Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
September 4th, 2015
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
USDA Building, Conference Room, 5242 Hwy 89 South
Livingston, MT 59047
11:00 a.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: ; Martin Davis, vice-chair, Ned Zimmerman, Daryl Stutterheim
NON-BOARD MEMBERS: Jessica Anderson, District Administrator; Dylan Graves, BSWC member; Scott Opitz, Montana FWP
Martin Davis called the regular Park CD meeting to order at 8:59 AM.
310 APPLICATIONS/SITE INSPECTION REPORTS/DECISIONS:
A. PK-48-15 Tabled – Yellowstone River: Jay Pocock- Installation of a stone walkway and terraced deck down to river. Opitz recommended that the project be tabled until more detailed plans are submitted and the supervisors view the proposed project site to determine whether they would even consider the project in question. If the project were approved, the dock structure would need to be removable for the winter/high water and the steps would need to be permanent and provide the same bank stabilization attributes as the present rip rap. After discussion, Zimmerman made a motion to table until the supervisors can look at the site. Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
B. PK-41-15 Approved – Basin Creek: 4 Diamond Ranch LLC c/o McCoy Family: Construction of 21 sod reinforced constructed riffles (Beaver mimicry structures) in an incised reach of Basin Creek. The project is meant to slow water to increase water height, thereby reducing the amount of channel incision and improving the site’s hydrology. After discussion, Zimmerman moved to approve the project. Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
C. PK-47-15 Approved w/Modifications – Shields River: Ned Zimmerman – Relocation of several large trees which are currently in the river channel to the banks. Trees will be secured to riverbank using cable and deadman. Opitz recommended that they modify the application to allow the excavator into the river if need be. After discussion, Stutterheim motioned to approve the work as modified and waive the 15 day waiting period. Malone seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
D. PK-45-15 Withdrawn –Chicken Creek: Fish-A-Bit Ranch - Installation of a check dam in order to provide sufficient flow to irrigation pump. The application was withdrawn.
E. PK-46-15 Approved – Mission Creek: Mike Boeh: Bridge replacement through the installation of concrete blocks and I-beams for improved durability. The old bridge was made of log abutments and stringers. The new bridge will be constructed from concrete and will be raised approximately 2 feet to improve durability and accommodate larger runoff events. Zimmerman moved to approve the project. Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
F. PK-43-15 Approved – Soda Butte Creek: Robert Gilbert – Repair of bank stabilization through the installation of rock rip rap and revegetating referenced streambank. Waiver of 15-day waiting period requested. After discussion, Stutterheim motioned to approve the project and waive the 15 day waiting period. Davis seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
G. PK-44-15 Approved –Unnamed Tributary: 4 Diamond Ranch c/o Genesis Engineering - Replacement of existing 18 inch culvert with a longer 24 inch culvert to create a more substantial vehicle crossing. This is renewal of a project that was not completed last year for which the permit had expired. After discussion, Stutterheim motioned to approve the project. Zimmerman seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
TREASURER’S REPORT & FINANCIAL ITEMS:
A. Approval of checks and financial reports: Zimmerman made the motion to approve the treasurer’s report and financials, Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
MINUTES APPROVAL
A. Approval of August 4, 2015 minutes: Zimmerman made the motion to approve minutes from last month. Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 3-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. BSWC: update/discussion of projects & activities: Dylan attended the passive restoration 101 conference in Butte on August 26 and 27. The conference featured demonstration projects and field visits, in addition to presentations about the feasibility and benefits of passive restoration techniques, most prominently beaver mimicry structures that replicate the effects that beaver dams had on area streams in the past without completely stopping water flow downstream. This is a restoration technique that can combat stream incision, improve stream hydrology, and rebuild ecosystem functioning to the area without expensive and labor-intensive construction.
B. Jerry O’Hair: Jerry came to the Park CD meeting to give his opinion on recent Park CD activities and provide an update about the YRCDC Cumulative Effects Analysis. He expressed his disappointment upon seeing that no Supervisors were present at the Floodplain Workshop held in late June and stated that he thinks the Supervisors should make it a point to be visit and present at area environmental and watershed-related events, even if it can only be one Supervisor present at any given event. He also brought along the latest draft of the CEA, which will be discussed and finalized on September 25th at the upcoming YRCDC business meeting before it is brought before the public on October 12-14. There will be a meeting on October 12th in Big Timber to discuss the CEA and its implications.
C. MACD Area VI meeting: September 21st, White Sulphur Springs: The MACD Area VI meeting this year will be held in White Sulphur Springs at the Montana Roadhouse from 9 to 3:30. Included will be a tour of Tintina Resources Black Butte Copper Project. Dylan, Jessica, and Ned will definitely be attending (for $8/person).
D. Broadwater CD/Lewis & Clark CD Soil Health Day: The CD’s are holding a soil health day in Winston, Montana on September 17th. It is being hosted by the Staubach Creek Ranch at 12 Pole Creek Road from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and features presentations by Jay Fuhrer, NRCS soil health specialist and Tim Dusenberry, an L&C County Producer. Registration is $15/person and closes on September 14th.
E. Montana Range Tour: The Madison Conservation District is hosting the Montana Range Tour on September 16 and 17 to showcase projects in Madison Valley region. The two-day event will feature stops at several ranches and management areas to highlight projects occurring in the Madison Valley. Registration costs are $50 through September 8th and $60 until the day of the event.
F. Society of Range Mgmt Ranch Resource Roundup: The SRM’s Ranch Resource Roundup will be held on September 1-2 in Miles City and will feature speakers on holistic resource management, the value of partnerships, livestock and ground water quality data, groundwater monitoring pre and post oil development, and demonstrations on electric fencing, among other things. Registration by August 16th is $40, and raises to $55 to register at the door.
G. YRCDC Business meeting: The YRCDC’s next meeting will occur on September 25th at Fort Keogh in Miles City to address the 3rd draft of the Cumulative Effects Assessment.
H. Park CD 5th Grade Ag Fair: The Ag Fair will take place this year on September 24th at the Nelson Spring Creek Ranch. It will feature the same stations as last year, but with two additional stations: swine and fish. Stutterheim is going to bring the hay bales and timber for seats at the stations and it is hoped that several of the supervisors will be able to attend and help with the event. The fair will be held for all Park County kids this year, and will be held between approximately 9:30 and 2:30 to ensure they make it back to school in time for buses.
I. EPA – Proposed changes to Private Applicator Program: The EPA is proposing changes to the Montana private applicators program, including making closed book testing mandatory, creating mandatory category specific training, changing the certification cycle from five to three years, requiring applicators to be above 18 years old, and requiring that ½ credits be obtained in the last 18 months. The EPA is taking public comments on their website until November 3, 2015.
J. NFWF Bring Back the Natives grant: The budget has been approved for the NFWF grant, which has allowed Park CD to send designated funds to MSU and Brad Shepherd for their contributions to the project.
K. DEQ/319 MWCC Preliminary Review Panel: The preliminary review panel met on August 12th to discuss the SVWG and Park CD grant for restoration work on Brackett Creek, and Jessica recently received comments from this panel. Jessica and Carol Endicott were both frustrated over the panel’s continued insistence that woody debris be used to create habitat and bank stabilization along the creek. The frustration stems from the fact that woody vegetation and debris are prime habitats for Brook Trout, which we are trying to remove from the system to restore Yellowstone Cutthroat populations. The next round of review is occurring in early October and in the meantime, Endicott and Jessica will meet with Mark Ockey of DNRC and Scott Opitz to discuss how they should reframe the grant in light of the panel’s comments.
WATERSHED BUSINESS:
A. Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin Updates:
· The UYWB held a meeting on September 3rd that featured presentations by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition regarding the proposed Emigrant Gulch mining operations, a fall/winter weather forecast by Dave Molebash of NRCS, and proposed hunting changes in Paradise Valley by Karen Loveless of Montana FWP. The GYC provided an update about the mine’s status and answered questions about what the proposed activities would mean for the Emigrant Gulch area and, more broadly, Paradise Valley and Park County as a whole. The major upside to the mining exploration would be potential jobs, although this is offset by the pollution to water and the potential for associated job loss through decreased tourism and recreation. The EPA, USFS, and Montana DEQ have some time still to make a decision on whether to allow Lucky Minerals to engage in mineral exploration in Emigrant Gulch, and GYC is hoping that the exploration is ultimately denied, in large part because Emigrant Gulch is a poor spot for mining, especially because the ore is low grade and would require a great deal of ore extraction to be viable.
· Molebash’s weather update suggested that we are in for another drier, warmer than average winter due to El Niño effects from the South Pacific that pushes warm, dry air over the Northwest U.S. and Canada. In the past, El Nino years have typically equated to approximately 70% of normal moisture between December and April.
· Karen Loveless introduced potential changes for deer, antelope, elk, bison, and bighorn sheep hunts in Paradise Valley and Gardiner for the 2016 hunting season moving forward and was looking for comments and suggestions to improve the process. She suggested that they are looking to open up a new HD in Paradise Valley for antelope with a low number of tags. They are going to introduce a low number of antlerless B licenses for Mule Deer in Gardiner. For elk, she is thinking of opening cows to youth South of Big Creek. In Gardiner, we get very few YNP elk, and bull ratios are very low, so Loveless is looking for ways to maintain bull numbers without going to a limited draw permit system, which would put some outfitters out of business. One thing she is doing is proposing a management season this winter, with landowners qualifying by allowing folks to hunt during the general season. She also talked about opening up a bison hunt in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and about opening up some female only licenses for mountain goats in the Crazy Mountains.
B. Shields Valley Watershed Group Updates:
· Next meeting: September 21st, Wilsall
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
MEETING ADJOURNED @ 1:35 PM
NEXT MEETING: October 6 @ 11:00am
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