, and nonprofit groups! SWCDM, with funding assistance from NRCS, was able to provide 50% cost-share support to four host-sites with a focus on soil health and pollinator initiatives.

Petroleum County CDBrian Hauschild assisted the Charles M Russel Community Working Group with data collection and interactive mapping.

Lake County CDSarah Klaus continued working with Lake County CD’s Pollinator Initiative, No-Till Seed Drill Monitoring, and White Top Education.

Bridger Plant Materials CenterRyan Noack completed two replicated studies, updated and/or developed 4 technical documents, and drafted a new brochure describing and summarizing the active releases from the Bridger Plant Materials Center.

Missoula Weed DistrictMadeline Gaffigan was updating the herbicide recommendations and led online Leave No Weeds training, and assisted with K-12 educational lessons

Above: A BSWC member teaches students about watersheds with an augmented reality sandbox kit.

Soil Health SymposiumPrimary Funder: NRCS

In February 2020 SWCDM, in partnership with NRCS, hosted our very first two-day Montana Soil Health Symposium in Billings, MT. This event brought over 400 ranchers, producers, urban farmers, and natural resource professionals together from the far corners of Montana and beyond to learn about and share their experiences in implementing practices that boost soil resilience, increase microbial activity, reduce inputs, and improve the longevity of the operation. The unique format of the symposium focused on not just hearing from professionals, but also sharing stories among neighbors about successes and lessons learned along the way.

Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, and collaborators for a successful and meaningful event! Though COVID-19 forced us to cancel our 2021 Symposium, MACD is currently planning for our February 2022 Symposium!

For information on our upcoming event, visit our website: https://mtsoilhealth.org/

Above: The Montana Soil Health Symposium in Billings, MT.

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Bridger Plant Materials CenterCo-own by MT and WY conservation districts and

leased to NRCS for maintenance and research

In 2020, the Bridger Plant Materials Center (BPMC) completed and posted several publications and continued its webinar-based training program for NRCS field staff and partners.

More information about the BPMC’s 2020 accomplishments can be found in the BPMC 2020 Progress Report.

In 2020, 46 conservation districts continued to support the Bridger Plant Materials Center (BPMC) through annual voluntary donations. A special thank you to the Beaverhead and Powder River Conservation District who donated above and beyond the annually suggested donation amount!

Recent Reports and Publications by the Bridger Plant Materials Center (BPMC) include:Effect of Guar and Sunn Hemp Seeding Rate on Stand Count and Biomass Production in a Warm Season Cover Crop Mix – One Year Results

Release brochure for ‘Rosana’ western wheatgrass

Effects of Companion Cover Crops on One Year of Malt Barley Production

Cover Crop Seeding Date

Pheasants Forever Upland Gamebird Cover Crop Mixes for Salt-Affected Sites and Custom Warm Season Cover Crop Mixes for Salt-Affected Sites

Mixed and Alternate-Row Seeding of Native Grasses and Forbs to Enhance Pollinator Habitat

Evaluation of Cool Season Cover Crops in Southern Montana

For more information, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/plantmaterials/pmc/west/mtpmc/”

Top: Entrance BPMC. Credit: NRCSBottom: BPMC growing plant

materials. Credit: NRCS

Ranching for RiversPrimary Funder: DEQ and Federal 319

SWCDM, in partnership with the MRCDC and DNRC Rangeland Resources Program, awarded 5 Ranching for River applications, totaling $26,491.40 in cost-share to conservation partners for the implementation of:

Above: The Ranging for Rivers program funds projects such as exclusion fencing like this project along Loneman Creek.

Above: credit NRCS

Projects

3 Fencing projects, affecting 32 acres of pasture and resulting in the protection of 4miles of streambank

2 Stock Water gap/crossing projects

4 livestock watering tanks

2 Grazing Management Plans

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Zoom: Convention & Area Meetings Overview

MACD Service

COVID ReliefPrimary Funder: Cares Act Funding

Based on Covid-19 guidelines from the State of Montana, the decision was made to have a virtual component to Area Meetings. Over the summer, Stephanie Adams agreed to assume coordinating responsibilities. Soon after that, the decision was made to go virtual with this convention and Rebecca, our newly minted ED, became the point person for arranging that.

In August, we also recognized that we needed a person with skills to manage large Zoom Meetings, and Kay Webb with Little Beaver CD was offered a contract to coordinate the technical aspects of our area and convention virtual meetings.

Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, Area Meetings were successfully

In August, DNRC urged MACD and membership to take advantage of CARES Act money to cover the increased cost of conducting our business because of virus related restrictions. Rebecca acquainted herself with the process required of two granting programs: the Business Adaptability (BA) Program and the Local Government Reimbursement (LGR) Program.

The DNRC Conservation Resource Development Division (CARDD) was administering the BA Program and worked with MACD to allow MACD, SWCDM, and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) to receive reimbursement for items purchased for conservation Districts. The Districts received approximately $20k in funding through the BA Grant Program.

held in-person and virtually, and the 2020 Annual Convention took place virtually with over 200 participants attending each day! Once again, the call for in-person meetings was made clear, but we did learn a few lessons about the value of zoom for our state when face-to-face meetings are not possible.

Two of these MACD resolutions, one on the Milk River and the other on studying erosion on the Flathead River, went to the 2021 Legislative Session. Additionally, the MACD resolution on Aquatic Invasive Species was successfully passed at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Annual Meeting. It’s safe to say that we are all looking forward to an in-person Convention in Great Falls in November 2021. We can’t wait to see you

Rebecca and Jeff found that LGRP excluded conservation districts and worked with the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) to remedy the issue. Districts were then able to purchase technology and other items for direct covid-related impacts to their work. MACD continued to encourage Districts to take advantage of the LGR Program to upgrade their technology by sending out information and updates as they became available from the state, as well as hosting an informational session for Districts.

During this time, MACD also worked to get pre-approval from the state for larger purchases by Districts under the LGR Program. Most notably, MACD collaborated with Gallatin CD to purchase 33 Owl Webcams ($1200 value per webcam) for Districts. Since the purchase

had to be made by a District, Gallatin CD agreed to purchase the webcams and MACD took liability for the purchase in case the reimbursement did not come through. Districts responded quickly to the need for technology that would allow socially distanced meetings with a virtual component.

MACD continued to assist Districts with questions and requests for pre-approvals. When the state abruptly closed the LGR Program on November 30th, MACD worked with the Department of Administration to make sure that purchases made up until this date would still be covered. Approximately $70k in technology and reimbursements went out to the Districts through the LGR Program, with a total of around $90k to Districts in CARES Act funding.

Above: Video conferencing has made Area Meetings and the Annual Convention possible during the Pandemic

Seven MACD Resolutions were proposed by the Districts, and they may be seen here:

https://macdnet.org/resolutions

Thank You

Thank you to all the conservation districts, sponsors, and partners who work for local, common sense conservation in Montana.

Montana Association of Conservation Districts

1101 11th Avenue Helena, MT 59601

(406) 443-5711