Call Us Today at (406) 925-0708 
Rocky Mountain Front Weed Roundtable
Website: http://www.rmfweedroundtable.org/
Email: noxious.weeds@gmail.com
Contact: Will Dewey, Executive Director
Phone: 406-466-2155
Mission: to conduct strategic, collaborative noxious weed management while partnering with local stakeholders to benefit the economic, biological, and social well-being of the Rocky Mountain Front.
What We do: The Montana Biocontrol Coordination Project (MTBCP) is a grassroots effort initiated by federal, state, county, non-profit, and private land managers throughout Montana who saw a need for increased coordination within the state’s weed biocontrol program. The purpose of this project is to provide targeted releases that are then monitored for establishment with the goal of redistribution both in and out of Montana. We work towards this purpose by focusing on collecting and distributing insects, tracking release sites for potential future collection sites, monitoring to determine impacts of biocontrol, providing educational programs, coordinating with out of state partners, supporting biocontrol consortiums, and conducting surveys for partner needs.
Mission: To provide the leadership, coordination, and education necessary to enable land managers across Montana to successfully incorporate biological weed control into their noxious weed management programs.
Contact Info:
Melissa Maggio
406-258-4223
mmaggio@missoulaeduplace.org
www.mtbiocontrol.org
MONTANA INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL
WHAT WE DO: The Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) is a statewide partnership that fosters coordination to protect our state from the introduction and spread of harmful invasive species. MISC’s work is guided by the objectives outlined in the Montana Invasive Species Framework, which is organized by the five tenants of invasive species management: coordination, prevention, detection, rapid response, and control.
Mission: Our mission is to protect Montana’s economy, ecological resources, public health and safety by assessing and bolstering Montana’s invasive species efforts through a coordinated approach to keep invasive species out of Montana; and to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the impacts of invasive species already established in the state.
Contact:
Liz Lodman, Invasive Species Program Manager, MISC Administrator
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
PO Box 201601
Helena, MT 59620-1601
406.444.0547
liz.lodman@mt.gov
Mission:
“To educate the people of Montana about the economic and environmental impacts of noxious weeds while encouraging the public to participate in ecologically based integrated weed management.
In 1994 a statewide independent survey was conducted to gain insight into the public’s awareness and knowledge level of noxious weeds. The survey concluded that without the support of the people of Montana, a statewide education effort would fail, so in 1995 the Noxious Weed Trust Fund Advisory Council decided that there was a need for statewide educational outreach with information about the impacts of noxious weeds on the state.
Mirroring the national public awareness campaign, “Pulling Together against Noxious Weeds” became the motto for the Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign Task Force in 1998. This campaign brought together stakeholders and unified the message across the state of Montana and the United States. The ‘hands shaking’ logo was indicative of the Statewide Noxious Weed Education & Awareness Campaign until September of 2012 when the campaign was renamed and a new logo was created. The spotted knapweed flower was chosen to appear on the Montana logo because it occurs in all 56 counties and has been a nuisance since it was first reported in Montana in the early 1920’s.
The campaign was also renamed in 2012, the Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign (MNWEC) and continues to provide informative educational materials, programs and noxious weed outreach to federal, state, county, city, and tribal weed coordinators. The MNWEC also supports the educational outreach efforts of several non-governmental organizations, including the strengthened partnership with the Montana Weed Control Association.
Quarterly Report January-March 2020
Shantell Frame-Martin
406-883-7375
shantell.frame@montana.edu
Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
What we do: The Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization working to protect natural resources from the threats of invasive species. The Alliance’s project area, the upper Gallatin Watershed, encompasses some of the most ecologically and economically important resources in the state, providing vital habitat and water for plants, wildlife, and the people who live and recreate in the area. We work to address and mitigate the impacts of human activity on natural resources to ensure that what we love so much about this place is not destroyed by our pursuit to experience it. The Alliance provides education and direct assistance to landowners and the community, promotes and inspires conservation of natural resources via our native demonstration garden at the Historic Crail Ranch, and implements on-the-ground habitat improvement projects. Learn more about the Alliance at www.gallatinisa.org.
Mission: To protect natural resources from the threats of invasive species.
Contact Info:
Director: Jen Mohler
Email: jen@gallatinisa.org
Phone: 406-209-0905
Website: https://www.gallatinisa.org/
What we do: Coordinate responses to community needs.
Mission: The mission of the Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts that will enhance, conserve and protect the natural resources and rural lifestyles of the Blackfoot River Valley for present and future generations. We support environmentally responsible resource stewardship through cooperation of private and public interests.
Contact Info:
Karen Laitala
Vegetation Management Coordinator
406-793-3900
karen@blackfootchallenge.org
What we do: We have obtained 20 grants on behalf of the people of Park County to the tune of about $350,000. Most of this money was on a 50/50 cost share so in real dollars we are close to $700,000 in total cost of projects.
Talks have been given to home owners associations, groups of neighbors, and organized groups. We have also held public educational seminars in different parts of the county.
As for Bio control, we provide education information and have held public meetings with guest speakers for those here in Park County. Also we have provided hundreds of sites of different bio control insects for distribution also here in Park County.
Who we are: The Park Co Cooperative Weed Management Area is a grassroots volunteer organization working to foster collaboration and cooperation among private individuals, private groups, and public entities for one sole purpose: to fight noxious and invasive wees in Park County!
Our purpose: To coordinate invasive weed management efforts, with special emphasis on noxious weeds; between private, government, and community service groups within Park County. These efforts include:providing herbicide cost-share projects, forming weed treatment alliances, obtaining and distribution of biological control agents, and providing integrated weed education.
The CWMA has tried to limit ourselves to Park County but we have partnered to assist with projects in neighboring counties both in Montana and Wyoming.
Contact Info: Presently since Park County does not have a full time Ag Extension agent or Weed Coordinator, the best contact is either:
Larry Stephenson – CWMA Secretary at “larrystephenson78@gmail.com” or
Bob Fleming – CWMA Chair at “slembob54@gmail.com” or can call me at 406-220-0547.
Mission: The Stillwater Valley Watershed Council will provide an open forum in which all interested parties may work in a collaborative effort to sustain our rural quality of life to protect and enhance our natural resources. We seek to understand all points of view, come to a common goal and work for practical solutions. We are committed to research and educating valley residents and the public about our watershed and the steps we can take to preserve and maintain the integrity of the river, the land and the beauty of our valley. As a group of dedicated volunteers, we have received wonderful support from Stillwater County Weed District, Stillwater Conservation District, Stillwater Mining Company, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, local community foundations, among others. The SVWC will endeavor to bring together public, private and government resources, funding, and grants to achieve our goals.
Goals:
NOXIOUS WEEDS ~ Reduce, control and prevent the noxious weed population in the Stillwater River corridor. To truly make an impact and save the Stillwater River watershed from noxious weed invasion.
WATER QUALITY ~ Improve the quality and supply of water in the Stillwater River Watershed. Balance water needs and availability, both recreational and agriculturally, through shared sacrifice and water conservation and contamination prevention.
FOREST HEALTH ~ Mitigate fire by improving the health of our forest while educating landowners about the importance of implementing fire-safe principles and noxious weed control in order to reduce fire risk and protect properties from extensive fire damage.
SOIL HEALTH ~ The three aforementioned goals all contribute to the improvement of soil health. Soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. By managing soils, they are sustainable for future generations.
Other Info:
SVWC MARKS 2020 as 10th YEAR SINCE INCEPTION!
“We all need somewhere we can go to connect with Mother Nature; but we have to take care of our environment and as long as we can do that we will have a place that is viable for us to enjoy.” emphasizes Clint Branger former Professional Bull Rider and rancher from Roscoe, MT, “Sure bull riding was important to me, but not as important as coming home to my family’s ranch and ensuring an unspoiled landscape that can be utilized and enjoyed for generations to come.”
Officially formed in 2010 by local grassroots volunteers with a passion for ensuring the Stillwater Valley remain a pristine watershed, the SVWC aims to maintain the rural quality of life for those who have been lucky enough to have discovered its beauty and benefit to the soul. Realizing there aren’t second chances when it comes to our environment, we emphasize the importance of utilizing the land properly to enhance natural resources so that future opportunities may exist.
With efforts focused on encouraging noxious weed control through cost-share programs, funding two separate river assessment projects in the past three years, and sponsoring a major ditch renovation project, the steadfast SVWC board envisions ongoing community education and outreach regarding land stewardship, water rights, and rural living. We will continually endeavor to bring together public, private, and government resources, funding and grants to achieve our goals.
The Stillwater Valley is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Ethel Pelton can affirm this as she watches the 6th generation of Peltons work the same land she and her husband raised their family on, “I feel very blessed, not many people have the opportunities that I have had.” The SVWC hopes our programs will enhance the quality of your life just as they have for so many in the Stillwater Valley because we all must realize that the impacts go beyond today.
Lindsey Clark
Coordinator, Stillwater Valley Watershed Council
www.stillwatervalleywatershed.com
svwc2010@hotmail.com
406.780.1249
To learn more about Kelsey, read a quick bio here.
