SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
General Membership Meeting
March 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Wilsall Fire Hall, Wilsall
-MINUTES-
PEOPLE PRESENT: (13 people total)
Daryl Shehan, Chair Jessica Anderson, Coordinator
Garry Cotant Dylan Graves, BSWC – Park CD
Gary Hoyem Karen Loveless, Montana FWP
Carol Endicott, Montana FWP Alan Johnstone
Mike Dailey Steve Tomschin
Drew Scott, Montana FWP Jim Taylor
Daryl Stutterheim
Daryl Shehan called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
PRESENTATION: 2015 ELK BRUCELLOSIS SURVEILLANCE PROJECT
Karen Loveless of Montana FWP gave a presentation regarding the Targeted Elk Brucellosis Surveillance project and a post-capture summary. The study, conducted collaboratively with Montana Division of Livestock, has occurred for the past five years across Southwest Montana and is in its final year of operation. Loveless reported on the results thus far and on the objectives and processes behind the project. Elk captured and tested as seropositive are then monitored and tested for the following five years as part of the program. The capture and testing has occurred throughout a designated surveillance area (DSA), which has been moved by DoL officials three times since 2010 due to study results indicating that Brucellosis positive elk have moved outside current DSA lines. Elk that test as seropositive are fitted with a monitoring collar for future tracking and those that are pregnant are fitted with vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) that alert FWP researchers to birth events. Once the VITs are expelled from the elk, researchers can test any remnants of the birth on site for seropositive results and determine whether transmission occurs from mother to offspring.
This year’s captures occurred in the Mill Creek (HD 317) and North Absaroka (HD 560) areas in Park County. Of the 63 individuals tested in HD 560, only two resulted in seropositive tests, and both of which were fitted with VITs. In HD 317, however, 16 of the 30 individuals captured tested seropositive, 11 of which were fitted with VITs. The 53.2% seropositive result in HD 317 is much higher than in other areas that have been tested and is a surprising result. The individuals that tested seropositive will be tested annually for the next five years and after five years, those that are still positive will be removed from the population. A test for seroprevalence measures whether antibodies to the bacteria are present in the individual, and, since it is possible to lose antibodies over time, it is possible that some animals that tested positive at the beginning of the study could test negative several years later.
The Montana FWP and DoL are hoping to use the data to create a transmission risk model that will give a better understanding of brucellosis risk in the areas surveyed. The model can help guide management of the elk population and better protect ranchers and their cattle from wildlife interactions and potential transmission. By tracking animal movement and interactions within the herd, FWP is hoping to better track where elk are at various times throughout the year. This will all be used by DoL and FWP to guide management in the future.
PRESENTATION: 2015 ELK MANAGEMENT HUNTS
Karen Loveless, wildlife biologist for FWP, gave an update on the Shields Elk Management hunt for this year. The hunt harvested 119 elk between mid-December and mid-February. There are approximately 4000 elk in the Shields as of the last count. 18 landowners were enrolled in the program, which started right after the regular hunting season ended in February. 119 antlerless elk were harvested, which is below objective levels and is attributed to the warm weather, which forced elk up into higher elevations, away from hunters. In order for landowners to qualify for the program, they had to allow enough hunters onto their land during the regular hunting season. Hunters who wanted a tag for the late season management hunts had to join a roster the previous summer for a chance to be selected. Up to 25% of hunters on a landowner’s property could be a landowner’s friends and family, as well. Loveless reported that FWP wants to double the harvest to stabilize the population, and would have to more than double it in order to reduce the population. However, it seemed promising that when the winter was going well, approximately 30 elk were harvested per week; the warm weather caused that rate to dwindle considerably later in the season. With that in mind, it is hoped that future late season hunts will be more successful, with the goal being 800-900 elk harvested yearly to keep population stable. To sign up for next year’s hunt, hunters should register for the roster between June 15 and July 15 of this year, although there is some talk of extending this period to allow more folks to get on the roster. In HD 393, hunters who had previously filled their tag during the regular hunting season that are selected from the late season roster will be given another B tag to use in the management hunt, with a maximum of two total tags available per year.
PRESENTATION: NFWF Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Grant
Carol Endicott, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout biologist with Montana FWP, gave an update about the National Fish and Wildlife Fund that is being administered by Park CD and is going to help fund the installation of the Shields River fish barrier and with Brad Sheppard’s pit tag research on fish movement in the Shields. Brad Sheppard, formerly with the Wildlife Conservation Society, brought the grant to Park CD and SVWG to gauge interest in administering it in exchange for the overhead money that it will pay to the CD. Park CD will be required to do the grant’s reporting aspects, which Carol Endicott says she will aid in completing. Sheppard and Endicott will be performing fish capture later in the season using electro-fishing techniques to tag Yellowstone cutthroat trout and remove invasive brook trout, which the fish barrier is designed to keep away from the native cutthroat. The scope of the project, broadly, is to help replenish and protect the native population.
COMMITTEE UPDATES:
A. Weeds
No update was provided.
B. Water Quality
Shehan updated the group, reporting that the DEQ 319 grant for which SVWG had applied was declined. There was very little information given as to why the application was denied, and the group thought it would be important to have a meeting with Endicott of FWP to discuss strategies and tactics before having a meeting with the DEQ to discuss ways to improve their proposal and shed some light on why they were declined. Shehan also stressed that it is important to find new sources of funding so the SVWG restoration plans would not go to waste.
C. Forestry
There are two talks upcoming in Missoula and Bozeman about private forestry management. A representative from Idaho will be coming to speak on how private landowners can best manage forest resources.
D. Wildlife
See Elk Management update with Karen Loveless.
E. Livestock
No update was provided.
COORDINATOR UPDATES:
A. 2015 BSWC Member: Dylan Graves is the new BSWC member working with the Park CD this year. He moved to Livingston from Michigan and will be helping with a variety of tasks around the office. He started at the beginning of January and will continue through November.
B. Montana Water Compact: Graves provided an update on the CSKT Water Compact currently being discussed in the Montana House of Representatives after its recent passage in the state senate. The CSKT water compact is intended to settle the tribes’ water rights once and for all while protecting the rights and historical consumption of irrigators and landowners. If the compact passes, a joint state-tribal board of five members will be established to determine reservation water rights conflicts. The CSKT has also said it will renounce the rights to water east of the Continental Divide. If it fails, however, it seems likely that the tribes will begin to take landowners to water courts to litigate on their rights, which will create high costs for landowners and the tribes having to litigate.
C. Upper Shields Fish Barrier & Road Improvements RRGL: The RRGL grant for the Upper Shields fish barrier went before the Montana House appropriations committee on March 16th to be discussed for funding. The SVWG proposal is ranked low on the list of 101 projects wanting funding, but Elena Evans of MACD mentioned to Stutterheim that the democrats in the House are going to try to pass every project that the RRGL fund is considering.
D. Park County Landownership Maps:
Anderson reported the Park Conservation District has Park County Landownership maps in the booklet form to be available for purchase. Those interested in purchasing a booklet should visit the Park Conservation District or contact Anderson at 222-2899 ext. 111.
E. Park CD Board of Supervisors:
Anderson reported that Ned Zimmerman has replaced Matt Levers on the Park CD Board of Supervisors and has been serving for the past two months.
F. Noxious Weeds Trailer: The South Central Montana Weed Association Council is hoping to purchase an informational weeds trailer that will provide interactive educational programs for youth and adults in the seven county south central Montana region. The CWMA and Park CD, in addition to other conservation districts and weed councils, are donating toward the purchase of the trailer. Park CD is hoping the trailer will be available in time for this fall’s Ag Fair.
G. 2015 Noxious Weeds Fair: The 2015 noxious weeds fair will be held either April 27th or April 28th at the Park County fairgrounds. The keynote speaker will be Mellissa Maggio-Kassner, the state Biocontrol Coordinator. She will be speaking about biocontrol, especially as it pertains to the management of spotted knapweed and leafy spurge.
H. Park CD/Park County Floodplain Administration workshop: Graves provided an update on the workshop he is planning for the Park CD that will take place sometime in late May or early June. Working with Barbara Woodbury, the Park County Floodplain Coordinator, the workshop will provide information on floodplain regulations and permitting processes in addition a number of other regulations and information that pertains to water and watersheds in the area. Warren Kellogg of the YRCDC has agreed to speak at the workshop and Graves is in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and a few other agencies/organizations that might like to attend. Park CD is working with the Montana Association of Realtors to get continuing education credits for realtors who attend the workshop, although anyone from the community will be welcome to attend.
I. Spurline’s Informational Fencing Meeting: Spurline is hosting a wildlife fencing workshop on March 27th from 1-3pm at the First Interstate Bank in Livingston. It will teach landowners how to best use fencing to keep wildlife away from livestock and prevent interactions on their property.
J. MACD Irrigation Water Management (IWM) Service: Anderson reported that MACD is offering open enrollment for the 2015 IWM service, which can be used in conjunction with NRCS EQIP irrigation programs for any irrigators. Registration forms and additional information are available at macdnet.org.
K. Enhancing Montana’s Wildlife & Habitat v. Montana FWP lawsuit: The Montana FWP has not yet been served for the lawsuit that Enhancing Montana’s Wildlife and Habitat filed recently in response to the FWP’s plans to conduct elk brucellosis monitoring. The alleging organization has stated that they believe the agency’s plans are flawed and unconstitutional, although at this point FWP has not decided to change its processes in any way as a response.
AGENCY UPDATES:
Karen Loveless of Montana FWP provided an update on the elk survey she completed recently in the Shields in HD 315 and HD 393. In HD 315, 1,228 elk were counted, which is very similar to the 2014 results. Survey conditions were fair, with warm temperatures and patchy snow conditions. Bulls were not observed in the foothills, as per usual, likely due to the lack of snow in a lot of spots. Loveless reported that she thought the number was likely underrepresenting the herd size due to the lack of bulls able to be counted. The 1,228 is slightly above the objective of 1,000. In HD 393, 3,449 elk were counted, fewer than the 4,211 observed in 2013. This is likely due to elk moving into the hunting district north of 393. A group of 400+ elk were observed just north of the boundary and is likely that this herd is associated with 393. The 3,449 is well over the objective of 1,500 elk for 393.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 17, 2014 MINUTES:
Alan Johnstone made the motion to approve the November 17, 2014 meeting minutes. Daryl Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed.
DEQ has given a grant to MACD to administrate small water quality projects within a few watersheds around the state. The Shields and Upper Yellowstone werDEQ has given a grant to MACD to administrate small water quality projects within a few watersheds around the state. The Shields and Upper Yellowstone were mentioned DEQ has given a grant to MACD to administrate small water quality projects within a few watersheds around the state. The Shields and Upper Yellowstone were mentiDEQ has given a grant to MACD to administrate small water quality projects within a few watersheds around the state. The Shields and Upper Yellowstone were mentioned (mostly because they have active groups not because they have the worst water qua
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 P.M.
Next Meeting: TBD
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5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or