Park Conservation District
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Park Conservation District
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Park Conservation District Home
More About the PCD
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HISTORY DISTRICT SUPERVISORS WHAT WE DO
AND STAFFThe 1930s brought an ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Huge black dust storms blotted out the sun and swallowed the countryside. While testifying on Capitol Hill on April 2, 1935, soil scientist Hugh Bennett threw back the room's curtains to reveal a sky blackened by dust. Congress immediately declared soil and water conservation a national policy and priority. Since about three-fourths of the land in the U.S. is privately owned, Congress realized that only active support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation on private land. The idea for soil and water conservation districts was born.
Today there are nearly 3000 conservation districts, all political subdivisions of state government, created by the legislature--one in almost every county. Now expanded to serve all the conservation needs of our nation, districts educate and help local citizens conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and other natural resources.
The Park Conservation District was organized in 1949 and is one of 58 conservation districts in Montana. A non-paid elected and appointed board of supervisors governs district activities. The Park Conservation District covers all portions of the county except the city of Livingston and includes the part of the Shields River drainage that falls in Gallatin County.
Daryl Stutterheim, Chairman
Dave Haug, Vice Chairman
Martin Davis
Gayleen Malone
Matt LeversASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS:
Jerry O'Hair
Chad StandishDISTRICT PERSONNEL:
Jacquie Nelson, Administrator
NRCS PERSONNEL:
Ron Hoagland, District Conservationist
Melissa Vanderhagen, Soil Conservation Technician
WHAT WE DO:The following are some of the responsibilities and activities of the Park Conservation District (clicking on one of the following links will bring that subject to the top of the page):
Natural Stream Bed and Land Preservation Act
Watershed Planning, Local Watershed Councils, and Coordinated Resource Management Efforts
Water Quality
Riparian Management
Agricultural Conservation
Conservation Education
Urban Conservation
Forest Practices
Resource Conservation and Development
And More!The Natural Stream Bed and Land Preservation Act--The bulk of the Conservation District Board's work is spent on administration of this act, also known as the "310" law. The district accepts applications and issues permits to any individual or corporation proposing to undertake a project or construction activity in a perennial stream. In the permitting process, conservation district supervisors and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks personnel inspect the site of the project with the applicant to ensure it is completed in a fashion that maintains the natural integrity of the stream system. The purpose of the permitting process is to minimize soil erosion and sedimentation, protect and preserve streams and rivers in their natural or existing state, and prevent damage to the lands and property immediately adjacent to streams and rivers. For more information about stream permitting in Montana, see Montana's Guide to Stream Permitting.
Watershed Planning, Local Watershed Councils, and Coordinated Resource Management Efforts--They all mean the same thing--local folks getting together in a collaborative, consensus-based process to tackle local and regional natural resource management issues on a river basin or watershed basis. Conservation districts often draw people and resources together to catalyze or assist in the development of these efforts. The Park Conservation District has encouraged and supported the formation of watershed groups within Park County where previously there were no other functioning stakeholder groups. Each group is truly as unique as the community itself is. The Upper Shield's Watershed Association that meets in Wilsall was formed in 1997, followed by the Southern Crazy Mountain Watershed Group (Clyde Park) in 2001, and most recently, the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin (Emigrant) that was formed in 2004. These three groups, as distinct as they are, share a common bond - a strong commitment to and collaboration with the Park Conservation District. See the Montana Watershed Coordination Council site for more information about watershed groups and activities in Montana.
Water Quality--Conservation districts are the local contact for the control of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Districts conduct projects which demonstrate NPS pollution control practices, preferring voluntary, educational, and incentive-based approaches over regulatory approaches. Additionally, district boards work with state and federal regulatory agencies (for the most part, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) to identify problem areas and prioritize treatment. Recently, the manner in which these problems are addressed has become the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads for impaired streams in Montana.
Riparian Management--Riparian and wetland areas are vitally important parts of the landscape. Good management of these areas is critical to a healthy environment. Conservation districts sponsor and conduct landowner workshops, produce and distribute informational and educational materials, and conduct demonstrations and tours of innovative riparian management techniques and projects.
Agricultural Conservation--Conservation districts work very closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) to assist in the administration of federal conservation programs. These programs, found in the conservation provisions of the U.S. Farm Bill, include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Conservation Education--Districts work with schools to develop conservation education curricula and outdoor classrooms by coordinating technical and financial assistance and by providing teaching aids. Another important educational activity is the sponsorship of kids' conservation field days. Notable statewide annual camps and competitions include the Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp, the Montana Youth Range Camp, the Montana Envirothon Competition, the National Envirothon, and Montana Range Days.
Urban Conservation--Districts pool technical expertise from a variety of agencies and sources to provide services like soil surveys, water inventories, and waste disposal information for planning commissioners, municipal officials, builders, and others. With the rapid increase in subdivided acreages, and the resource issues associated with these small tracts, districts have recently taken on a new role; many districts now host workshops and produce educational materials for new landowners, many of whom have no prior experience with basic principles of land stewardship. In addition, various conservation districts operate recycling programs, like waste oil collection and annual Christmas tree recycling and mulching.
Forest Practices--Conservation districts in the western part of the state participate in cooperative Best Management Practices education programs and promote sustainable forest management as a means of maintaining stable rural economies.
Resource Conservation and Development--Conservation district supervisors have joined with private individuals and local, state, and federal government to initiate community-led rural development efforts. Seven of these Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Areas now operate in Montana, encompassing 51 of the state's 56 counties.
And That's Not All--In addition, districts carry out projects involving forest fire rehabilitation, conservation tree plantings, streambank stabilization, agricultural energy conservation, noxious weed control, and irrigation water management, like the Montana Irrigation Management program. As might be expected with 58 conservation districts, the list goes on.
Request a copy of our minutes for more information.