2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project
Section 1.0 – Introduction
The Critical Lands Project is a collaborative effort to protect and restore lands that are
essential to protecting and improving water quality in the Flathead Watershed. The Flathead Lakers
initiated the Critical Lands Project to build partnerships and promote collaboration among natural
resource agencies, conservation organizations and land owners to conserve these critical lands. The
proposed 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project supports our critical lands
conservation goals through education and outreach activities that encourage best management
practices to protect or improve water quality in rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and shallow
groundwater areas.
The 319 grant would provide funding for partners to inform target audiences about the
importance of vegetated riparian corridors and wetlands for maintaining and improving water quality
and encourage critical lands protection, restoration, and stewardship in previously identified priority
areas.
This Project supports priority actions listed in the Montana Nonpoint Source Management
Plan through the proposed education and outreach activities, including collaborating with state and
local agencies and conservation organizations to promote vegetated buffer strips and riparian buffers,
implementing restoration strategies for the Flathead Lake Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL),
promoting implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), and encouraging county planners
and county commissioners to incorporate water quality protection measures in the Flathead County
Growth Policy implementation strategies. We will advocate including water quality protection
measures in the Flathead County Growth Policy implementation strategies by providing information
to the county to help craft effective strategies and by encouraging the public to comment in support
of water quality protection measures proposed.
Statement of Need and Intent
Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. It provides
tremendous ecological, economic, cultural and aesthetic benefits to the local area and state. Water
quality in Flathead Lake is a barometer of the ecological health of its six million acre watershed. As
sediments and nutrients in its tributaries increase, the quality of the lake declines. Water quality in
Flathead Lake has declined by about 30 percent over the past 26 years due to increasing nutrient
pollution from nonpoint sources, according to the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological
Station. Lake and Flathead counties are among the fastest growing in the state, and rapid growth and
development threaten water quality in the lake and its tributaries.
The 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project is focusing efforts in the
Flathead Valley upstream from Flathead Lake. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) include this area in the Flathead Lake TMDL
plan. This urban and agricultural area contributes the highest nutrient loads to the lake and is facing
acute growth pressures. Priorities for protection and restoration include wetlands, vegetated stream
and river banks and floodplains. These areas are among the most important for maintaining water
quality in Flathead Lake and also provide productive and diverse wildlife habitat and recreation
opportunities.
Proposed Task 1 will help achieve the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan’s goals
and actions 2.1b, 2.1c, 2.1h (Table 4-2) aimed at protecting and restoring functioning wetlands and
riparian areas from adverse effects through outreach to land owners along the Flathead River to
encourage riparian and wetland protection and restoration projects.
Proposed Task 2 will help achieve goals and actions 1.1e, 1.1h and 1.1j (Table 4-1) by
working with the Flathead Conservation District to implement Flathead Lake TMDL goals that
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encourage voluntary application of BMPs to protect streams and lakes from nonpoint source
pollution.
Proposed Task 3 helps achieve action 1.1b (Table 4-1) to protect unimpaired streams and
lakes using science-based land management practices by encouraging Flathead County to implement
policies and regulations that protect riparian areas, wetlands and vulnerable groundwater areas.
The Project will help achieve priority education and outreach goals listed in Table 5.3 (pages
113-114) of the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan through education and outreach
activities targeting land owners along rivers and streams (Task 1 and 2) that promote riparian and
wetland buffer protection. The Project also helps achieve resource specific goals listed in Table 5.1
(page 112) by encouraging including vegetated filter strips and riparian buffer protection measures in
local government policies and regulations (Task 3).
Water quality protection and restoration in the Flathead Watershed requires strategies that
increase public awareness and knowledge about the importance of critical lands and about ways to
protect and restore them. Greater knowledge and concern can lead to changes in personal behavior,
improve local capacity to make land use management and policy decisions that protect water quality,
and build partnerships among diverse groups. The 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and
Outreach Project will help achieve these goals by informing the public and target audiences about
water quality protection activities and practices, successful conservation and restoration projects and
techniques, and assistance available for protection and restoration projects. These activities will
benefit water quality by expanding the public support for and adoption of land use practices that help
prevent and reduce pollution.
TMDL/Water Quality Plan (WQP) and/or State NPS Plan E&O
Accomplishing the proposed 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project
through successful water quality protection, restoration and education projects will contribute to
implementing the TMDL for Flathead Lake. The TMDL for Flathead Lake affirms a target of a 15
percent reduction in human-caused nitrogen and phosphorus loads plus a 10 percent margin of safety.
For Phase I Allocation implementation, the TMDL recommends on-the-ground implementation
activities and educational activities that facilitate implementation in areas that are known to pose the
greatest threat to Flathead Lake. The area identified includes the area north of Flathead Lake with
the highest density of urban and agricultural land uses (DEQ, 2001, Nutrient Management Plan and
TMDL for Flathead Lake, Montana, Section 5.3). The TMDL recommends implementation of BMPs
for the control of urban and agricultural nonpoint source pollution runoff, including vegetated filter
strips.
The 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project will complement the
Flathead Basin Commission’s TMDL voluntary nutrient reduction efforts to help achieve nutrient
reduction targets on urban and agricultural lands in the Flathead River Valley north of the lake by
encouraging land owners along rivers, streams and lakes to protect and restore vegetated riparian
buffers. Partners will encourage riparian buffers by promoting conservation programs that provide
incentives for land owners to protect and restore riparian buffers (Task 1), by developing and
conducting educational workshops on riparian areas, riparian buffers, and stream restoration for land
owners and Realtors (Task 2), and by conducting outreach to generate public support for Flathead
County Growth Policy implementation strategies that protect water quality (Task 3).
Project Planning and Management
The Critical Lands Program Director, an employee of the Flathead Lakers, is responsible for
overall project coordination and implementation. A core group of project partners representative of
the participating agencies and organizations meets periodically to plan, implement, and evaluate
specific conservation, restoration, education and stewardship projects. Other project participants are
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involved in implementing and supporting specific projects by providing funding or in-kind services.
The Flathead Lakers’ Executive Director and Administrative Assistant are also involved in project
planning, implementation and administration. The Flathead Lakers’ Board of Directors meets
quarterly and reviews and critiques project goals and objectives, and evaluates progress and project
products.
The Project expenses for each task were calculated based on anticipated Flathead Lakers’
staff time required, materials and other expenses (travel, photocopies, etc.) required, and, where
appropriate, in-kind services provided by Flathead Lakers’ volunteers and other participating
agencies and organizations. In-kind support is expected from the Flathead Conservation District,
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Flathead Basin
Commission, Flathead Land Trust, Citizens for a Better Flathead, American Bird Conservancy, and
Montana Watercourse. Indirect in-kind support from other groups is not included (such as staff time
delegated to a participating organization’s goals and work plan that indirectly helps achieve Project
tasks).
The Flathead Lakers may choose to subcontract with an outreach consultant to help plan and
implement specific information and education activities.
Sixty percent of project funding for the proposed tasks would come from 319 grant funds.
Foundation grants, in-kind services and Flathead Lakers membership dues and donations will provide
the necessary match. Staff time for preparing the required reports to DEQ on project progress is
included in the project tasks and budget under “Project Coordination.”
The expected outcomes of proposed activities are
• increased land owner and Realtor understanding of the importance of riparian areas,
wetlands and floodplains and support for their protection or restoration,
• new protection and restoration projects initiated by land owners, and
• water quality and critical lands protection measures incorporated in land use policies,
regulations, and development proposals.
Performance measures will be documented for each task to assess the success in
accomplishing specific tasks. Evaluation indicators for the project have been developed (see
attached Evaluation Indicators) and will be used to evaluate project success. Annual and final
reports will describe project progress and success.
The Critical Lands Project will conduct additional critical lands protection and restoration
activities not included in this proposal. Education and outreach activities proposed in this 319 NPS
grant proposal support those activities which are funded by other sources (not included as match),
including a 2006 EPA Wetlands Grant, a 2007 Bullitt Foundation grant, and a 2007 Intermountain
West Joint Venture Grant. Project partners plan to submit additional grant proposals to fund on-the-
ground land conservation and stream restoration projects. This 319 education and outreach grant
proposal supports that work by conducting outreach to land owners about stream restoration
techniques and riparian area management.
By working collaboratively, Project partners can take advantage of the expertise and
resources of various agencies and organizations, thereby minimizing overall project expenses and
preventing duplication of efforts. Support for the project from Flathead Lakers membership dues and
donations demonstrates grassroots support for the Critical Lands Project as well as providing an
ongoing, stable financial base for the project. Together, these factors provide for the efficient use of
319 funds.
Collaborative Effort
The Flathead Lakers will continue to take a leadership role in building partnerships with
natural resources agencies, conservation organizations and land owners to take effective action on
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conservation priorities that are essential to protecting and improving water quality in the Flathead
Watershed. Project participants include (in alphabetical order):
American Bird Conservancy Flathead County Planning and Zoning Dept.
Audubon Society, Flathead Chapter Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) 1
Montana Audubon Flathead Land Trust
Citizens for a Better Flathead Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) 1
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) 1 Montana Land Reliance
Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)1 Montana Wetlands Legacy
Flathead Basin Commission (FBC)1 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 1
Flathead Conservation District Montana Watercourse
Project participants contribute staff time and financial resources to specific conservation,
restoration and education projects. A core group of project participants also provide their time and
knowledge for project planning and evaluation.
Letters of Support: Letters of support are expected from the following project partners: Flathead
Conservation District, Flathead Land Trust, FWP, NRCS, FBC, and Montana Watercourse.
Reporting Requirements
The Flathead Lakers will provide the DEQ with annual and final reports for the project and
supporting documentation and products to demonstrate completion of proposed tasks. Reports will
be submitted in electronic as well as hard copy format. Copies of reports and other materials
produced will also be made available to watershed groups, agencies and organizations upon request.
Target Audience
The main audiences targeted by the proposed activities will be river, lakeshore and wetland
land owners, Realtors, Flathead County planning staff, planning board, and county commissioners,
and Flathead County residents. Target audiences have the potential to make a difference in
preventing water pollution, protecting and restoring riparian buffers, and implementing policies and
regulations that help protect clean water.
Proposed Task 1 will encourage and assist land owners along the Flathead River and the
north shore of Flathead Lake in implementing land conservation projects in priority wetlands and
riparian areas that help protect clean water, wildlife habitat, farming and open space. We expect to
reach at least 50 land owners who own property in critical riparian, wetland or floodplain areas over
two years, through individual meetings with land owners and visits to their properties, neighborhood
meetings and outreach materials. We also plan to conduct press releases about successful
conservation projects. Press releases can reach at least 17,000 residents of the Flathead Valley
(based on local newspaper circulation statistics).
Proposed Task 2 will educate Realtors and land owners living near streams, rivers, and
floodplains in the Flathead River watershed about the importance of riparian areas for water quality
protection. Land owners will also learn about stream restoration techniques and assistance programs,
and will be encouraged to implement restoration projects when appropriate. Outreach about positive
outcomes of various restoration projects will be conducted via workshops and tours. We expect to
reach at least 50 land owners and 70 Realtors through workshops and tours. The number of expected
workshop participants is based on previous workshop attendance and our ability to conduct effective
tours. We will also encourage existing or developing watershed groups to participate in the
workshop and in recruiting workshop participants.
1
Acronyms used throughout the proposal
4
Proposed Task 3 will target Flathead County land use planning and zoning staff, planning
board and commissioners, and Flathead County residents to generate support for Flathead County
Growth Policy implementation strategies that protect water quality. We expect to reach
approximately a dozen public officials and staff through individual communications (letters and
phone calls), testimony at public hearings, and comment letters, and Flathead County residents via
press releases and the Flathead Lakers newsletter.
Coordination and Delivery
The Critical Lands Project coordinates with government agencies, research institutions and
conservation organizations to avoid duplication, work more effectively to achieve conservation goals
and assist existing NRCS, FWP and Flathead Conservation District land conservation and restoration
programs in delivering services. The Flathead Lakers has held four partner workshops in the past six
years, each attended by 20 to 25 representatives from tribal, state, federal, and county resource and
land management agencies, research scientists, and representatives of conservation organizations.
Workshop participants were instrumental in defining the Critical Lands Project, agreeing on criteria
for identifying critical lands, identifying critical areas, and developing and implementing watershed
protection and restoration strategies and projects. The Flathead Lakers hold regular meetings with
project partners to plan and implement projects.
This grant proposal is a continuation of a 2007 DEQ 319 E&O Grant (Contract # 207054)
and the completed 2004 DEQ 319 E&O Grant (Contract # 204082), and it builds upon education and
outreach planning and activities conducted during these grant periods. The tasks proposed in this
grant proposal closely follow the outreach plan developed during the 2004 DEQ 319 E&O grant.
The Flathead Lakers and the Flathead Conservation District successfully delivered the Living
by Water Workshop for the past three years and have determined that not only is there a continued
demand for this specific workshop, but also a demand for additional education about restoration
techniques to help land owners implement restoration activities on their properties. We propose to
expand the Living by Water Workshop (Task 2) by providing additional information about restoration
techniques and by providing additional follow-up assistance to land owners with BMPs, restoration
design and implementation.
The proposed outreach coordinator position (Task 1) is a continuation of a position initiated
by Critical Lands Project partners to address conservation needs along the Flathead River and the
North Shore of Flathead Lake. The Flathead Lakers and partners propose to sustain this position to
conduct outreach to land owners in critical areas along the Flathead River and Flathead Lake’s north
shore.
The Flathead Lakers assisted Montana Watercourse with the delivery of a Realtors Wetland
Workshop in the Flathead Valley in 2005. We propose providing the Realtors Wetland Workshop in
the Flathead Valley again because of the continued rapid pace of growth and development in the
area, the opportunity that this outreach strategy offers to reach land owners, and the interest
expressed by numerous Realtors last time in having handouts and information about wetlands and
riparian areas to distribute to their clients. The Flathead Lakers and the Flathead Conservation
District are currently assessing informational materials that we could distribute to Realtors. This
assessment is partially funded by a 2007 DEQ 319 E&O Grant (Contract # 207054) and will be
completed and ready to be used in combination with the proposed Realtors Wetland Workshop.
The Flathead Lakers work closely with organizations conducting conservation, river
restoration, and watershed education programs in the Flathead Watershed, including the Flathead
Land Trust, FWP, NRCS, American Bird Conservancy, Audubon Flathead Chapter, Montana
Watercourse, Flathead Conservation District, FBC, and MSU/County Extension Agency, to improve
coordination among key agencies and organizations on watershed planning and education projects,
and to plan and implement projects.
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During project planning and implementation, we will review existing outreach programs and
materials to avoid duplication of efforts and encourage coordination. Whenever possible, we plan to
use existing materials. The objective is to build upon successful programs and adapt them in order to
meet local needs and provide the necessary follow-up to ensure that products reach targeted
audiences and have the desired impact. The Flathead Lakers will also coordinate with relevant state-
wide education and outreach campaigns, potentially including a proposed riparian areas education
campaign in Flathead and Lake Counties.
Effectiveness Evaluation
The Flathead Lakers will use the evaluation indicators outline (see attached Evaluation
Indicators) to evaluate success in accomplishing the proposed tasks and the impact of the proposed
outreach activities.
For Task 1 we will measure whether 1) the outreach coordination position was successfully
sustained and funding sources secured, 2) the coordinator successfully informed target land owners
about conservation and restoration programs, 3) at least three land owners initiated conservation
projects.
For Task 2 we will evaluate the success of workshops, tours and follow-up outreach activities
via 1) workshop evaluations, and 2) follow-up with individual workshop participants. We will also
evaluate our success at accomplishing the proposed tasks, including developing materials, attracting
50 participants to workshops, recruiting target audiences, and delivering the workshops and tours.
For Task 3 we will evaluate our success in having Flathead Lakers’ comments incorporated
into Flathead County Growth Policy implementation strategies.
For Task 4 we will evaluate our success in effectively coordinating and administering the
grant by providing annual, final, and budget reports on schedule.
Section 2.0 – Scope of Work
Task 1: Sustain the outreach coordination position and conduct outreach activities in target
riparian and wetland areas.
In 2007, Critical Lands Project partners secured funding to create a new outreach
coordination staff position to inform private land owners in identified high priority wetlands and
riparian areas about land conservation and stream and lakeshore restoration programs. This position
was created to help catalyze stream restoration, riparian habitat enhancement, and land conservation
projects in identified critical areas along the Flathead River mainstem and the North Shore of
Flathead Lake. Critical Lands Project partners would like to sustain the outreach coordinator
position for at least five years to conduct outreach and help deliver land conservation programs to
land owners in critical areas. The 319 grant would help partially fund the part-time position for two
years and support the development of outreach materials and events.
Funding for the position for the first year was provided by the Flathead Lakers from the 2007
DEQ 319 Grant (Contract No. 207054), FWP, and the Flathead Land Trust. Funding to sustain the
position for another two years is expected from the Flathead Land Trust and FWP. FWP committed
$5,000 for the position for one year (and may provide future funding) and the Flathead Land Trust
will match the Flathead Lakers’ funding by at least 100%. Only $11,500 in-kind match is shown in
the budget since some of the funds for the outreach coordination position are reserved as match
toward other grants.
The outreach coordinator will conduct direct outreach to at least 50 targeted land owners
along the Flathead River and the north shore of Flathead Lake via phone and visits to assess their
interests and needs, and to discuss conservation options. The outreach coordinator will also conduct
informational meetings and develop outreach materials to encourage critical lands conservation and
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restoration, and to support river and lakeshore buffer projects. The coordinator will organize a tour
of a successful project and conduct at least two neighborhood meetings to inform land owners and
community leaders about conservation programs and funding opportunities for critical areas.
Additional neighborhood meetings will be planned if needed, but we expect that direct outreach to
individual land owners will be a more effective strategy to recruit land owners for conservation
projects. The outreach coordinator will also work with partners to produce press releases about
successful conservation projects that illustrate the importance of riparian areas and wetlands. Press
releases will be sent to local and regional newspapers and posted on the Flathead Lakers website.
We will consider other media outlets (i.e. magazines, free publications, radio public service
announcements) and public outreach strategies.
Additional partners helping implement conservation projects include the land owners, NRCS,
Montana Land Reliance, the Flathead Conservation District, the American Bird Conservancy, and
Audubon. Partners are currently discussing the project with the CSKT and the Flathead Basin
Commission to encourage their participation in this project. Costs for this task include salary for the
outreach coordinator, Flathead Lakers staff time to participate in outreach planning and activities,
travel and outreach materials (materials development, printing).
Responsible Parties: Flathead Lakers, Flathead Land Trust, FWP
319 Cost: 19,500
Match Cost Share, Source and Status: $13,000 ($11,500 FLT; $1,500 Flathead Lakers)
Non-Match: $5,000 (FWP)
Outputs: Outreach coordinator position sustained, outreach to 50 land owners about
conservation programs, outreach materials developed and distributed to 50 land owners, at
least one tour of a successful conservation project and two neighborhood meetings
conducted.
Task 2: Develop and conduct the Living by Water and the Realtors Wetland educational
workshops on riparian areas, wetlands, and stream restoration.
The Flathead Lakers will conduct educational workshops for land owners and Realtors to
encourage best management practices along rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands and to encourage and
assist land owners with stream restoration and riparian areas enhancement. The Flathead Lakers will
conduct two Living by Water Workshops and Tours to enhance land owners’ understanding of the
role of wetlands and riparian areas in maintaining water quality and to promote vegetated buffer
strips and other land and water stewardship BMPs, and assist Montana Watercourse in delivering a
Realtors workshop in Flathead County.
Living by Water Workshop and Tours: The Flathead Lakers propose to offer two Living by Water
workshops and tours to help improve the understanding of land owners near rivers, streams, lakes
and wetlands about the role of wetlands and riparian areas in maintaining water quality. Land
owners will also learn to recognize the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy riparian areas and
about land use impacts that degrade riparian areas, land use management decisions that can minimize
impacts, and restoration and revegetation techniques. Each workshop will include a tour of
restoration projects that demonstrate various land use management and stream restoration techniques.
Land owners will be encouraged to invite Flathead Conservation District, or Natural Resource
Conservation District staff or an independent consultant to visit their properties to evaluate
restoration needs, present management options and to implement restoration projects. We will also
contract with a consultant(s) to help land owners design restoration plans and prepare restoration
maintenance plans to address browse protection, weeding, irrigation and replanting issues.
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The Flathead Lakers sponsored the Living by Water Workshop and Tour for three
consecutive years. The workshop’s continued success indicates that people are eager for information
about riparian areas and their management and restoration. In the past, 25 to 27 people attended each
workshop, which was the maximum number of people we could accommodate. The feedback
provided by workshop participants has been very positive and participants encouraged us to conduct
this workshop in additional communities. We propose to offer the workshop for about 25 people
again in 2008 and in 2009, targeting land owners along the Flathead River approached by the
outreach coordinator (Task 1) as well as land owners living along other streams and lakes.
Past Living by Water Workshop and Tour participants indicated that they would be interested
in additional information about restoration techniques and other materials that will aid them in
moving ahead with a restoration project. We plan to expand the Living by Water Workshop and Tour
to further help individual land owners implement restoration projects by providing additional
informational materials, such as nursery and consultant information and restoration costs, consultant
time to develop individual restoration design plans, and assistance finding funding sources to
implement restoration projects.
Partners include the Flathead Conservation District, the MSU/Flathead County Extension
Office, the FBC, NRCS and the DNRC. Partners will help plan and deliver the workshop and
encourage land owners to participate in their conservation programs, including assistance with stream
and riparian buffer restoration and protection.
The Living by Water Workshops will include a PowerPoint presentation based on a
presentation developed by the University of Nevada and used by the DNRC (My Place on a Stream,
Module 3, Lesson 3). A few modifications will be made to adapt the presentation to local issues of
relevance and in response to feedback from previous years. The workshop will also include the
Rolling Rivers Trailer that can be used to build a model watershed to demonstrate stream dynamics,
watershed concepts, the importance of riparian areas, and B. 2 The demonstration is an effective and
engaging tool when used in combination with the PowerPoint presentations.
An informational package will be given to workshop participants. It will include the Living
by Water brochure produced by the Flathead Lakers, the Montana’s rivers and streams need ROOM
TO ROAM brochure developed by the Governor’s Task Force for Riparian Protection, the
Maintaining a Healthy Riparian Buffer along Streams and Rivers pamphlet produced by the
Missoula Conservation District, and a riparian assessment sheet, Looking at My Riparian Area,
modified from the Cows and Fish Program. 3 The information package will help land owners assess
riparian areas on their properties and guide their management decisions. Additional publications and
handouts will be made available to workshop participants, including information about stream
management BMPs, restoration permits, and technical and funding assistance programs. In response
to feedback from previous workshop participants, we will develop additional informational materials
that describe restoration techniques and costs and list restoration consultants and plant nurseries that
sell plants recommended for restoration.
A restoration consultant will be engaged to guide the tour of restoration sites. Costs include
staff time, travel, printing and purchase of information materials, outreach to recruit target audiences,
refreshments, and consultant(s) time to draft restoration design and management plans for three to
four land owners.
319 Cost: $7,300
Realtors Wetland Workshop: The Flathead Lakers will assist Montana Watercourse with planning
and implementation of their Realtors Wetland Workshop in Flathead County. This workshop targets
2
For additional information visit the Rolling Rivers Trailer website at dnrc.mt.gov/cardd/rolling_rivers/default.asp.
3
www.cowsandfish.org
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Realtors in areas of rapid growth and development and informs them about the importance of
wetlands and riparian areas for water quality protection and their obligations and opportunities as
Realtors to inform prospective land owners about BMPs for protecting water quality and sensitive
areas. The Realtors Wetland Workshop was offered by Montana Watercourse in cooperation with
the Flathead Lakers in 2005 in Flathead County and was successful in engaging the interest of the
audience. We plan to conduct follow-up activities to ensure that Realtors transmit information to
buyers about the importance of wetlands and riparian areas, and relevant regulations, consultant
services, and best management practices. We will provide handouts that Realtors can distribute to
their clients, and conduct a follow-up phone survey to assess how materials are used, how many were
distributed, and what additional activities and/or information would help Realtors inform clients
about the importance of wetlands and riparian areas and about BMPs for water quality protection.
The proposed DEQ 319 grant would fund staff time and travel to plan and deliver the workshop and
staff time to conduct follow-up with Realtors. The Montana Watercourse will incur the greater share
of the costs.
319 Cost: $750
Responsible Parties: Flathead Lakers; Flathead Conservation District.
Total 319 Cost: $8,050
Match Cost Share, Source and Status: $5,300
Outputs: Two Living by Water workshops and tours, one Realtors Wetland Workshop,
workshop evaluations, Realtors’ follow-up survey, stream restoration outreach providing
information and assistance to 50 land owners, and three to four river and riparian restoration
designs.
Task 3: Conduct outreach to provide information to Flathead County and to inform the public
and generate support for Flathead County Growth Policy implementation strategies that
protect water quality.
Flathead County adopted an updated Growth Policy in 2007, which includes numerous
implementation strategies that the county plans to develop and adopt. 4 The Flathead Lakers propose
to conduct outreach and provide information for the implementation strategies related to water
quality. These implementation strategies include:
• a “Development Predictability Map”
• development of “Special Consideration Areas” for floodplains, lake and lakeshore protection,
wetlands and riparian areas, and shallow groundwater areas
• development of a Water Quality/Flathead Basin Management Plan
• review and update of county floodplain regulations
Effective Growth Policy implementation strategies can play a significant role in protecting
water quality from impacts of growth and development. We will provide information to the county
to help craft effective strategies and, when appropriate, encourage Critical Lands Project partners,
Flathead Lakers members, and the public to submit comments to the county to support water quality
protection strategies.
In 2007, The Flathead Lakers and the Flathead Basin Commission invited a diverse group of
federal, state, local and tribal government agencies, conservation organizations and neighborhood
groups to help expand the assessment of critical lands, in particular to review what information and
GIS map layers would aid Flathead County in developing the proposed development predictability
map that will guide development in Flathead County. Following recommendations from the group
and the county, the Flathead Basin Commission funded the development and/or update of several
4
http://www.co.flathead.mt.us/fcpz/Growth%20Policy/Chapter%209.pdf
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critical maps for Flathead County, including high infiltration soils, soils with high erosion potential,
steep slopes, prime agricultural soils and shallow aquifer areas.
The Flathead Lakers will work with the Flathead Basin Commission to compile additional
maps, identify gaps in data layers and determine who can help complete them, invite stakeholders to
recommend what data layer combinations are most useful to map, and work with Flathead County to
integrate the data layers and maps into the development predictability map. The Flathead Lakers will
encourage stakeholder participation by bringing representatives from various government agencies,
conservation organizations, land owner associations, and individuals together to encourage the
development of recommendations for proposed implementation strategies. We will encourage
Flathead County to integrate critical lands data layers and maps in the Development Predictability
Map.
The Flathead Lakers plan to work with Flathead Watershed stakeholders, including the
Flathead Basin Commission, the Flathead Lake Biological Station, the DEQ TMDL planner, and the
CSKT to provide recommendations for Flathead County’s proposed Water Quality/Flathead Basin
Management Plan, including what elements the management plan should consider and include.
The Flathead Lakers will also distribute Critical Lands GIS layers and maps to project
partners, county planners and individuals to provide information about critical areas and encourage
their consideration in land use planning and policy development. Proposed DEQ 319 funding will be
used to print map copies and for staff time.
Responsible Parties: Flathead Lakers, Flathead Basin Commission
319 Cost: $7,000
Match Cost Share, Source and Status: $4,700
Outputs: implementation strategies reviewed and information, maps, comments and
recommendations provided to Flathead County, Flathead Lakers members, Critical Lands
Project partners, neighborhood groups and the general public via mail, the Flathead Lakers
web site, and newspapers. Coordinated stakeholder participation to encourage input from
diverse groups and encourage coordination and cooperation. Map copies printed and
distributed.
Task 4. Project Coordination: The Flathead Lakers will manage project financial responsibilities
and execute all contracts in accordance with State contracting requirements. Project invoices,
payments, financial reports, and project budgeting will be administered by the Flathead Lakers.
Responsible Parties: Flathead Lakers
319 Cost: $3,500
Match Cost Share, Source and Status: $2,400
Outputs: management and reporting of funds: annual and final reports; financial budget
reports.
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Section 3.0 – Support Documents
Milestone Table - 2008 Flathead Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project
TASK/RESPONSIBLE
ORGANIZATIONS OUTPUT QTY YEAR 1* YEAR 2
July 2008 – June 2009 July 2009 – June 2010
outreach coordinator
Sustain outreach coordinator
position, 50 land
position; produce outreach
Task 1 Critical lands outreach owner contacts, 2
materials, contact land owners,
coordination neighborhood
conduct two neighborhood meetings
meetings, 1 tour,
and at least one tour
outreach materials
3 workshops, 2 tours,
50 information
Conduct workshops and tours,
packets, 4 stream
Task 2 Educational Workshops & develop informational packages,
restoration designs,
Tours conduct stream restoration designs,
summary of 50
assess participants’ evaluations
workshop
evaluations
Comments on
Review and comment on implementation
Task 3 Outreach on Flathead County implementation strategies, conduct strategies, press
releases, web site
Growth Policy implementation outreach about water quality
protection strategies, print and postings, 1 meeting,
strategies
distribute GIS maps critical lands maps
distributed
Project coordination & staff
2 annual reports and
administration: track in-kind time,
1 final report; billing
Task 4 Project Coordination spent expenses, and in-kind
statements as
contributions, evaluate project
needed
progress and results
* Shaded areas indicate the months when activities are planned and implemented.
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Detail Budget – 2008 Flathead Critical Lands E&O Project Cash In-kind 319 TOTAL FY08 FY09
Match* Match** Funds COSTS
Task 1. Outreach coordination position (half-time) $0 $10,500 $15,000 $25,500 $12,750 $12,750
Outreach materials, meetings and events 1,000 1,500 2,500 1,250 1,250
Flathead Lakers staff time: outreach and coordination 1,500 3,000 4,500 2,250 2,250
Subtotals $1,500 $11,500*** $19,500 $32,500 $16.250 $16,250
Task 2. Two Living by Water Workshops and Tours $500 $3,100 $5,000 $8,500 $4,300 $4,300
Restoration Consultants (3-4 design) 1,000 2,000 3,000 1,500 1,500
Flathead Lakers staff: follow-up (property visits) 200 300 300 500 500
Realtors Wetland Workshop 100 400 750 1,250 1,250
Subtotals $600 $4,700 $8,050 $13,350 $7,300 $6,050
Task 3. Outreach on Growth Policy Implementation Strategies $3,500 $1,200 $7,000 $11,700 $5,850 $5,850
Task 4. Project Coordination $2,400 $0 $ 3,500 $5,900 $2,950 $2,950
TOTAL 319/NON-FEDERAL BUDGET $8,000 $17,400 $38,050 $63,450 $32,350 $31,100
* Match from the Flathead Lakers. Cash Match toward all tasks by the Flathead Lakers will be $8,000. Funding is secured through member donations
and/or foundation grants.
** Includes in-kind match from the Flathead Land Trust, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Flathead Conservation District, MSU/Flathead County
Extension, restoration consultants and volunteers.
*** The total in-kind non-match will be at least $35,000. Only $11,500 in-kind match is included in this budget as the remainder will be used as match for
other grants.
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Map – 2008 Flathead Critical Lands E&O Project
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Letters of Support
Letters of support are expected from the following project partners:
Name Title Organization Address
Montana State University
Debra Zarnt Community Outreach Coordinator Montana Watercourse at the Water Center P.O. Box 170575
Bozeman, MT 59715
P.O. Box 1913
Marilyn Wood Executive Director Flathead Land Trust
Kalispell, MT 59903
Watershed and Outreach 133 Interstate Lane
Patti Mason Flathead Conservation District
Coordinator Kalispell, MT 59901
Habitat Conservation/Wildlife 490 Meridian Rd.
Gael Bissell Montana Dpt. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Biologist Kalispell, MT 59901
133 Interstate Lane
Angel Rosario District Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service
Kalispell, MT 59901
109 Cooperative Way, Suite 100
Mark Holston Information Officer Flathead Basin Commission
Kalispell MT 59901
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Critical Lands Education and Outreach Project Evaluation Indicators
Task/Activity Indicators of success
Task 1 Outreach coordination position sustained and • funding for position secured from diverse funding sources
outreach activities conducted to encourage • 50 new land owners contacted and provided information about conservation/restoration programs
protection and restoration of critical lands along the
Flathead River and the North Shore of Flathead • at least 3 new conservation projects initiated and/or completed in critical areas
Lake • outreach materials developed and distributed to 50 land owners
• at least two neighborhood meetings conducted
• press release(s) about successful projects produced
Task 2 Living by Water Workshops and Tours to inform • at least 50 people attended 2 workshops
land owners about the importance of riparian • 70% of workshop evaluations were positive
buffers and wetlands for water quality protection to
encourage their stewardship, protection, and • 8-10 properties visited to provide expert recommendations
restoration. • at least 20 people indicated (in evaluations) a planned change in behavior due to workshop
• new information materials developed and distributed
• 3-4 restoration designs provided
• at least 2 restoration projects initiated
Realtors Wetland Workshop to inform Realtors • at least 70 Realtors attended workshop
about the importance of riparian buffers and • 60% of workshop evaluations were positive
encourage their conservation.
• 20 handouts provided to Realtors for distribution to their clients
• at least 15 Realtors requested additional land owner handouts within 9 months following the
workshop
• follow-up phone survey to participants to assess how materials are used and how many were
distributed
Task 3 Flathead County Growth Policy implementation • needed maps and information about effective water quality protection measures identified, and
strategies development to ensure effective to provided to Flathead County to help craft effective water quality protection strategies
water quality protection measures are adopted. • information provided to partners, members, and the public about implementation strategies
• public support for strategies generated (support shown at planning meetings and letters of support
sent to the county)
• Flathead Lakers’ recommendations incorporated into implementation strategies
• effective water quality implementation strategies adopted by the county
Task 4 Project coordination to manage grant efficiently. • annual reports submitted on schedule
• final report submitted on schedule
• budget administration conducted effectively and budget reports submitted as needed
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