Tour: 1-5 pm ~ Social: 5-6 pm ~ Dinner: 6-8 pm

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Wolf Activity Report – May 14 2013

Making Communities Safe and Maintaining Forest Health
In 2008, in response to high local interest in forest restoration and fuels mitigation, the Challenge formed the Forestry Committee to prioritize mitigation efforts, strategize on treatments, and increase fire safety in communities. The committee’s cooperative work is intended to lead to stronger partnerships across ownerships, creating more resilent forests for the future.

A publication by: The US Bureau of Land Management and the Sonoran Institute

Drought is defined as a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually a season or more that results in shortages of water. Drought is also a normal, recurrent feature of climate that occurs in most climatic zones.

In 2000, the Blackfoot Drought Committee was formalized to coordinate the development and implementation of a voluntary drought response effort in the Blackfoot watershed. The drought response is intended to minimize the adverse impacts of drought on fisheries resources and to aid in the equitable distribution of water resources during low flow summers.

The Blackfoot Drought Response Plan is based on the premise of shared sacrifice with the goal that all Blackfoot water users (agricultural, irrigators, outfitters, anglers, recreational users, government agencies, homeowners associations, businesses, conservation groups, and others) voluntarily agree to take actions that will result in water savings and/or the reduction of stress to fisheries resources during critical low flow periods. This approach was selected for several reasons:

• Drought and the management of low flows are a watershed-wide concern;

• Beneficiaries of the drought response effort include interests throughout the watershed;

• The greater benefit to maintaining river flows and sustaining the overall health of the river can only be gained by the cooperative effort of the larger community.

The Revised Blackfoot Drought Plan falls into a more organized, more conservative river restoration and native fish recovery program than other basins in Montana.

The Blackfoot approach offers an alternative to angling restrictions and traditional enforcement of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in-stream flow right, while engaging the stakeholders of the Blackfoot Valley in the protection and future conservation of its fisheries. Under the  shared sacrifice  concept, irrigators, outfitters and recreationists have a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on the future and health of the Blackfoot Watershed.

CLICK TO READ THE REVISED BLACKFOOT DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN.

Meeting: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Lubrecht Experimental Forest – Castles Conference Center

Welcome & Introductions – Jim Stone

Discussion:

• Review of 2012 Activities and Accomplishments
• Ÿ 2013 Budget and Work Plan
• Ÿ Long-Term Project Outlook
• Ÿ Long-Term Funding
• Ÿ Monitoring and Effectiveness
• Ÿ Russell Gates Weed Pull Dates